Jeremiah, out of their Indiana Fire Academy is 21 and now signed through 2019 and the club holds the option for 2020, '21 & '22 is the 11th homegrown signed by the team. Gutjahr informed, "I'm extremely thankful for the opportunity to play for the Chicago Fire." He joined the system at 15 and was captian of his U-15/16 & U-17/18 teams, named to the USSDA top XI with the latter, being rated as one of the best 11 in the Central Conf. for the year, in '16 he had 12 matches for 847 minutes in PDL play. Fire President & GM Nelson Rodriguez informed, "Jeremiah made a positive impression while in our enviroment a few years back. He is of the highest character." Gutjahr had been called up for the USMNT U-18 & 20's with 3 caps for the U-20's, facing Haiti, Mexico & El Salvador as they took their first U-20 Concacaf title, Mar. 5, 2017. Fire HC, Veljko Paunvic added, "We're very excited to have Jeremiah with us." 4 years at IU topped his 4 year Hoosier career with 61 starts over 71 games, 2018 had him in all 24 games starting all but 1 for the at times #1 NCAA team. He joins Grant Lillard and MIdfielder Djordje Mihailocia as the team's homegrowns, Djordje is now in camp with the USWNT seeking his first cap.
Fire Coach Paunovic follows Prez. & Gm Rodriguez.