The “Super Bowl Shuffle” is alive and well in Chicago.
Usually fans only become this happy when they acquire a player — not release one — but Chicagoans were delighted to hear on Thursday that the Bears’ Jay Cutler era is officially over.
The starting quarterback (who is married to former “Laguna Beach” star Kristin Cavallari) was released by the team following years of disappointing seasons, missed playoffs, broken dreams, heartbreak at Soldier Field and a reported cost of $98 million.
Cutler, who turns 34 next month, played in just five games last year because of thumb and shoulder injuries. Since he was acquired from the Denver Broncos in 2008, the Vanderbilt University alum has only led the team to the post-season once (in 2010).
According to ESPN, Cutler threw 109 interceptions in 102 regular-season games for the Bears, including a career-worst 26 picks in 2009 after the club paid a hefty price to acquire him from the Broncos in a trade for Kyle Orton.
Needless to say, Bears fans had plenty so say about Cutler’s departure from Chicago — and most of it wasn’t very nice.
In fact, the only football followers who don’t seem elated by Cutler’s exit are Green Bay Packer fans, who have enjoyed beating their conference rival over recent years in increasingly embarrassing fashions, and New Yorkers — who now face the possibility that the NFL punching bag may sign with the Jets.
See some of the meanest (and funniest) tweets below.
Jay Cutler and the Game of Thrones premiere date released the same day pic.twitter.com/S6IIcKEcEw
— Keith Conrad (@keithrconrad) March 9, 2017
ESPN: Bears release Jay Cutler
Bears fans everywhere…. pic.twitter.com/pXZAbI46qp— Cheesehead Lifer (@GoPack907) March 9, 2017
https://twitter.com/td_14/status/839931286563217408
List of teams interested in Jay Cutler. pic.twitter.com/RHtyiYRpz0
— joel solomon (@joelwsolomon) March 9, 2017
An emailer just said that Green Bay offered the #Bears a No. 1 pick to keep Jay Cutler, but they declined. #Packers #hiyo!
— Rick Morrissey (@MorrisseyCST) March 9, 2017
If Jay Cutler joins the Jets him & Ryan Fitzpatrick will be the most prolific interception duo in NFL history.
— Fake SportsCenter (@FakeSportsCentr) March 9, 2017
$98 Million: Approximate total cost to the Bears for the Jay Cutler era.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) March 9, 2017
Bears fans reaction when they heard Jay Cutler was cut pic.twitter.com/EY1cqMrzaS
— Shooter McGavin (@ShooterMcGavin_) March 9, 2017
https://twitter.com/MikeKellams/status/839932773469204480
https://twitter.com/DeAntae/status/839908150182576129
Jay Cutler before and after his time with the Bears. pic.twitter.com/l9Z7v4Un8T
— JJ Zachariason (@LateRoundQB) March 9, 2017
Jay Cutler to the Jets. ???? God please make it happen.
— Patriots Extra ? (@PatriotsExtra) March 9, 2017
Jay Cutler no longer playing for the @Bears that means that my @Packers defense won't have the joy of intercepting him anymore. 🙁 #Sad
— Kam (@KamKamanga) March 9, 2017
My dad got this one right. Jay Cutler is gone. ?? pic.twitter.com/SRrR3qGlYj
— Jenn Staudinger (@JennStaud13) March 9, 2017
Jay Cutler is the herpes of NFL quarterbacks.
— Tom Tebow (@IamEvilTebow) March 9, 2017
https://twitter.com/daytonhartman/status/836303988005949440
"Dude that's Jay Cutler over there!" pic.twitter.com/NW6yFcTChZ
— South Park (@SouthPark) March 9, 2017