Bears' Soldier Field PA Announcer to Retire After 38 Seasons
By Scott Rogust
A mainstay of the Chicago Bears and Solider Field is calling it a career.
The team announced Thursday morning that Solider Field public address announcer Jim Riebandt will retire at the conclusion of this season, the 38th of his career.
The Bears organization will honor him in Week 16 when they take on the Kansas City Chiefs.
#Bears announce Soldier Field PA announcer Jim Riebandt will retire after the 2019 season, his 38th season.
— JJ Stankevitz (@JJStankevitz) October 30, 2019
Said chairman George McCaskey: "He’ll be missed both off and ‘… on the field.’”
“Being the public address announcer of the Chicago Bears since 1982 has been a great thrill for me,” said Riebandt. “The reaction of the fans to my urge to bring the noise on defense and chant a Bears first down is especially fun. Every game I have worked in my 38 seasons has been very exciting for me.”
Riebandt joined the organization back in 1979 as the fill-in for then-PA announcer Chet Coppock before being hired full-time in 1982.
"Being the public address announcer of the Chicago Bears since 1982 has been a great thrill for me."
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) October 30, 2019
PA announcer Jim Riebandt to retire at the end of the 2019 season.
?: https://t.co/C0gwAzGQjn pic.twitter.com/m1Pu2tY3cK
He's been there through the Bears' highs and lows, the obvious pinnacle being the team's run to a Super Bowl victory in 1985.
Riebandt's voice has been a staple to all who buy a ticket for a Chicago Bears home game. His replacement will have big shoes to fill.