Bears trainer leaving for Penn State

Tim Bream, the Bears’ head athletic trainer for the past 15 years, is leaving the team to take the same position at his alma mater, Penn State.

The move won’t become official until later this week, but the Bears already have begun the process of replacing Bream, who began his Bears career as an assistant trainer in 1992.

At Penn State, Bream will be working for new head coach Bill O’Brien, the former Patriots offensive coordinator, who accepted his new post last month but remained with New England through last week’s Super Bowl 46.

Bream, a native of Gettysburg, Pa., succeeds George Salvaterra, who had been with the Nittany Lions since 1985.

“We have moved on from George,” O’Brien said. “We’ve hired Tim Bream. He’ll be the trainer and start here on Wednesday.

“I know him through NFL circles and through some people here at Penn State. He comes highly recommended, and we’re really excited about having him on board.”