Aug. 31, 2011 – Concordia University Chicago welcomed Ray McElroy, former NFL player and current chaplain for the Chicago Bears, to campus Aug. 29. McElroy spoke in the chapel to a gathering of approximately 450 including many of Concordia's student-athletes. His message centered on God's standard of excellence and included Ephesians 2:8-9 and John 3:16.
McElroy has served as the Bears' team chaplain since 2008. He is a licensed minister who speaks to schools and community groups on behalf of his organization, A Ray of Hope on Earth (www.arayofhopeonearth.org).
McElroy is a native of Chicago's West Side who attended Proviso West High School. He starred collegiately at Eastern Illinois University where he was a four-year starter at cornerback and three-time first-team All-Gateway Conference selection. A 1994 AP third-team All-American, McElroy was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the fourth round of the 1995 draft. He played for the Colts for four seasons before finishing his career with the Bears in 2000 and the Detroit Lions in 2001.
