Football fandom can take many forms, but one Chicago Bears supporter has taken it to an extreme few others can match.
Glenn Timmerman, the self-proclaimed “craziest” Bears fan, has had 157 autographs from players and coaches permanently tattooed across his body, including his head, arms, legs, chest, back, and stomach. He showed off the collection during a video interview with NBC 5 Chicago in December 2025.
Speaking with sports anchor Mike Berman, Timmerman appeared shirtless in his Bears-themed man cave while explaining how extensive the collection has become.
A lifetime of Bears autographs turned into tattoos
“157 of ’em. Working on more. Working on more,” he said during the interview, which was later shared on NBC Chicago’s Instagram account.
During the segment, the signature-covered man gave a tour of several tattoos, including a former Bears coach and player, Doug Plank, tattooed on the back of his shaved head above a Bears logo, and a tattoo of retired linebacker Brian Urlacher inked onto his right forearm.
Timmerman said the idea began with former Bears linebacker Otis Wilson, a member of the 1985 Super Bowl-winning team. According to the man, Wilson was visiting to watch a game, and during the night, the fan asked him to sign his arm with the intention of getting it tattooed.
“He’s like, ‘sh*t, right!’” Timmerman recalled, explaining that Wilson did not initially believe he would follow through.
Two weeks later, Wilson was scheduled to appear at a Bass Pro Shops autograph signing and the man showed up with the tattoo already done.
“He sees me, stands up, looks at me and goes, ‘Did you get it?’ I was like, ‘Yeah!’” Timmerman said. “He turned me around and was like, ‘Here’s a fan, guys!’”
Since then, Glenn has continued collecting signatures directly on his body, saying it eliminates the need to bring memorabilia to events.
“I don’t have to carry anything anymore,” he joked. “I can leave my credit card at home, but not my Sharpie.”
When asked about his favorite tattoo, Timmerman pointed to a signature from former head coach Mike Ditka, saying Ditka reacted positively when he later saw it.
Looking ahead, he said he hopes to add signatures from current Bears players, naming quarterback Caleb Williams and wide receiver D.J. Moore as targets.
Despite the growing collection, one autograph remains missing. Timmerman revealed that former Bears quarterback Jim McMahon denied his request.
“That was our punky quarterback Jim McMahon,” he said, adding that he is still hopeful it will happen someday.
The viral Bears fan isn’t the first person to get a celebrity’s name tattooed on his body, either. Back in 2023, a MrBeast fan went viral for putting the YouTuber’s name on his body dozens of times.
