Lance Briggs of the Chicago Bears Talks Travel

The Grid Iron All-Star Chats About Globetrotting, Geeking Out
By Libby Zay
October 5, 2009

National Football League superstar Lance Briggs has played in the Pro Bowl four times, and recently re-signed with the Chicago Bears for a six-year, $36 million dollar contract. But off the field, Briggs defends a squad that might surprise you: comic book fans.

Ever since Briggs picked up a copy of the Original X-Men in a card shop as a kid, collecting comics has been one of his “life’s obsessions.” In a recent interview with Marvel News, Briggs disclosed that he relates to Wolverine because they both have a lot of issues to tackle. “[As a linebacker] I’m not supposed to do nice things. I have a dirty job and I do it and I do it well,” he said. Recently, Briggs launched Lance’s Comic World, a social network site with a simple goal: enabling Briggs to connect to his fans while sharing his passions for football and comics.

As a football player, Briggs knows a thing or two about traveling. This season alone, Briggs will fly with the Bears to eight cities across the nation to compete against his opponents. Below, Briggs talks about his favorite childhood vacation memory, a backpacking trip around Europe, run-ins with tattooed Bears’ fans, and more…

When was the funniest time a fan recognized you while on vacation?

Lance Briggs: This year, I was out in the Bahamas, and I was relaxing by the beach, and I bumped into a guy who knew who I was, and he was really excited. He was a big Chicago Bears’ fan, and you can always tell a Chicago Bears’ fan because they have the Chicago Bears’ tattoo. He pulls his shirt up immediately and shows me the insignia.

What’s the worst travel experience you’ve had?

Lance Briggs: I missed a flight from Arizona to Chicago once, and the only other flight available was connecting through Charlotte, so I ended getting in at 6 AM the next day, and I had meetings at 8:40 AM. It was something I had to do, but I can’t say it was fun!

What is the craziest vacation you ever took?

Lance Briggs: The craziest vacation I took was when I went backpacking in europe for 11 days..we started in Holland and ended up in Venice..We went to Paris, Nice and then down to Rome and back up to Venice. This was about 3-4 years ago.

What is your favorite childhood vacation memory?

Lance Briggs: I loved traveling in California for my sister’s softball tournaments. We would pack everything up, the coolers filled with food and get in the back of our close friends’ truck and play games all the way until Visalia. It’s an all-day tournament, and by the time we’re on our way home, I was usually dead tired and asleep.

What item can you not leave home without?

Lance Briggs: My phone. I definitely need it for a mode of communication, but I have to say when my phone doesn’t work or when I’m out of the country… it’s a bit of Heaven sometimes.