2024 Chicago Fire in Review: The Goalkeepers

The 2024 campaign wasn't the best season by any means for the Chicago Fire, but the organization is continuing to churn out top goalkeeper prospects who are shining at the professional level.

Chicago’s goalkeeper room was a mixture of youthful energy and veteran experience while goalkeeper coach Zach Thornton was there to aid the players' development.

Let’s look back at the Fire organization’s goalkeepers from the 2024 season.

Chris Brady

Despite the Fire’s general shortcomings in 2024, Chris Brady took another step forward in his second full season as the starting goalkeeper in Chicago. The Fire’s Homegrown talent made 33 league starts and recorded 107 saves.

Brady was featured in Major League Soccer’s 22 Under 22 List for the second consecutive year and moved up four spots to No. 13 in the 2024 rankings. Brady remains the primary goalkeeping option for the Fire going forward.

Spencer Richey

Spencer Richey once again operated as the primary backup to Chris Brady throughout 2024 and made a spot start in the Fire’s 1-1 draw against New England on March 23. He was the starting goalkeeper in Leagues Cup for the Fire and played the first 45 minutes of Fire II’s U.S. Open Cup win over Chicago City while also making two starts in MLS Next Pro.

Richey is a free agent after the Fire decided not to offer him a new deal when his contract expired following the 2024 campaign, and the goalkeeper is looking to remain in Major League Soccer.

Jeff Gal

Jeff Gal occupied the third goalkeeper role for the second consecutive year and once again went without an appearance in Major League Soccer despite being on the bench for a handful of matches in 2024. Gal made seven starts in the MLS Next Pro regular season and then made eight massive saves in Fire II’s win over Orlando City B in the first round of the playoffs.

Gal’s 2025 option was exercised by the Fire and he's expected to compete for the backup role in the preseason.

Bryan Dowd

Bryan Dowd was drafted by the Fire in the first round of the 2024 MLS SuperDraft but he didn’t appear for the first team or Fire II in his first professional season. Dowd was loaned to Nashville SC and had a few appearances on the bench while making seven starts in MLS Next Pro for Huntsville City FC.

Nashville didn’t appear to exercise their purchase option on Dowd’s contract, so his future is one to keep an eye on.

Patrick Los

Patrick Los’ emergence as Fire II’s starting goalkeeper came earlier than most in the organization expected. His strong early-season performances made the club comfortable enough to loan out Dowd for the remainder of 2024. Los made 19 starts in MLS Next Pro while also occupying the ‘keeper spot for five of six halves of soccer during Fire II’s U.S. Open Cup role.

Still only 17, Los has the potential to be another MLS goalkeeper to emerge from the Fire Academy.

Patryk Stechnij

Patryk Stechnij made two appearances for Fire II in 2024, and each came with his side in dire straits. The Fire Academy product made his professional debut for Fire II on July 28 when he came on in the 66th minute against FC Cincinnati 2 with his side trailing 4-0. His first pro start came in the Eastern Conference Semifinals when he made three saves.

Like Patrick Los, Stechnij is also only 17 and remains a high-upside prospect for the Fire organization.