That’s a wrap! We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of our 2026 inductees and to everyone who holds Chicago's incredible sports scene close to their hearts. Follow the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame on social media for regular content celebrating the over 600 Hall of Famers who have made Chicago one of the greatest sports cities in the world!

Jerry Azumah has just been inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame! A record-setting college running back who won the Walter Payton Award at New Hampshire, Azumah reinvented himself in the NFL as a cornerback and return specialist across seven seasons with the Bears. He scored the final touchdown ever at old Soldier Field, earned All-Pro honors, and was recently enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame. Off the field, he leads as president of Bears Care. We’re proud to welcome him as a new member of the Hall of Fame! @JerryAzumah

Tony Petitti has just received the Lifetime Contribution to Sports Award and been inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame! Leading one of the most powerful conferences in college sports from right here in Chicagoland, Petitti has built a distinguished career across sports and media, serving as the launch president of MLB Network, chief operating officer of Major League Baseball, and now the seventh commissioner of the Big Ten Conference. A 14-time Sports Emmy winner, he has guided the Big Ten through a transformative era of coast-to-coast expansion. We’re proud to welcome him as a new member of the Hall of Fame!

Jordan Lynch has just been inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame! A Mount Carmel alum and Northern Illinois legend, Lynch was a 2013 Heisman finalist and first-team All-American who shattered NCAA rushing records for a quarterback. After winning a Grey Cup with Edmonton, he returned home to coach Mount Carmel to five state championships. We’re proud to welcome him as a new member of the Hall of Fame! @Jordanlynch06

We have just played our In Memoriam tribute, honoring nine esteemed members of the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame who have recently passed away: Mike Ditka - Chicago Bears (Class of 1985) Bob Pulford - Chicago Blackhawks (Class of 1998) Glenn Hall - Chicago Blackhawks (Class of 1989) Wilbur Wood - Chicago White Sox (Class of 1990) Lou Holtz - Notre Dame (Class of 2019) Troy Murray - Chicago Blackhawks (Class of 2014) Dennis Hull - Chicago Blackhawks (Class of 1990) John Damore - Chicago Bears (Class of 2004) Tommy John - Chicago White Sox (Class of 2013) Their contributions to sports and our community are immeasurable. We will be posting the tribute video on the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame YouTube channel in the coming days to honor their legacies. Our thoughts are with their families and all who were inspired by their remarkable lives.

George Rogers has just received the Gale Sayers Award and been inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame! A 1980 Heisman Trophy winner and the first overall pick in the 1981 NFL Draft, Rogers made immediate history, leading the league in rushing and earning Offensive Rookie of the Year with a record-setting debut season. He capped a standout career as a Super Bowl XXII champion before earning his place in the College Football Hall of Fame. We’re proud to welcome him as a new member of the Hall of Fame!

Norman “Bobie” Cahn has just been inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame! A University of Chicago standout who played under the legendary Amos Alonzo Stagg, Cahn became the finest referee the early NFL had ever seen. A fixture at the Bears’ Cubs Park, his colorful personality made him such a draw that newspapers advertised games simply because he would be officiating. He worked the very first NFL Championship Game in 1933 and every one through 1938, leaving a lasting stamp on Chicagoland sports history. We’re proud to add his name to our list of Hall of Famers!

Glen Grunwald has just been inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame! From Franklin Park standout to NCAA champion at Indiana, Grunwald was the only player ever named to the All-Chicago area team four times and the 1976 Illinois Player of the Year. He went on to a distinguished career as an NBA executive, building the expansion Raptors into a playoff team and drafting future Hall of Famers along the way. We’re proud to welcome him as a new member of the Hall of Fame!

Brad Guzan has just been inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame! From Evergreen Park to the world’s biggest stages, Guzan became one of the most accomplished American goalkeepers of his generation, earning 64 caps for the U.S. Men’s National Team and winning three CONCACAF Gold Cups. He spent eight seasons in the Premier League with Aston Villa before helping Atlanta United win an MLS Cup and becoming the club’s all-time appearance leader. We’re proud to welcome him as a new member of the Hall of Fame!

Ron Rivera has just received the George Connor Award and been inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame! A cornerstone of the legendary 1985 Bears, Rivera spent all nine of his playing seasons in Chicago and became the first person of Puerto Rican descent to win a Super Bowl. He returned as the Bears’ defensive coordinator to build another championship-caliber defense, then went on to earn two NFL Coach of the Year awards as a head coach. We’re proud to welcome him as a new member of the Hall of Fame! @RonRivera80

Mark Giangreco has received the Excellence in Media Award and is now inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame! For decades, Mark Giangreco brought Chicago sports fans the stories, highlights, and moments that defined generations. A three-time Emmy Award winner and one of the most recognizable voices in Chicago broadcasting history, Giangreco served as sports director and lead sports anchor at ABC7, becoming a fixture in homes across the city. We’re proud to welcome him as a new member of the Hall of Fame! @mark_giangreco

Kathy Weber, MD has just been inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame! For decades, Dr. Weber has been one of the few women in the country to serve in both the NBA and MLB through her work as a physician for both the Chicago Bulls and the Chicago White Sox. The first woman elected president of the MLB Team Physicians Association, she has shaped the field as both a pioneering physician and a mentor to the next generation. We’re proud to welcome her as a new member of the Hall of Fame!

Steve Smith has just received the Stan Mikita Award and been inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame! A three-time Stanley Cup champion, Smith arrived in Chicago in 1991 and spent six seasons anchoring the Blackhawks’ defense alongside Hall of Famer Chris Chelios, playing in the 1991 NHL All-Star Game at Chicago Stadium. He later remained part of the organization as a scout, earning another Stanley Cup with the team in 2010. We’re proud to welcome him as a new member of the Hall of Fame!

Dick Barwegen has just been inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame! A Chicago native and Fenger Academy graduate, Barwegen came home in 1950 to anchor the Bears’ offensive line and became one of the most respected guards of his era. A four-time Pro Bowler and member of the NFL’s 1950s All-Decade Team, his toughness and consistency earned him a place among the 100 greatest players in Bears history. We’re proud to add his name into the Hall of Fame!

Ben Zobrist has just been inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame! Born and raised in Eureka, Illinois, Zobrist delivered the go-ahead RBI in Game 7 to bring the Cubs their first World Series title in 108 years, earning World Series MVP honors. A three-time All-Star and back-to-back champion, he carried Illinois with him to the very top of the game. We’re proud to welcome him as a new member of the Hall of Fame!

A special moment tonight as Corey McPherrin and Emery Moorehead took the stage to honor the late Mike Ditka. Iron Mike was more than a Hall of Fame player and the coach of the 1985 Super Bowl champions. He was the heart and soul of Chicago football, a man whose toughness, fire, and passion came to define this city’s game for generations. Tonight we remembered what he meant to the Bears, to his players, and to Chicago. A legend, honored by those who knew him best. Rest in peace, Da Coach. 🐻

The Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony has begun! We are thrilled to honor the Class of 2026 and celebrate their incredible contributions to Chicago sports. Stay tuned for updates about inductees throughout the evening!

We're less than an hour away from the start of the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The red carpet is buzzing with activity as guests arrive for a night of celebration and fun. Join us in honoring the Class of 2026!

Tonight is the big night! We look forward to hosting this year's Class of 2026! - Jerry Azumah @JerryAzumah - Ben Zobrist - Jordan Lynch @Jordanlynch06 - Mark Giangreco @mark_giangreco - Glen Grunwald - Ron Rivera @RonRivera80 - Kathy Weber, MD - Steve Smith - Tony Petitti - George Rogers @georgerogers38 - Brad Guzan - Bobie Cahn - Dick Barwegen @PatMcAfeeShow @thekapman @TWaddle87 @ESPN1000 @BarstoolBigCat @barstoolchicago

We will be proud to welcome Kathy Weber, MD to the Class of 2026 on October 15 in Rosemont! For more than two decades, Kathy Weber, MD has been a trusted presence on Chicago’s sidelines, keeping some of the city’s biggest stars in the game and breaking barriers for women in sports medicine along the way. A sports medicine physician at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, Dr. Weber has served as team physician for the Chicago White Sox since 2004 and spent nearly two decades as a physician for the Chicago Bulls, making her one of very few women to serve as both an MLB and NBA team physician. A former president of the MLB Team Physicians Association, she is also the head team physician for the DePaul Blue Demons and has lent her expertise to the LPGA and USA Tennis. Named one of Chicago’s “Women of Influence” in 2019, she continues to shape the future of the field as founder of the Primary Care Sports Medicine fellowship at Rush. Will we see you at the induction ceremony? Tickets are available now at chicagolandsportshalloffame.…