National Football League

Bears OL Kyle Long honors retiring 49er Justin Smith with 'a few cold ones'

Published May. 19, 2015 9:18 a.m. ET

foxsports

Offensive linemen aren't known for broadcasting their emotions, so it doesn't get more sincere than when Chicago Bears right guard Kyle Long Tweets that he'll be washing down the memory of recently retired San Francisco 49ers defensive end Justin Smith with a few ice-cold beers.

Smith recorded one of his five sacks last season when his 49ers hosted Long's Bears in Week 2. Chicago's 28-20 victory marked the only time these two have ever met on the field. Still, after 14 fearless NFL seasons, Smith must have left a lasting impact on Long.

Long, who has only been in the league for two seasons, could have turned on the television when he was 12 and seen a rookie version of Smith squaring off for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2001.

How's that for perspective?

(h/t Chicago Sun-Times)

Photo Credit: Jeff Hanisch/USA TODAY Sports