A number of people have represented the Acadiana area in the National Football League.

All summer long, we’re going to spotlight the fantastic athletes from the area, people that were actually born in one of the Acadiana parishes, that went on to play football at the highest level, the NFL.

Yesterday, we profiled Opelousas native Keith Thibodeaux.

Today, we spotlight Eunice native Keith Ortego.

Born on August 30, 1963 in Opelousas, Ortego attended Eunice High School.

Following his high school years, Ortego went to college at McNeese St. where he was a standout wide receiver. He was an All-Southland Conference and All-Louisiana wide receiver for the Cowboys from 1981-84, leading the team in receptions in both 1983 (21-340) and in 1984 (32-602). He ended his career with 1,202 receiving yards, which at the time, ranked No. 2 on the school's all-time career list. That number is still ranked in the top 20 at No. 19.

The 6-foot, 180-pound Ortego was signed by the Chicago Bears as a free agent following the 1985 NFL Draft.

Ortego made his NFL debut with the Bears in 1985, at the age of 22, playing in 7 games, mainly on special teams, returning 17 punts for 158 yards.

In Ortego's rookie season of 1985, the Bears won Super Bowl XX, defeating the New England Patriots, 46-10

The following season, 1986, Ortego became a starter at receiver for the Bears, totaling 23 catches for 430 yards and 2 touchdowns.

In 1987, his final season in the NFL, Ortego played in 8 games, prior to retiring.

In parts of three seasons in the NFL, all with the Bears, Ortego accumulated 23 catches for 430 yards and two touchdowns, while also returning 17 punts for 158 yards.

Today, Thibodeaux is 53-years old.

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