Rams Lineman Retires To Hunt Alaska's Fat Bear Champion

Katmai National Park Ranger Troy Hunt joined Lawrence Jones, Ainsley Earhardt and Brian Kilmeade to honor Bear 89, known as 'Backpack,' after the brown bear won the annual Fat Bear Week championship. Hunt detailed how the sixteen-bear tournament functions, explained why Backpack earned that specific name, and noted that gaining weight is essential for survival during the upcoming six-month winter hibernation.

Former Los Angeles Rams offensive lineman Rob Havenstein retired from professional football to pursue something different. While many retirees spend their golden years relaxing on a beach or RVing across the country, Havenstein headed into the Alaskan wilderness with bold intentions. He recently returned from a hunting expedition where his trophies included an absolutely massive brown bear instead of moose or elk.

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX News may be compensated. This content was created by a team that works independently from the FOX newsroom. The 34-year-old former left tackle posted a carousel of photos on his official Instagram page Thursday. The main focus remained an absolutely massive brown bear.

And when I say "massive," I mean you're probably not ready for the size of this thing. There aren't many living things on this planet that can make an NFL offensive tackle look tiny, but this majestic creature absolutely dwarfs Havenstein in every picture it's in. Cody Johnson fired back at critics and called the Alaska grizzly bear hunt a 'conservationist effort.'

"I knew when I retired that I wanted to go somewhere wild, experience something outside of my comfort zone and chase incredible critters," Havenstein wrote in his post. "Alaskan Brown Bear presented that opportunity." The main goal was obviously to hunt a mature brown bear, but what I took home with me was so much more than that. Appreciation for these incredible animals and the beautiful habitat they live in.

Havenstein thanked everyone who helped him during the hunt while dedicating the second half of his Instagram carousel to other parts of the Alaskan trip. Pictures showed the lake he fished on, the massive wild salmon he caught, and his camping situation. Truly an outdoorsman's dream!

A brown bear stands in a river hunting for salmon at Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska in September 2021. Two U.S. Army soldiers were attacked by a brown bear in Anchorage on Thursday, April 16, 2026, a military spokesperson said. I'm not a big fan of cold weather, but Havenstein's pictures and stories make me want to book the next flight to The Last Frontier for a camping weekend ASAP.

He may be retired from the NFL, but Havenstein might have a future as a hunting influencer if he keeps this up. Happy hunting, Rob! Austin Perry is a writer for OutKick.