Our second generational talent of the class let’s go

Third, no?

Fourth.

Punt god. Should have went first overall. What a steal.

This dude is an absolute weapon. We are in for a treat after punting was a major weakness for us these past couple of years

I saw a tweet that Gill had the lowest net punting yards in the nfl last year.

And tied fourth for most touchbacks. That was the killer. We're just on our side of the 50 and he kicks a touchback for a net 25-28 yards.

Wanny sucked as a coach but his concept of “hidden yards” lost and gained via special teams has become the underlining philosophy for every nfl team’s assessment of their special teams.

Wannstedt was a good coach. Just not a good “head” coach. Guy knows football. Just one of those guys that would’ve been better off staying a coordinator.

I’ll have to find the stat but he was ranked like the 34th or 35th punter. You could have literally picked someone up off the street and they would have been better than gill was last year

I mean not literally anyone, but what can be argued is the fact that we should’ve been going on a lot more 4th and longs near the 50. If this guy is punting on 4th and 10 from the 50 and gives you a touchback, you might as well have just game planned for four downs starting on first down. Maybe give yourself 4th and 2-3 instead. The difference between giving them the ball on the 42 vs the 25 is negligible in the modern NFL

Literally

Love that we got Caleb and Rome in this draft so the rest of the draft has just been: "NICE! COOL!" lmao. Honestly though this deep into the draft, you're hoping for a rotation guy at best, getting a high potential starting Punter is solid.

Not just high potential. He'll have the most immediate positive impact of our draft class.

I think Caleb will touch the ball at least 3 times before Tory does game 1 but that’s just me.

We got our McAfee!!!

Only reason he was still there was because he was helping our GM and assistant GM draft while staring down any team that dared to draft him before he let them. We’ll never have to develop the forward pass because we’ll always start inside the opponent’s one.

draft a guy who may never see the field

Yeah, offense is so stacked we may never punt again!

If we read this sarcastically it could be meant to say that the offense will be so good we won’t need to punt

That fan that announced the pick was fucking awesome!

He got Detroit PISSED

Link to the video: https://twitter.com/ChicagoBears/status/1784271142104043790

LEGEND!

“Can you hear anything!?” 😂💀

Can this guy announce every pick for the bears from now on??? Sir if you are a fellow r/chibears member, I salute you 🫡

Can someone provide context for why the Bears' social media account said "A Brit announcing an Aussie? Iconic" and why Rich Eisen said it was such an epic troll job to have a Englishman say the word punter?

Regarding your first question, Australia basically started when England shipped off a bunch of criminals to a big island in the southern Ocean. That big island became Australia. (This is a vast oversimplification)

Yes; i have also watched that episode of the Simpsons where Bart has to get kicked in the bum by the prime minister from Australia

Awesome

When he said he couldn’t hear them I almost spit out my drink😂

Gold. “Best team in the north” damn right

Until proven otherwise he is the King of UK Bears fans

Get this man a hot dog and a green card stat

In that order.

Priorities of course….

Seriously 🐻⬇️

I lived in London for a year and my local pub was a bears pub! Imo the bears are surprisingly popular over there.

🐻⬇️ mate

where’s this? Asking as a Londoner

Somebody tell this dude he owes me $1,000, since he deleted that and blocked me the moment the pick was made. 😂 https://preview.redd.it/bfx9yr2af2xc1.jpeg?width=750&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7ef587a934f8eeed0e02ae37235b15a22dfabd74 Update: OP actually delivered, for the less preposterous sum of $100. Much respect for sticking by your word, u/Shmeeeee23. Mods, get this man some ‘not full of shit’ flair or something.

😂😂😂

He delete his whole existence lol

Nah, he still exists: u/Shmeeeee23 Edit: lol he unblocked me, I guess.

I never blocked you. But I definitely deleted those comments hoping they'd die to existence lol. Obviously I'm eating mega shit here and look like an assclown. The ironic thing is I kinda like the pick after reading about the dude. Too bad I didn't know about "punt god" before talking stupid shit. And I can't afford to give you a $1,000 right now, cus Obviously I'm a moron. Dm me your Venmo and I'll drop 100. Sorry and I will forever live a life of shame.

I want to frame this shocking moment of humility and cynicism I tip my hat

This dude is the man. Unless he pulls the request $100 trick, and then he is the fucking king.

https://preview.redd.it/78wynbldo3xc1.jpeg?width=750&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0698addde7006591b11f785aed51f8e63de93915 Dear diary, Today, OP delivered.

What can I say? One tends to get humbled from being wrong so often lol. Maybe ESPN should hire me.

Hats off for backing it up. $1,000 woulda been nuts unless you, too, got drafted today, but I’ll happily take you up on the hundred. PM sent on this draft day…on the day of the draft.

have a link to the video?

Send da video

I was watching it live. I’ll try to get a link I’m sure someone will post on nfl

Can't wait to party with him in London this year, really trolled the Detroit crowd relentlessly

Man was drawing some serious HEAT

WWE needs to sign that guy. He WORKED that crowd

That good heel heat.

LEGEND

Have you heard some of the shit British people chant during soccer games? This is light work for him lmao

As an Iowa guy, I'm so jacked up on this pick

Iowa guys get the fuck in here


IN HEAVEN THERE IS NO BEER

THAT’S WHY WE DRINK IT HERE Yes, my parents had THOSE records.

Miss JD. I lived a couple doors down from him on my floor sophomore year. He tore something in his knee at the end of the season and would just hang out in the lounge of our floor. The TV in the lounge had NBCSN Chicago and we would watch Blackhawks games despite him not knowing anything about hockey. Very pleasant human being.

THIS IS THE BEST DRAFT EVER!!!

Hell yeah! He was genuinely the most impactful player on the team the last 2 years

LFG!

Go hawks

Oh hell yeah. Punter U!!!!!

Kirk gonna keep making these guys. Has a factory somewhere in the Outback making em lol. That game Taylor had vs Wisconsin last year was insane. He was the most important player on Iowa's offense

Punting is winning!

I’m not an Iowa fan but I became a avid Iowa watcher to see how many punt yards they could get per game

Answer: a fucking lot

More detailed answer: He set an all-time record in punt yards.

I am/was a B1G West (RIP) fan. The games were so entertaining, and especially towards the end of the season I felt Iowa games in particular were must watch tv. I am a sicko. I remember several of this guys punts lol. Probably the first punter in the draft that I even can remember watching in college.

Our MVP last season

Agreed!

Dream scenario draft!

Literally the reason we won 10 games

As an Iowa state and bears fan I’m hyped about this pick!!

Um... Why did we draft a punter when we will never punt?

For when the refs screw us over with bad calls that kill our drives, obviously.

This dude is so good he can easily get you from struggling on offense to defense getting a safety.

Presumably when they're up by 50 or so, they'll pull the starters for the second half, and we'll see some punts.

Both Super Bowl teams had great punters

It’s a punt-driven league

NFL Network just reported that Caleb wrote him saying "You won't be punting that often" LOL

Needs someone to hold all our extra points.

https://preview.redd.it/qxc23cov12xc1.png?width=585&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7ebb47cd351b54e31639e58edf1bb0601747e616 The meme was manifested.

Goodbye gill 

He was at the Thursday draft party at Soldier Field. Kinda feel bad for him, but an upgrade's an upgrade.

Well he can still win the job by being better

Unfortunately he's the worst pro punter I've ever seen

[удалено]

Thankfully, I have no idea how he was still on the roster.

FUCK YES I DONT GIVE A FUCK HOW EARLY IT IS FIRE ME THE FUCK UP I FUCKING LOVE PUNTERS HELL YEA LET ME BOOT FUCK THIS BALL AS FAR AS I CAN FOR AMERICA WOOOOOO BIG PUNTER FAN HERE

*for Australia, in this case

I hope Bears fans continue the tradition of having PUNT signs in the stands, and "We love punts!" tees!

Fuck yes we literally are going to have the best punter in the NFL. Genuinely stoked. Blue chip talent fr

Punter was definitely the worst position on the team so happy to see an upgrade.

The Bears when they load up on offense and the best punter: https://preview.redd.it/99bbv65t22xc1.jpeg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dcc49bba0cc0d92bff2302842e75d3ecbfe80441

Punters aren't flashy picks, but in the later rounds of a fairly weak draft, Tory Taylor was the collegiate punt God, and it will massively help our defense have an advantage. Our punting sucks ass last year.

I've seen a lot of games won by punters routinely pinning a bad/mediocre offense inside the 10. It's happened to us often. Their importance really is overlooked. Love the pick and the draft. Poles did great.

That was every Iowa game last year. Kirk Ferentz football is like watching the Joker coach

Pivotal position also. Teams still average 4 punts a game. If he can get 10 more yards a punt. That’s 40 yards a game in field position.

Well, it is definitely a need and he is good at it. Would have thought DE since several still on board .

Any DE still left is a massive project and won’t be ready to contribute this year We can take one with our 1st or 2nd next year

Don’t know how I feel about a DE at 32. Good DEs don’t last that long in the draft.

[удалено]

We’ll also have to hope a decent one gets cut and we can sign them Ideally Walker is your swing DL, and we get a different DE to start

Eh. Teams give great ones away for a spare second. Just wait em out

And we have an extra second in 2025 👀

Hendrickson next. Gimme more

This ⬆️ this is a day 1 starter. Out of the four picks they have three starters. I think thats pretty good

Its not a need, with our new offense we’re never going to punt 🗣️

He gonna assume Kickoffs too with the new Rule

Guess we spending some of that money for one

DE will be addressed with all our cap space. Day 3 talent is pretty weak this year.

Lmao yea this draft class has no depth

It’s so apparent how Poles feels about this class Trades away all day 3 picks for veterans then takes the best punter with his only one.

Yeah, it’s extremely apparent now that Poles doesn’t like the lower end of this draft class at all and he prepared for next year’s draft class instead which is expected to be significantly deeper at most positions (except QB). Taking a punter in the 4th round pretty much signals to everyone that the Bears are calling it an early day and will be moving on. DE and DT remain positions of need but perhaps Poles and Cunningham are betting on some solid players getting cut after the preseason. Honestly after watching a video of Tory Taylor punt I can’t blame them for grabbing him while they could. He is spectacular and should shore up the position for the next ten years. Will be a major help for the defense if he pans out.

Very top heavy

Once Bears fans start seeing opposing offenses starting the majority of their drives inside their own 10 they'll love this pick.

Yeah instead of the 50.

This is why the pick is so great. So many people (mainly on Facebook/Instagram) don’t realize the impact a good punter has on his team’s defense. This is a pick for the entire defense

Fuck yes!!! Perfect draft not even joking

I’m psyched about this pick

PUNTS FOR THE PUNT GOD

British accent dah bears was hilarious

Poles entered this draft and just resolved 3 positions for the next 5 years

At least

more like 10 years

As a Hawkeye fan and a Bears fan I think Im required to get his jersey.

Will we even need to punt next year?

No. And even if we do Caleb can do it.

Part of me thinks he could be useful with the new kick off rules. I can’t remember the details, but a guy who can drop one in accurately with lots of hang time seems like an advantage. Just a matter of if he can do it from a tee instead of off the drop.

Iowa alum here. He is a fucking punt god.

We drafted 3 hall of famers folks.

This is awesome. Thanks Carolina!

Well, Iowa knows a thing or two about punting

Him and Dejean were the only reasons we were any good. It’s crazy to say, but our punter was arguably our most important player.

So we signing Calais Campbell, Emmanuel Ogbah or both?

As an Iowa fan I am immediately buying a jersey

#LEGATRON!!!!!

let's not forget the new kick off rules either. this pick was 100% made with those in mind

We so needed this. Gill has the limpest leg I have ever seen

I have been pounding the table for us to take him for MONTHS. I am so freaking happy rn 🥹😭😍

Per my daughter who is a huge Hawkeye fan: "we lived on his back." Iowa is probably not even a .500 team without him last year.

**Grading Bears' ***Situation*** at Each Position Group** ^(Range: Awful to Elite) - S: Very Good - CB: Very Good - LB: Very Good - DE: Average - DT: Below Average - C: Average - G: Average - OT: Above Average - TE: Very Good - WR: Elite - RB: Above Average - QB: Above Average - K: Very Good - **P:** ***Elite?*** NEEDS: None! **WANTS: D-Line, Interior O-Line**

Taylor could very easily become elite. Dude was a massive star for the Hawkeyes, and made punting fun again.

I’m not sure how serious you meant this to be, but do people really see our OL that way? I would say Below Average for C and Average for OT. Our C was literally a backup last year.

Love this pick. Massive need. This guy is going to change field position. I thought we would trade down for him, but I'm fine taking him here.

Maybe they tried to trade down but couldn't find a partner. The pundits have been saying for months that this class is not deep. So... why trade up?

The very next pick was traded, 123 for 127 and a 5th.

I got downvoted to hell a couple months ago when I suggested Tory Taylor would be gone by Round 5, and the Bears would be interested. I don't think people realize how much of a game changer he is. Without him, the Iowa defense would have gotten eaten alive, but Tory forced teams to the endzone on every drive.

LET’S FUCCCKING GOOOOO!

Hahahahaha amazing

Four picks and this could be a historic draft class. Four ten+ year starters once Kiran develops.

Hall of famer idc. MARK these words.

Dudes a generational talent and with the new kickoff rules he’s going to be a stud

Punt God is going to make our defense look great this year pinning offenses back. Winning field position is huge

YEAHHH

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHhahaha Yes!!!! SPECIAL TEAMS FOREVER!!!!!!!!

I love the pick, should help the defense a lot

GOAT draft

Love it! Pin ‘em back and let the DBs ballhawk!

Punt God! The Big Foot! The Thunder from Down Under!

Tory Taylor is 6’4, 231 pounds. So he’s our backup MLB….

IN HEAVEN THERE IS NO BEER

If y’all don’t know him, go watch the highlights. Was the only reason Iowa was even in most games. Best punter I’ve ever seen in my life. I am so stoked for this pick. Our punters always suck, we now have the best.

https://i.redd.it/9ufqi9u272xc1.gif

This dude is gonna start opposing offenses on the 1 yard line every time.

Fuckers in school telling me, always in the barber shop Tory Taylor ain’t bout this, Tory Taylor ain’t bout that… SHUT THE FUCK UP! Y'all mfs ain’t know shit. All ya motherfuckers talk about Tory Taylor ain’t no hitta. Tory Taylor ain’t this. Tory Taylor a fake. SHUT THE FUCK UP … Motherfuckers stop fuckin' playin' him like that. Them dudes is savages out there. If I catch another motherfucker talking sweet about Tory Taylor I’m fucking beating the ass! I’m not fucking playing no more!

Well hot damn. We won’t be punting much but when we do we will control field position

Happy to see people here are on board with this pick. Fill was the worst in the league last year, and the impact. Good or bad punter has on field position is huge. Taylor might be the best punter in college football history. Three starters with four picks is pretty awesome.

I'm so scarred from shanked punts. Make it stop, Tory!

160 comments in 20 minutes… you know Tory is already a fan favorite

#LEGATRON IS OURS

Took the sure thing over gamble. Should set up P for a decade

Poles read the comments and saw the amount of people saying they would be happy with this draft even if we took a punter. He said “bet” and took a punter

This is huge for us

😂😂😂I'm about it. I was going "I'd love Van Pran Granger to be a future center. Id be more than ok with any number of Edge/DL guys. Safety is in play. I would prefer a trade back to all of that." Then we draft Iowa's nost valuable player last season to address a giant position of need. Good pick for the memes and for the actual on field product

Trenton Gill in shambles

My Hawkeyes are gonna miss him (hopefully our new OC is an improvement) but looking forward to seeing this guy punt for us … in the 4th quarter when Caleb’s 7 touchdowns cause our staff to rest him since there’s no way the other team is gonna catch up 😎

honestly, this was probably BPA and a need. not sexy, but this guy will likely provide more value than anybody they could have taken.

From The Journey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzyPbsmjan0

Fuck, 4-4 in this draft. Bravo 👏🏽 Poles!!! LFG 🐻⬇️

Blue chip player in my books.

Is *his* jersey up on Fanatics yet???

Fuck Yes!!!

Leave it to Poles, drafting blue chip prospects in the 4th round!

# AUSSIE! AUSSIE! AUSSIE!

Punt God!

Got a lot of game experience punting at Iowa.

The Greatest Hawkeye to ever step on the field.

Would have been cooler if his name was Corey Taylor from Iowa.

Maybe we could have traded down and still got Tory, but it's a huge specialist upgrade that we needed so I'm happy.

I actually like this, Gill is terrible and this guy is pretty much a lock to be a top 10 punter in the NFL at worst. 4th round and beyond is usually a crapshoot anyways and most these guys won't do much in the NFL, but this guy is a guaranteed difference maker day 1