Figures from across the sporting world are showing support for Chicago kicker Cody Parkey after his devastating 'double-doink' knocked the Bears out of the playoffs
The Bears lost in heartbreaking fashion on Sunday, with kicker Cody Parkey's last-second kick bouncing off two posts before missing, eliminating Chicago from the playoffs.
After the game, Parkey faced the media with honesty and grace, saying that he felt terrible about the miss, but had to own it.
Parkey's response and candor with the media were met with compliments and messages of encouragement from other athletes across sports, including Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade.
The final game of Wild Card weekend ended in heartbreak for the Chicago Bears, who lost to the Philadelphia Eagles 16-15 after kicker Cody Parkey's last-second field goal attempt hit off the upright and the crossbar in the "double doink" heard 'round the football world.
Boos rained down on Parkey as he trotted off the field, with Bears fans clearly blaming him for the fact that Chicago would not be moving forward in the postseason.
But after the game, rather than shy away from the cameras, Parkey addressed the media openly.
"I feel terrible," Parkey said. "I let the team down. That's on me. I have to own it. I have to be a man. Unfortunately, that's the way it went today."
How Parkey handled the moment earned him some fans from around the sporting world, with fellow athletes and members of the media complimenting his candor and grace.
Dwyane Wade tweeted out a message of support.
Most of you have no idea how hard this is to do. Cody Parkey way to face the media like a true professional. I’m a fan! https://t.co/xbJ5kW6pXF
And Kobe Bryant encouraged Parkey to "grind harder and double down" heading into next season.
We’ve all been here Cody but if you wanna win back the city you gotta get back in the lab and have a historic season next year to bury this one. I’m happy for my #EaglesNation but as a fellow pro athlete you gotta grind harder and double down #noexcuses#JGSD justgetsh*tdone https://t.co/icd3MQRQFg
Parkey's teammates were there to pick him up, with guard Kyle Long noting that the Bears would have never been in a position to win the game had it not been for his three earlier made field goals.
Kyle Long on what he said to Kicker Cody Parkey “You accounted for half our points man... we could of done better on offense” #Bears
This is a stand up guy that a lot of young players can look up to. This is how you handle adversity like a pro. Cody is a heck of a kicker and will be for a long time. No reason to be taking the heat he is especially when that ball was tipped. #ClassActhttps://t.co/Ae2kr0DYIy
It's as heartbreaking an outcome as you can imagine for a kicker, but Parkey got through the stretch about as well as any athlete could, given the circumstances.
Kicker Cody Parkey said he wants to go home see his wife and dog...knowing they don’t care what happened today #Bears
Chicagoans will likely feel burnt by Parkey for some time, but if he gets the chance to come back and kick for the Bears again next season, there's little doubt that he'll have more than a few new fans pulling for him.
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