Chris Zorich grew up near me on the far south side of Chicago. He was an only child of African American and Croatian descent raised by his mother. After attending Chicago Vocational High School he went on to star at the University of Notre Dame.
The Chicago Bears selected him in the second round of the 1991 draft. He played with the Bears from 1991-97, although he split the last season with the Washington Redskins. He went on to earn his law degree. Zorich has been very active in his community.
I met Zorich a few times, but this time, Tony and I had a chance to chat a bit more with him. Our Notre Dame softball shirts sparked a conversation. Zorich was quite a fan of college softball. He mentioned watching Oklahoma years ago and when Tony mentioned Keilani Ricketts, Zorich lit up. He remembered her. I asked about him playing 16 inch, a Chicago favorite. He said he only played that for fun and not in a real organized fashion. I would bet, especially in his prime, he could slug a ball!
At 57, Zorich till looks in great shape. His forearms and chest are quite impressive. When he put his arms on our shoulders, I felt like a kid next to him.
Zorich has been one of my favorite Bears for his heart and play. He's a great guy and is on my list of interview wants.
Tony, Chris Zorich and me in Schaumburg, IL-May 2026.
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