Terrell Owens wants to continue his NFL career and thinks he would be a natural fit with the Chicago Bears, reports David Kaplan of CSN Chicago. There is a connection between Owens and Bears first-year head coach Marc Trestman, who was the San Francisco 49ers quarterbacks coach/offensive coordinator when Owens entered the NFL in 1996. 49ers head coach George Seifert retired after that 1996 season and was replaced by Steve Mariucci.
"I played my first early years in San Francisco with [Bears head coach Marc Trestman] and shortly after that, he left to do some things," Owens said. "I haven't talked to Marc in a long while. I know he's gone on and done some things, now he's back in the NFL. So, I never really thought about it until myself and Napoleon [Harris] were talking about it earlier, but I would definitely welcome it if they would give it some serious consideration. To think about [Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall] on the other side and me on one side, that's really dangerous. I'm keeping myself in shape just for any opportunity that may come about."
Trestman left the 49ers organization after 1996 to become the quarterbacks coach with the Detroit Lions, so the time Owens and Trestman worked together was brief. But when you're 39-years-old and grasping at any opportunity to remain in the NFL, any connection is worth reaching for. Owens has had a Hall of Fame career, catching 1,078 passes for 15,934 yards and 153 touchdowns, ranking among the Top 10 in league history in those three statistical categories. However, the six-time Pro Bowler turns 40 in December and has not played a regular season game in the National Football League since Dec. 12, 2010. Owens suffered a torn ACL while working out as a free agent during the 2011 lockout and spent that season out of football. With no NFL offers in the 2012 offseason, Owens played eight games for the Allen Wranglers of the Indoor Football League, but was released last May. Owens went to training camp with the Seattle Seahawks last summer, but he was released after catching two passes for 41 yards in two preseason games. While a reunion between Owens and Trestman appears unlikely, the veteran wideout had praise for his former coordinator.
"Coach Trestman has a great football mind and he will get the most out of the talent the Bears have," Owens told Kaplan. "Guys like Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall and Matt Forte will be even better playing for Coach Trestman."
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