Three players on the record are Chicago Bears fans: Dwyane Wade and Tim Duncan of the NBA, and Candace Parker of the WNBA. Wade is the only one who has said it himself. Duncan's and Parker's fandom comes from outlets reporting it, and none of the three has an ended fandom attached.
Which athletes grew up Bears fans?
Wade is the clearest local case. He was born in Chicago, Illinois, went to Harold L. Richards High School in Oak Lawn, Illinois, and played for the Miami Heat, the Chicago Bulls and the Cleveland Cavaliers over his career. EssentiallySports carried his words in April 2025: "This is Dwyane Wade, Chicago's own. Chicago Bears fan through and through." That is a Confirmed fandom in his own words, and the only one of the three.
Parker has Illinois ties of her own. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and attended Naperville Central High School in Naperville, Illinois. Sportskeeda reported in March 2025 that "Candace Parker is a diehard Chicago Bears fan," and dates the fandom to childhood. Her career took her through the Los Angeles Sparks, UMMC Ekaterinburg, the Guangdong Dolphins, Fenerbahçe, the Xinjiang Tianshan Deers, the Chicago Sky and the Las Vegas Aces. Because this is an outlet's description and not her own statement, it stands as Reported.
Which athlete is the most famous Bears fan?
On this list, the pick depends on what you count. Wade is the only player whose Bears fandom is Confirmed in his own words, and he is a Chicago native. Duncan is the less obvious name, since his career was spent entirely with the San Antonio Spurs and he was born in Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, where he attended St. Dunstan's Episcopal School.
How do we know Tim Duncan is a Bears fan?
The source is a sportswriter, not Duncan. Mike Monroe wrote for Bleacher Report on December 17, 2016, describing his time covering the Spurs: "Through 12 years covering the Spurs in San Antonio, I developed a level of comfort with Duncan, enhanced by our common love for the Chicago Bears." That is a reporter describing a shared interest, so it counts as Reported and not as something Duncan said publicly. The Bears' Super Bowl XX win came in 1986, the year Duncan turned 10.
Which athletes used to be Bears fans?
None. All three players are listed as current fans, and no one in the group has said the fandom ended.
Famous Bears fans in basketball
Counting by league, the list is two NBA players and one WNBA player, all retired. By source, it is one player speaking for himself (Wade) and two named in outlets (Duncan and Parker). By geography, Wade and Parker both went to high school in Illinois, while Duncan's link was formed through a reporter's years on the Spurs beat. The Bears play in the NFC North.
Questions people ask
Which athletes are Bears fans?
Tim Duncan, Dwyane Wade and Candace Parker. Wade's fandom is in his own words, while Duncan's and Parker's were reported by Bleacher Report and Sportskeeda.
Which athlete is the most famous Bears fan?
Wade is the one with the strongest sourcing, a Chicago native whose Bears fandom is confirmed in his own words.
Which athletes used to be Bears fans?
No one on the list. All three are recorded as current fans.
Is Candace Parker a Bears fan?
Sportskeeda reported in March 2025 that she is, and dates the fandom to childhood. It is an outlet's report, not a statement from Parker herself.