The Tampa Bay Buccaneers ought to at least tip their cap to the Bears as they prepare for Super Bowl LV on Sunday.
The Bears, however unwittingly and indirectly, played a hand in the Buccaneers’ sudden rise from perennial also-ran to the Super Bowl under coach Bruce Arians and general manager Jason Licht.
In 2012, when the Bears were hiring a general manager after Jerry Angelo was fired, Licht was the runner-up to Phil Emery.
In 2013, when the Bears were hiring a head coach after Lovie Smith was fired, Arians was a finalist for the job that went to Marc Trestman.