Dallis Flowers, a 2015 Oak Park and River Forest High School graduate, was looking to make an impact in his second season with the Chicago Bears.
Unfortunately, Flowers, a cornerback, suffered a serious lower-body injury during a training camp practice at Halas Hall in Lake Forest on Aug. 6. While the exact nature of the injury has yet to be revealed, it is serious enough to place Flowers on the injured reserve list, which in all likelihood will cause him to miss the entire season.
“It’s a sad thing to hear,” said OPRF head football coach John Hoerster. “Especially when it’s a kid you had the opportunity to coach and means so much to your program. Dallis has given so much back over the years, and you just don’t like to see or hear anything like that.
“I hope it’s something Dallis can recover from,” he added. “I hope his spirits are up. I know he’s got a really good support system around him, and we’re just rooting for him. I hope he can make a recovery and bounce back.”
Flowers was in his fifth NFL season. He signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2022 and made the Professional Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team as a kick returner, averaging 31.1 yards per return.
Flowers won a starting job in 2023 but suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 4. Following successful rehab, he returned to the Colts in 2024 but was released after five games. He then signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and spent the remainder of the year on their practice squad.
After the season, Flowers re-signed with the Bucs on a reserve/future contract but was placed on waivers and subsequently released after last year’s NFL Draft. He then signed with the San Francisco 49ers but was cut following the preseason.
On Sept. 9, Flowers inked a practice-squad deal with the Bears. He appeared in three games, recording a tackle against the Dallas Cowboys in a Bears’ victory.
Flowers had his #21 jersey number at OPRF retired by the school in 2023, joining Eric Kumerow (#14) as the Huskies’ only football players to have such a prestigious honor bestowed upon them.
Hoerster felt Flowers’s injury was untimely. He thought Flowers was making progress with the Bears. Hoerster hasn’t talked with Flowers yet, but he’s wishing nothing but the best for him.
“He’s a special kid,” Hoerster said. “He was doing some great things (with the Bears).”