A Night with Chicago Football Conference Champions:
Brian Urlacher, Rex Grossman & Alex Brown
Chicago
Set Sail for an Unforgettable LIVE Experience
A Night with Chicago Football Conference Champions: Brian Urlacher, Rex Grossman & Alex Brown
Relive the 2006 season with legends aboard City Cruises Live! Celebrate one of the most unforgettable chapters in Chicago football history with the players who lived it. Join Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher, quarterback Rex Grossman, and defensive standout Alex Brown for a fan-first, football-fueled night on Lake Michigan. Guiding the evening is none other than the voice of Chicago Football himself, Jeff Joniak, bringing his signature play-by-play energy as host. This exclusive cruise is packed with locker room stories, game-day insights, and up-close moments with Chicago football icons. It’s a superfan’s dream night—all set against the stunning backdrop of the Chicago skyline.
Fuel up with a multi-course buffet, take advantage of the open bar, and enjoy an ice-cold beer as you soak in the memories of that epic 2006 run to becoming conference champs.
VIP upgrades available: Get premium seating near the stage and take home a signed, printed souvenir photo—little something extra to make your night hall-of-fame worthy.
Who’s On Board
Brian Urlacher
Brian Urlacher is indeed one of the most celebrated linebackers in NFL history, having played his entire 13-year career with the Chicago Bears from 2000 to 2012. Known for his impressive athleticism, intelligence on the field, and leadership, Urlacher was instrumental in the Bears’ defense during his tenure.
He was named to the Pro Bowl eight times and earned All-Pro honors five times, showcasing his consistent excellence. In 2005, he was awarded the NFL Defensive Player of the Year, further solidifying his status as one of the league’s elite defenders.
Urlacher’s impact on the game was recognized when he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a first-ballot selection in 2018. His legacy remains strong in Chicago, where he is celebrated as one of the franchise’s all-time greats.
Rex Grossman
Rex Grossman was born on August 23, 1980, in Bloomington, IN.
High school career- Grossman attended high school at Bloomington South where he was an Indiana first team all-state QB, won the Mr. Football award, and leading his high school to a state championship in 1997.
College career- Rex played college football at the University of Florida Gators, where he was a standout quarterback and led the team to an SEC championship in 2000 as a freshman. The following year, in 2001, Rex led the Gators to a 10-2 record, was runner up in the 2001 Heisman Trophy race, and was named AP Player of the Year as well as first team All American honors.
NFL career- Grossman was selected by the Chicago Bears in the first round (22nd overall) in the 2003 draft.
He led the team to an NFC Championship and a Super Bowl XLI appearance in 2006. Rex went on to sign with the Houston Texans for 1 year and then went on to sign on with The Washington Commanders where he played for 4 more years. Grossman’s NFL career ended after 11 seasons. He finished with over 14,000 passing yards, 87 touchdowns.
Post Career- Rex Grossman is currently the owner and CEO of Florida Medical Staffing, LLC. A healthcare staffing company that he started with his wife Alison in 2009.
Alex Brown
Alex James Brown (born June 4, 1979) is an American former football defensive end who played in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons. He played college football for the University of Florida, and was a two-time All-American. The Chicago Bears picked Brown in the fourth round of the 2002 NFL draft, and he also played for the New Orleans Saints.
Jeff Joniak
Chicago Bears Play-by-Play Announcer
One of the energetic and exciting broadcast voices of the National Football League, Jeff Joniak enters his 25th season as the play-by-play announcer of the Chicago Bears, his 29th season involved in the game day radio broadcasts, and his 40th year of sports broadcasting in Chicago.
Entering his third season on the radio flagship home of the Bears, ESPN Chicago, Joniak is joined by Super Bowl winning Bear Tom Thayer, and former Bears fullback Jason McKie. Currently, Joniak hosts “The Bears ETC.” podcast for the Chicago Bears and the “Bears Weekly Radio” each week on ESPN Chicago. On game days, Jeff co-hosts Bears-produced television shows, “Bears Game Day Live” and “Bears Game Night Live” on Fox, while also conducting post game interviews on Marquee Sports Network Chicago Bears programming during the season.
From 1997-2022, Joniak hosted the Chicago Bears game day broadcasts on WMAQ and WBBM Radio, while serving as Director of Sports Operations, reporter, and sports anchor earning multiple awards over the years.
Throughout the year, Jeff emcees a number of charitable events, and special appearances for various companies. He is a board member for the Chicago Chapter of the National Football Foundation, and has emceed its Scholarship Awards ceremony for nearly 20 years. His work includes hosting the NFL’s Ed Block Courage Award ceremony for the Bears and the annual Chicago Bears Care Gala.
Joniak was selected by the NSMA as the 2022 Illinois Sportscaster of the Year and named to the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame in 2019. A six-time winner of the Peter Lisagor Award, Joniak also was named the winner of the 2022 INBA Crystal Mic Award. Joniak earned multiple Associated Press “Best Sports Reporting” awards and earned the Silver Dome Award for “Best Play-by-Play” in 2006, and in 2013 and 2022 as “Best Sportscaster”. He was the winner of the RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Awards in 2007, 2009, and 2013. Jeff has also earned Chicago Midwest Emmy Awards for Bears television shows in 2009 and 2012.
Before joining the Chicago Bears media crew, Jeff co-hosted the game day broadcasts for the Chicago Bulls during their championship years from 1991-1996. His first broadcasting job was at Sports Phone in Chicago, followed by stops at the Tribune Radio Network, Illinois News Network, CLTV, and Metro Networks where he started the sports department. It was at the old WMAQ Radio that Jeff became Sports Director, worked on Bulls broadcasts, anchored morning drive, and started with the Bears as the co-host of pre-game and post-game shows
He is a 1980 graduate of Hersey High School in Arlington Heights, where he’s been named one of the school’s Distinguished Alumni and a 1984 Broadcast Journalism graduate of Iowa State University.