From playing on the gridiron in high school to playing baseball in the major leagues, Cubs outfielder Mike Tauchman reflected on high high school career on an episode of Bears Den with Taylor McGregor and Robbie Gould.

“I loved it. It was a really big deal at our high school. I played with all my friends. I think my ceiling was good high school football player and I’m glad that I didn’t try to take it to the next level because when I watch on Saturdays or when I watch on Sunday’s, they’re so fast,” Tauchman said on Bears Den.

Tauchman has also faced former 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo in high school when Garoppolo was at Rolling Meadows High School. During their matchup, Fremd High School defeated Rolling Meadows High School as Garoppolo continued his pursuit to play professional football.

Though Tauchman followed his baseball career, he still enjoys the Friday night lights atmosphere of high school football.

“I went to a game a couple of weeks ago and you hear the drumline and you see everyone in the stands, and the marching band and the people doing the flags and all that stuff, I’ve been really fortunate to do some cool stuff since then but, when you hear that drumline, it’s like I can still feel it a little bit. I had a blast playing,” Tauchman said.

Tauchman went to play baseball for Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois and reveals what made him decide that baseball was going to be his future.

“I committed to Bradley before my senior year even started. It seemed like that was the better path for me. I loved playing football. I kind of played football because it was fun and in high school, that’s what everybody did. If you were a good athlete, the football coaches grabbed you in the hallway and be like ‘you’re going to come play football’ and you didn’t have much of a choice in the matter,” Tauchman said. “I had a blast doing it but I always loved baseball as well. When schools started showing interest in me, it just kind of felt right.”

For the full Mike Tauchman interview on Bears Den, head over the Marquee Sports Network app.