University of Illinois center Josh Kreutz went undrafted this past weekend. He didn’t sign any UDFA deals either. He was however, offered a rookie minicamp invitation from both the New York Giants and the Chicago Bears, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
That decision was a no-brainer, given how Josh’s father is six-time Pro Bowler and team legend Olin Kreutz. Of course, it was going to be Bears. And we’ve seen the Illini-Bears organizational synergies in partnership before.
Flashback to the summer of 2005, when the Bears needed a third string quarterback, and extended a training camp invitation to Kurt Kittner. The Schaumburg, IL native played his college football at the University of Illinois, during the era when Ron Turner was in charge.
And the Bears Offensive Coordinator at this time was none other than Ron Turner. Kittner, who had been released by five different teams (Atlanta Falcons, Cincinnati Bengals, New York Giants, New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers) in a seven month span during the 2004 offseason, made the team, after not throwing a pass the previous season.
He did not play in the ’05 regular season either, and was let go in late November when QB1 Rex Grossman returned from injury. It was Kittner’s last job in the NFL.
Over the years, we have seen some stronger, more impactful Bears-Illini connections. It’s a long list of players that includes: Ed O’Bradovich (1962-71), Calvin Thomas (1982-88), Kittner’s favorite target in college Brandon Lloyd (2008), Kelvin Hayden (2012-14), Tom Hicks (1976-81), Jim Grabowski (1971) and Cap Boso (1987-91).
And of course, you have the holy trinity, the three Bears Hall of Famers who were also Illini:
George “Papa Bear” Halas, E-Decatur/Chicago Staleys (player/coach) (1920-21); Chicago Bears (player/coach) (1922-29), Coach only (1933-42, 46-55, 58-67), Harold “Red” Grange, (1925, 1928-34) and Dick Butkus (1965-73). The Bears actually got their team colors (navy blue and orange) from U of I, as Halas decided to keep the same hues of his alma mater when he founded the team.
University of Illinois football has only retired two numbers- #50 Butkus and #77 Grange.
Will Kreutz make the squad, and then, eventually add his name to this prodigious list? Well, the odds are very long against him. The Bears were forced to completely remake the position this offseason after Drew Dalman shockingly retired. The Bears then acquired veteran Garrett Bradbury from the New England Patriots via trade, who it is assumed will be the starter.
The Monsters of the Midway also drafted Iowa’s Logan Jones in the second round, with the 57th overall pick. Jones won the 2025 Rimington Trophy, which goes to college football’s top center, and he’s expected to someday become the Bears C of the future.
Additionally, UDFA signing Caden Barnett can play both guard spots and center. So while anything is indeed possible, Kreutz has a lot to prove, and a mountain to climb on the depth chart.
This article originally appeared on Draft Wire: Josh Kreutz could be next in Univ. of Illinois-Chicago Bears links