Before he heads to training camp with the Bears, second-year defensive line coach Brick Haley will conduct a free football camp July 21 in Gadsden, Alabama.
The inaugural Brick Haley Football Camp will be held at Gadsden City High School for children ages 6-17 in elementary school through high school.
The camp is designed for kids to learn basic fundamentals and have fun. Coach Haley and others from the NFL and local community will be on hand to work with all of the children. Local business people, teachers and coaches are encouraged to volunteer to participate in the camp.
Haley was hired by the Bears on Feb. 23, 2007. The Gadsden native came to Chicago after three seasons as the defensive line coach at Mississippi State. He also has coached collegiately at Georgia Tech (2001-04), Baylor (1999-2001), Clemson (1998-99), Houston (1996-97), Troy State (1993-96), Austin Peay (1991-93) and Arkansas (1990-91).
In his first season with the Bears in 2007, Haley oversaw a defensive line that registered 28 of the team’s 41 sacks. Six different linemen registered sacks, led by Adewale Ogunleye, who had nine sacks while also forcing six fumbles and recovering a team-high three fumbles.
Three-time Pro Bowler Tommie Harris registered a career-high eight sacks, the second most among NFL defensive tackles in 2007. End Alex Brown was the only Bears player in 2007 with a sack, interception, forced fumble and fumble recovery. Under the mentoring of Haley, Chicago defensive linemen registered 25 tackles-for-losses in 2007.
