Bears trainer Bream leaving team after 19 seasons -- Bears head athletic trainer Tim Bream is leaving the team after 19 seasons to return to his alma mater, Penn State, as its director of athletic training services and head football athletic trainer.

Bream joined the Bears as an assistant trainer in 1993 before becoming head trainer in 1997, spending 15 seasons in that role while working with head coaches Dave Wannstedt, Dick Jauron and Lovie Smith.

Tim Bream, shown here helping Johnny Knox off the field, has been Bears head trainer since 1997.

'The Bears are the best franchise in the NFL,' said Bream, a Pennsylvania native. 'I can't say thank you enough to the McCaskey family, to the organization and to Ted Phillips for hiring me, promoting me and having faith in our whole sports medicine staff.

'I've gotten to work with the best athletes at what they do. I've been fortunate with the players that I've gotten to work with and all three coaches that I've been associated with. I can't say there's been a negative moment. It's been a tremendous experience for me and my family.'

Bream has known Penn State acting athletic director Dr. David Joyner, an orthopedic physician who specializes in sports medicine, since they worked together at the 1988 U.S. Olympic basketball trials.

'We've always kept in touch,' Bream said. 'He inquired if I was interested in the position and we had some discussion about it. For me, it's going home and going back to my alma mater. It's ...

Page: [1] [2]