Super Bowl Champion strolls through the halls of Aurora City Hall

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It’s not every day a Super Bowl Champion strolls through the halls of Aurora City Hall.

That’s why some staff members who are longtime Chicago Bears fans were stunned when retired Chicago Bears player Dennis McKinnon walked into the lobby recently.

Retired Chicago Bears Super Bowl champion Dennis McKinnon, left, visited Aurora mayor Richard Irvin after the mayor expressed interest in Aurora being the new home to the Chicago Bears for offices and practice fields. Several other communities have expressed interest, including Naperville. City of Aurora government photo

A wide receiver for the 1985 Super Bowl Champion Chicago Bears, McKinnon visited downtown Aurora to visit with Aurora Mayor Richard C. Irvin.

For more than an hour, the two discussed various topics, including why Aurora is an ideal new home for the Bears and why McKinnon’s legendary teammate Walter Payton chose Aurora to open his Walter Payton’s Roundhouse restaurant in the mid-1990s.

Dennis became a free agent walk-on with the Chicago Bears in 1983 and was a member of the iconic Chicago Bears 1985 Superbowl Championship Team. He caught 31 passes for 555 yards and seven touchdowns during the championship season.

Throughout his post-season career, Dennis has held many roles, including executive spokesperson and brand ambassador to radio host and author. He served as the Vice President of the NFL Retired Players Association’s Chicago Chapter.

The meeting was called after Mayor Irvin submitted last month a letter of interest to Chicago Bears CEO Kevin Warren regarding Aurora being viable relocation option.

City officials have been in communication with the Chicago Bears site selection agency to present site options.

—City of Aurora government

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