Chicago Bears quarterback Craig Krenzel got an extra workout last week when he met with about 50 excited children at the Boys and Girls Club of Waukegan.
Krenzel ventured north of the Bears’ Lake Forest training facility to play in the NFL/United Way’s Hometown Huddle.
The Bears Foundation donated money to the United Way of Lake County so that the Boy and Girls Club could buy flag football equipment.
The kids put Krenzel through the paces with everything from a question-and-answer session, to running a few plays in the club’s gymnasium and signing autographs. Krenzel also made a pitch about the importance of getting an education.
“When I’m all done playing football, I’d like to go back to school and become a doctor,” said Krenzel, who majored in molecular genetics at Ohio State University.
Asked how far he can throw a football, Krenzel said, “Maybe 70 [yards] if I’ve got a little wind on my back.”
Many of the kids looked thrilled to have one of the Bears come to see them.
“I’m happy because we had someone famous down here,” said Shawn Smith, 12, a 7th grader at Webster Middle School.
Krenzel also thought his visit was worthwhile.
“Growing up as a kid I would have loved to have something like this,” he said, a long line of youngsters waiting for his signature. “If Barry Sanders had ever come to my school, it would have been the greatest.”
