What started as a good night for Cody Parkey took a drastic turn during the next-to-last play of the game.
With 10 seconds left, the Bears trusted Parkey, who kicked three field goals in the Bears’ 16-15 loss to the Eagles on Sunday, to win them the game with a 43-yard kick.
But that didn’t happen.
Parkey made the 43-yarder on his first try, but Eagles coach Doug Pederson had called a timeout before the snap. On his second attempt, he hit the left upright and the crossbar, and just like that, the Bears’ magical season ended, and fans were livid.
After the game, replays showed that Eagles defensive tackle Treyvon Hester actually got a hand on Parkey’s kick, which may have changed the trajectory of the ball.
Despite the revelation, Bears fans continued to harass Parkey on social media, sparking several of his teammates and other athletes to defend him.
Asked after the game what message he had for fans threatening Parkey, Bears left tackle Charles Leno Jr. said: “You’re not in our position. You don’t know how hard this s— is.”
Kyle Long took some of the blame for the loss and said he couldn’t “even imagine what he’s going through.”
“I missed a bunch of blocks today, and I’m sure some of them were unnoticed,” Long said. “When you’re in a position like that, I can’t imagine how tough that is. I just told him, ‘Dude, you had half our points today.’ I can’t even imagine what he’s going through.”
NBA star and Chicago native Dwyane Wade chimed in on Twitter and commended Parkey for not making excuses when he was questioned by the media after the game.
“Most of you have no idea how hard this is to do,” Wade wrote. “Cody Parkey, way to face the media like a true professional. I’m a fan!”
Here’s how other people reacted to Parkey’s missed kick and the way he handled himself after the game:
Good lesson here for everyone.
— Andrew Hawkins (@Hawk) January 7, 2019
After the worst play of his professional career, Bears kicker, Cody Parkey, points up to the sky and still thanks God.
We cant just be thankful and give honor when times are great!
My hesrt goes out to him, but the kid will be just fine! pic.twitter.com/5fVM1iprub
If tweeting (or otherwise sharing) horrible things about @ChicagoBears Cody Parkey, stop it - during my @nfl career I agonized and didn’t sleep for days after losses, but I never lost sight of the fact that this is sports - don’t be mean.
— Amy Trask (@AmyTrask) January 7, 2019
I know it’s his job but sheesh you can still feel bad for the guy. Disappointing people sucks.
— chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen) January 7, 2019
Cody Parkey, kicker for the Bears, addressed the media after missing the game winning FG against the Eagles that knocked his team out of the playoffs and put on an absolute clinic.
— Rich Ohrnberger (@ohrnberger) January 7, 2019
Class. Accountability. Honesty.pic.twitter.com/SITXdGBT9P