One great thing about football is it can manufacture some amazing stories practically out of thin air. Often, when you least expect it. Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall probably thought they'd never play together again after they were separated in Denver. Then the Bears got the bad back together in 2012. The Bears lost a game to Washington 7-3 in 1940 and were called crybabies by the opponent's owner afterwards. Sure enough, they met again in the championship game and the Bears throttled them 73-0—pure poetry. There are many nuances like that across the past century.
It appears another one fell into the Bears' lap without the organization ever realizing it. Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times stumbled onto it last month. Apparently, three members of the Bears roster were childhood friends. Not only that, but three members of the Bears' starting offense. Wide receiver D.J. Moore and running back D'Andre Swift hung out together as kids for years in Philadelphia. Olamide Zaccheaus later joined them during their middle and high school years.
Small world, indeed.
Every morning when Bears wide receiver DJ Moore and running back D’Andre Swift see each other at Halas Hall, they instantly get a read on each other’s mood without saying hardly anything.
They grew up together in the Mount Airy neighborhood of Philadelphia and know each other well enough to have an entire conversation through facial expressions...
...Not only have he and Swift gotten to play together for the Bears, but they also brought in wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus this season. Zaccheaus grew up just across the Delaware River in New Jersey and ran track against Moore — “DJ was slow as hell,” he said — and played with Swift at St. Joseph’s Preparatory School. All three were on the same seven-on-seven team.
This trio has a chance to do something special with the Chicago Bears.
All have had what can best be described as adventurous careers. Moore and Swift were traded by their original teams. Zacchaeus wasn't re-signed by his. They remained productive anyway and drew enough interest from the Chicago Bears to earn roster spots. Now all three are starting for the same team. Try to imagine how cool this story would be if they led the organization to its first winning season in seven years—no doubt they'd gain plenty of stature in the eyes of fans. There is tons of work to do.
Moore is off to somewhat of a slow start this season, at least for him. Swift hasn't found any traction on the ground. Zacchaeus has filled his role well, even if the numbers aren't anything interesting. The Bears are 2-2, and it looks like quarterback Caleb Williams is maturing rapidly. If those three do their jobs, this offense should experience serious growth over the next two months.
