McCaskey, who announced the return to orange in March, had rebuffed more drastic changes in recent years. The Bears were asked to wear an orange jersey, orange pants and orange socks for the NFL’s now-defunct “Color Rush” games but quickly declined.
“We just decided it was too much,” McCaskey said.
Instead, they wore an all-navy Color Rush set the last two seasons. McCaskey said it was former coach John Fox’s suggestion to pair their navy jersey with navy pants in last year’s season opener. Fox liked the monochromatic look when he coached the Broncos.
McCaskey, though, doesn’t plan on the Bears wearing all navy this year, nor all-white on the road. The Bears have no plans to wear orange pants any time soon, either.
The jerseys, though, are another story. They sold well last decade and probably will again. Fans figure to embrace a rare change in the team’s Sunday look.
“Selling it is part of it. Giving people what they want is part of it. Being faithful to our tradition is part of it,” McCaskey said. “I think people really have an affinity for the orange jersey and are excited for it to come back.”