Bears players enamored with, motivated by Blackhawks' success

Alshon Jeffery made sure to stick around. The Bears star receiver wanted to see Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews hoist the Stanley Cup over his head in the middle of a raucous, jam-packed United Center.

It all serves as motivation.

“I was just thinking like, ‘Why can’t we have the Lombardi Trophy? Why can’t the Bears have the Super Bowl?,” Jeffery said Tuesday during mandatory minicamp at Halas Hall. “Watching them win the Stanley Cup is like shhhhh … I’m excited for them. But I’m also thinking like, ‘Why can’t we win it?’ It would be a great ride.”

Jeffery sat behind the east goal for the Hawks’ Cup-clinching victory in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday night. Jeffery, running back Matt Forte, coach John Fox and general manager Ryan Pace also attended the Hawks’ win in Game 4.

“[Hockey has] started to grow on me,” said Jeffery, who also attended games last season. “It’s a great experience. I like watching hockey. I mean, I’m a big fan of hockey now.”

The Hawks’ success has captured the fandom and attention of Bears players the last few years. Toews and Co. are kings of Chicago again after winning their third Cup in six seasons.

“The Blackhawks have a dynasty going right now,” quarterback Jay Cutler said. “They get this town excited and rightfully so. We got to congratulate them. They’re doing great things. Hopefully, we can catch up at some point.”

The Bears only have advanced to the playoffs five times since 1992.

“[Game 6] was a great game,” Jeffery said. “I’m just looking at as, ‘Why can’t that be us? What can’t it be the Bears?”

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Email: ajahns@suntimes.com