PRO FOOTBALL'S ULTIMATE FAN ASSOCIATION

RING OF HONOR MEMBER

AWARDED POSTHUMOUSLY

Jason Carlson (Bear Down J) was inducted into our organization in the Class of 2004, was honored by the "Visa Hall of Fans" as the Chicago Bears Ultimate Fan of 2003, and was the "inaugural member" of the Pro Football's Ultimate Fan Association "Ring of Honor" in 2008.

Jason has been a Bears fan since birth--literally--he was born during the 100th game between the Bears and the Packers, although the Bears lost that game 28-27.  During his life, Bear Down J fought Childhood Diabetes, dealt with multiple organ transplants, and supported his Bears every day.  Always smiling and never despondent, Jason pushed through three kidney transplants and became legally blind in 1991 after kidney failure caused his blood pressure to skyrocket, making his eyes bleed, but even still, he continued to hate 'that team from Wisconsin.'  Despite taking nearly 40 pills a day to prevent rejection, pricking his finger about 20 times a day to monitor blood glucose levels, and self-administering about 10 insulin injections, Jason continually attended Bears games wearing his 'game day uniform.'

Jason passed away on September 12, 2008.  Up until that day, he loved his Bears and encouraged everyone to "Be Someone's Hero. Be an Organ Donor."  “You deal with the hand you've been dealt,” Jason stated in one of the many interviews he conducted, “I always tell people, ‘You spend more time not existing than you do existing.  Make the most of it.'”  To honor Jason during a home game, the Chicago Bears temporarily added the letter 'J' at the end of their fight song, and the whole stadium was encouraged to sing along.

To additionally honor Jason, our organization created the Jason “Beardown J” Carlson Courage Award.  This award is presented to the PFUFA member that throughout the previous year has personified Honor & Courage and Inspired our membership through a displayed of our mission statement in their day-to-day lives.