LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) -- The throwback uniforms to be worn by the Bears on Sunday afternoon were designed as an homage to the franchise's century-old history.
The classic jerseys were inspired by the team's look in 1936, donning orange and blue stripes on the helmet, jersey shoulders and socks. The initial reaction from players was overwhelmingly positive, with running back Tarik Cohen calling them "swaggy."
But Bears chairman George McCaskey gathered the team last week and explained the poignant aspect of these uniform's history, something many players didn't know. The jerseys were from a time when the NFL was segregated, so no black player has ever worn this Bears uniform.
The Bears came away from that meeting with McCaskey appreciating the significance of wearing the uniforms against the Vikings on Sunday afternoon.
"I'm just proud to be one of the first African-Americans to put the jersey on," Cohen said.
In their centennial season, the Bears have paid tribute to their past in many ways. The team's Bears100 celebration in June brought much of its history into Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. Each home game will also provide the chance to salute members and moments of those first 100 years.
Beyond that, there are also harsh realities in the span of that century and different times of the past. The NFL didn't have any black players from 1934 through 1945. A recent article on WindyCityGridiron.com detailed the role that Bears founder George Halas -- McCaskey's grandfather -- had in that ban.
It's why McCaskey felt it was important to meet with the Bears and explain the unfortunate history behind these uniforms. The team then released a video on its digital platforms that featured the player-led social justice committee detailing their understanding of the uniforms and appreciation for Sunday.
"It was just sending a message united as a team what we stand for," said quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, a member of the social justice committee. "Obviously, we know the time period where those jerseys come from. We live in a time where we want to control the narrative as a team and show people how we’re united and continue to be an example for our community and our city."
"Mr. McCaskey did a great thing," Trevathan said. "That's a great guy right there. Just for him to give us the opportunity to speak on it, not give us anything to say, just let us talk from the heart, that was great.
"It's an honor to wear it."
Bears coach Matt Nagy saw the video the team's social justice committee put together and was proud of the way his players received this poignant history and decided to use it to unite the past with the present.
"It's powerful to me," Nagy said. "I think it's something that just we as an organization, as a team, it speaks volumes to who we are. I think it's a special moment for all of us.
"For all of us to be able to talk about it and collaborate about this, and you know it's just something of unity, it's who we are. And I'm proud of our guys for doing it."