You can’t say that Kyle Long was cursed more than he was blessed as a football player. The son of Hall of Fame defensive end Howie Long, Kyle would be the first to acknowledge that the bloodlines, upbringing and guidance of family and friends that nurtured his wayward path to the NFL far outweigh any of the trials, disappointment and heartache that followed.
Still, there was a sense of sadness among those who had been with him since his NFL start with the Bears in 2013 that it appears to be over so quickly — at the very least for another season and very likely with the Bears after seven seasons.