News Bears Team Notes

[Chicago Bears]

Contentment Content: Zen and the art of preparing to cover a winner

Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

A new era is dawning for the Chicago Bears.

I find myself in an unfamiliar space.

When I look in one direction, I see my favorite football team hiring the Head Coach I most coveted. A man who delivered a remarkable level of success for a division rival with an advanced understanding of what I believe are the most important aspects of modern offense: tailoring schematics to the strength of his personnel, effectively marrying the run and pass via creative play action, and elite sequencing of plays to keep defenses on their toes.

When I look in another direction, I see my favorite football team draft the best quarterback prospect since Andrew Luck. A young man with collegiate success who has the tools to lead the aforementioned modern offense with supreme arm talent and off-script playmaking ability.

The quarterback and the Head Coach are the two most important pieces of the NFL puzzle. I’m happy with both elements on my favorite football team for the first time in my life. What is this feeling and what am I supposed to do with it as a content creator?

Con∙tent∙ment: a state of peaceful happiness.

The feeling of excitement after Ben Johnson’s hiring announcement and introductory press conference receded like the waves at low tide, leaving perfectly smooth sand in its wake. The chaos from the previous era washed out to sea. This calm provided me with something I have long sought but rarely held – a moment of clarity. This reminds me of the last time I saw the state of this franchise so clearly.

The Long, Dark Night​

On January 23rd, 2011, the Bears lost to that team up north in the NFC Championship game 21-14. The morning after that game, I experienced one of these moments of clarity when I told my friends and colleagues that this wasn’t a mere loss but a turning point that would set the franchise back at least a decade.

My job as a content creator over the last 10 years has felt like that of a coal miner working under a headlamp, hoping to find a vein of gold in the mountain to buy our way out of this darkness. There’s a cycle of Hopium to Copium and back again to sustain oneself during those times. Find a vein, hold the rocks up to the lamp light with waves of Hopium billowing off the glittering mass. When what looks like it could be gold turns out to be iron pyrite instead, we exchange Hopium for Copium until the next vein comes along. Most cannot survive the mines without these drugs, and we have all dealt some strain of them to help us all get through the long, dark night.

I’m out of the coal mines now. Truth be told, I got out last year when the Bears failed to fire Matt Eberflus, bringing him back for a doomed season. Not because I knew the Bears were close to righting the ship but because I knew the dosage of Hopium required to get me through the year would be deadly. And if we’re being honest, the last shipment of Hopium didn’t work on me during the Eberflus era. There was no positive spin to that move, no glimmer from that vein, only the smell of rotten eggs. The truth is that there was never any gold in the coal mines to begin with and I was starting to abandon hope that this franchise could ever figure it out.

The Dawning of a New Era​

Jeff Berckes
View of the sunrise in Acadia National Park

On October 22, 2024, my alarm went off in the early morning hours in Bar Harbor, Maine. My wife and I grabbed a cup of coffee and drove up Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park to be among the first people in the continental US to see the sunrise. I’ve seen many sunrises in my life, but being from the middle of the country, this was my first time being one of the first Americans to witness the dawning of a new day.

I hear from a lot of Bears fans that they need to see it to believe it. They won’t be happy unless and until they see banners and trophies. In other words, they’re hitting snooze on this one. They won’t believe it’s a new day until the sun is shining directly overhead. After all, they’ve been tricked many times.

I’ve seen the dawn of new eras for other franchises. I’ve been able to enjoy vicariously through friends who cheer for those franchises. I’ve seen the markers, the predictable timesteps. We are now in what’s called Civil Dawn, where we can see the remnants of the night sky but can also make out the terrestrial features around us.

I’m here to tell you that this is the new day of Chicago Bears football – the cycle of success and sunshine will soon be upon us. I don’t know how bright the sun will shine or how long the day will last. No doubt there will be some clouds and potential for showers along the way, but I’m more confident than I’ve ever been that it will be a beautiful day.

Content in the Time of Contentment​

Back to the matter at hand. What does content from a contented creator look like? It’s less hope and cope and more treating this franchise like it’s a legitimate contender. My expectations are high for this team moving forward because they’ve acquired the two main pieces to achieving real success in Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson.

I will be tracking Caleb Williams to break the Bears franchise records and to grow into one of the best quarterbacks in the league. I expect the Bears coaches and front office to support that journey.

I will be tracking Ben Johnson against the best Bears coaches of the past and against the best coaches in the league. I expect the Bears front office to support that journey.

I expect records to break and re-break and for playoffs to be the norm, not the exception. In other words, I expect to cover a winner, because I’m done with covering losers.

There’s still time to grab that cup of coffee and join me on the mountaintop to be among the first Bears fans to view the rise of a new day.

I’ll save you a seat.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...ntent-ben-johnson-caleb-williams-dawn-new-era

 

[Chicago Bears]

2025 NFL Draft: Defensive linemen Bears should consider in Round 2

Photo by Andy Altenburger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Though the unit seems to have improved in free agency, the Chicago Bears still could use reinforcements along the defensive line.

Grady Jarrett and Dayo Odeyingbo figure to play into Chicago’s defensive line rotation, along with holdovers like Montez Sweat, Gervon Dexter, Andrew Billings and Austin Booker. With Jarrett turning 32 in April and Odeyingbo relatively unproven as a full-time contributor, though, the Bears still need some depth up front.

Luckily for general manager Ryan Poles, the 2025 NFL Draft seems to be pretty deep along the defensive line. With two Round 2 selections to pair with their picks in Round 1 and Round 3, they have plenty of opportunities to invest up front.

Using a combination of my own rankings and the general consensus, I’ve chosen 10 defensive linemen the Bears could consider in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft — five defensive ends and five defensive tackles.

Edge rushers​

Nic Scourton, Texas A&M

Scourton has some of the best tape you’ll find in an edge rusher in the 2025 draft class, but a lack of top-notch athletic upside could hurt his draft stock a bit. That said, he converts speed to power quite well and sets the edge effectively in the run game. He has a deep arsenal of moves like swims, bull rushers, spins and push-pulls he can use to shed blocks. He could end up being a reliable starter in the pros.

Princely Umanmielen, Ole Miss

After an accomplished tenure at Florida, Umanmielen built upon his draft stock with a strong final season in college at Ole Miss. He’s an explosive rusher who times his first step very well, and his motor runs hot on a consistent basis. He has good spatial awareness against the run and good flexibility, too.

Jack Sawyer, Ohio State

The star of the CFP semifinal game against Texas, Sawyer is a powerful edge rusher who converts speed to power quite well. He’s a former five-star recruit who keeps his pads low and generates proper weight distribution at the point of attack. His plan prior to the snap could sharpen up a bit, but he seems like a reliable rotational defender in Year 1 with long-term starting upside.

J.T. Tuimoloau, Ohio State

Compared to his teammate Sawyer, Tuimoloau is a tad bit more explosive. He’s a similarly powerful edge rusher with a compact build and a high motor. His bull rush is particularly impressive, and he lands his strikes accurately once he engages in contact at the line of scrimmage.

Landon Jackson, Arkansas

While Jackson is arguably the most raw of these edge rushers, he has the most prototypical frame of anyone in this group. He’s a lengthy, well-built defender with a strong anchor and powerful hands, and he’s a much better athlete than most edge rushers as tall as he is. His pad level is a pretty big work in progress, but he makes up for it with the finesse he shows in his hands.

Defensive tackles​

Kenneth Grant, Michigan

I’m admittedly higher on Grant than the consensus and don’t believe he should fall to Round 2. However, a recent mock draft from NFL Network had Grant falling to Round 2, and Daniel Jeremiah has him ranked No. 28 on his board. If he does fall out of the first 32 picks, he’s a stout, powerful run-defender with active hands and impressive athleticism for such a big man who warrants selection if you’re the Bears.

Tyleik Williams, Ohio State

Williams first got onto my radar as a 290-pound defensive tackle with impressive first-step quickness and active hands rushing the passer. He’s managed to up his weight to 334 pounds while still maintaining that level of explosiveness. That makes him an impactful 3-technique who, if not selected in Round 1, would be a strong pick for Chicago.

Alfred Collins, Texas

A lengthy defensive tackle with a large wingspan and a 6-foot-6, 332-pound frame, Collins is a great athletic for his size who can line up all along the defensive line. His pads are a tad high, but his power and quickness make him a force to be reckoned with.

T.J. Sanders, South Carolina

Whether it’s as a penetrative 1-technique or a lengthy 3-tech, Sanders is a quick defensive tackle who’s explosive off the ball and maintains proper finesse in his hands. He also has a sturdy anchor, indicating he could be a reliable starter up the middle.

Darius Alexander, Toledo

Alexander has generated some first-round buzz, and while he doesn’t grade that high for me, there’s a lot to like with him, regardless. He’s a powerful defensive tackle with long arms and above-average spatial awareness freeing up from blocks to stop the run.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...und-2-landon-jackson-nic-scourton-jack-sawyer

 

[Chicago Bears]

Mocking the Mocks: Bears needs addressed in this three round mock

Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images

The 2025 NFL Draft is one month from today, so let’s take a peek at a recent mock draft from Connor Rogers of NBC Sports to see what he has the Chicago Bears doing. He doesn’t have any trades, and he only takes the mock through the third round, but this one feels like a viable option for the Bears.

10. Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

39. Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State

41. Bradyn Swinson, EDGE, LSU

72. Kevin Winston Jr., SAF, Penn State

Jeanty instantly takes pressure off Caleb Williams in the Bears offense and allows new head coach Ben Johnson to develop a lethal play-action passing attack. Simmons had a shot to be the top tackle in this class, but a tough season-ending knee injury killed that momentum. This is a great spot for him to ramp back up slowly as they have a starter in Braxton Jones, but Simmons offers more upside in the future. Swinson has been extremely underrated in this process as a heavy-handed pass rusher who converts speed to power. In Round 3, they go back to the injury discount aisle again in Winston, who is an impressive enforcer at strong safety.

Earlier today, Aaron Leming wrote an article about how Jeanty might be the best option for the Bears at 10 due to the grades they may have on the prospects who will be available at 10. If Jeanty is there, Chicago’s grade on him may be so far and away higher than the other options.

Simmons’ tape and size show that of a true left tackle, and if his medicals check out, he’s going to be a steal for someone. Also, if his medicals check out, he’s probably drafted sooner than 39.

Swinson has the size and length (6’4”, 255 pounds, 33 3/8’ arm length) that Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen can work with.

Safety isn’t an immediate need, but none of their current safeties are signed beyond 2025. Winston could be brought along slowly and developed to take on a larger role in 2026.

What are your thoughts on this possible three-round haul?

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...und-ashton-jeanty-josh-simmons-bradyn-swinson

 

[Chicago Bears]

Bears Building Block or Not: Running Backs

Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images

We look at part one of our series on the Bears roster moving forward.

We are beginning a new series on the Chicago Bears roster and what players can be considered significant pieces moving forward. The question is quite simple: Is this player a building block or not?

First, we have to determine what a building block is. Well, that’s certainly subjective, but for this exercise, we will look at a few different factors: age, contract, ability, position, and projection.

This series will look at each position group moving forward and examine which players should be expected to be a big part of this roster moving forward.

Let’s start with the running backs.

D’Andre Swift​

Swift is a big question mark, not just for his future with the franchise, but how much he will be used this year. When Ben Johnson took over as OC with the Detroit Lions, he shifted away from Swift and focused on Jamaal Williams being the feature back. Swift was traded after the season.

Does that mean Johnson doesn’t like Swift? Not necessarily, but it probably means he didn’t pound the table for him either. Swift had a career-high in yards per scrimmage with the Bears in 2024, but that also included a career-high in touches that resulted in a career-low in yards per touch.

Swift will almost certainly be a member of this team through this season and will be released after this season when there is little to no dead money remaining on the contract.

No Block.

Roschon Johnson​

I had high expectations for Johnson coming out of Texas and truly felt he could become an every down back in the NFL. That’s why I’m not in the war room. Johnson doesn’t have the explosiveness needed to be that type of player but Johnson has proven himself to be quite a useful player.

Johnson has done well as a short-yardage back, he can catch a little out of the backfield, is a solid blocker, and has also become a key contributor on special teams. Add all that up and Johnson is a very useful RB3 on a roster. As nice as a solid role player like Johnson is to have on the roster, it’s not a guy you build your roster around.

No Block.

Travis Homer​

We don’t need to spend too much time on this one. I’m a big fan of what Homer brings to a roster, but that is limited. Homer is a key player on special teams and someone who can block and catch a little as well.

Homer was brought back this year because the Bears have clearly made a point of building as strong a special teams unit as possible and are trying to keep their key contributors around for 2025. Homer has a role on this team, but not a featured one.

No Block.

Ian Wheeler​

Wheeler became quite a popular player on the Bears last year thanks to his speed and his role on HBO’s Hard Knocks. Unfortunately, Wheeler suffered a torn ACL as preseason was winding down and spent the season on IR.

Unfortunately for someone like Wheeler, his speed is a huge part of his game, and we always hear that it takes a full two years to recover from an ACL injury. How patient will the Bears be with Wheeler if he doesn’t have the same explosiveness in training camp, even if it’s no fault of his own?

With the Bears almost certainly taking a running back in the draft this year, if Wheeler doesn’t have a huge camp, he will probably find himself with an outright release, or perhaps, his best-case scenario is a spot on the practice squad for 2025.

No Block.

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It’s not too hard to see why the Bears are expected to take a running back with one of the first four picks (probably one of their first three). Ben Johnson wants to run the ball effectively, and the Bears currently don’t have a running back on their roster that Johnson can rely on.

Ideally, Johnson is going to want to take a running back in round one or round two and hope that player takes over the RB1 role. With Swift bumping down to RB2, Johnson as RB3, and Homer as RB4, that’s a decent running back room. But if the Bears have to rely on Swift as their main back again for 2025, they will not be able to have the consistent ground game that Johnson’s offense needs,

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...go-bears-roster-d-andre-swift-roschon-johnson

 

[Chicago Bears]

Post Free Agency Chicago Bears Mock Drafting Trends

Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images

We check out the Pro Football Network mock draft simulation data to see how their users are drafting for the Bears.

One of the neat things about the Pro Football Network’s Mock Draft Simulator is the data it’s able to gather from the analysts and fans who are running simulations with it. In a recent press release, they listed the updated data from users' mock drafting for all 32 teams over the last week, as well as a two-week period from February, to show the change in picks from before free agency to now.

From February 4-18, 40.7% of users selected an offensive tackle with the Chicago Bears' first-round pick (10 overall), 18.0% of users selected a defensive tackle, and 13.8% of users went with an EDGE.

Fast forward through free agency after the Bears added three new starting interior offensive linemen, a starting defensive end, and a starting defensive tackle, and the user data shifted.

From March 18-24, the users selecting an offensive tackle went down to 31.6%, with the second most picked position changing to running back (23.9%), and EDGE up slightly to 15.3%.

They also broke out the most popular prospect their users mocked to the Bears at 10 overall.

1. Ashton Jeanty, Boise State, RB - 21.1%
2. Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas, OT - 8.9%
3. Josh Simmons, Ohio State, OT - 8.6%
4. Armand Membou, Missouri, OT - 8.0%
5. Tyler Warren, Penn State, TE - 7.1%

The first four have been mocked to the Bears by many national publications, but most analysts don’t have the Bears taking a tight end in the first round at 10 overall. Warren would be a lot of fun, however. He’s a move tight end in a Y’s body, who has the desire to block if that’s what he’s asked to do. He can line up anywhere, so pairing him up with Chicago’s current Y, Cole Kmet, wouldn’t be a problem.

But as much as I would love Warren on the Bears, I don’t see it happening.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...jeanty-kelvin-banks-josh-simmons-tyler-warren

 

[Chicago Bears]

Chicago Bears hire two assistant strength and conditioning coaches

Photo by Ricardo Dearatanha/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

On Wednesday, the Chicago Bears announced that Reshard Langford and Mark Philippi were hired as assistant strength and conditioning coaches.

Langford had been working as a strength and conditioning coach for the United States Tennis Association since 2018, but he also spent two years coaching with the Minnesota Vikings, and he played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, and Detroit Lions.

This will be Philippi’s first stint in the NFL, but he has plenty of experience as a strength and conditioning coach. He has owned and operated the Philippi Sports Institute in Las Vegas, Nevada, since 2007, where they train Olympic, professional, and youth athletes, and he also spent 15 years as the director of strength and conditioning for UNLV.

Philippi also took first place at the 1996 World Drug-Free Powerlifting Championship and won the title of America’s Strongest Man in 1997.

Langford and Philippi join Allison Haley and Noble Landry as assistants for head strength and conditioning coach Pierre Ngo, who was promoted this year. Ngo, who had spent eight years in all with the Bears, worked for Philippi from 2009 to 2011 at his Sports Institute.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...ioning-coaches-reshard-langford-mark-philippi

 

[Chicago Bears]

Making Monsters: How Grady Jarrett and Dayo Odeyingbo fit on the Bears, plus NFL Draft options

Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Taylor Doll talks with a couple NFL reporters who know the new Chicago Bears well, plus they dive into draft options.

On her latest Making Monsters podcast on our 2nd City Gridiron channels, Taylor Doll is joined by a couple of guests to talk about Chicago Bears' free agency and the upcoming NFL Draft.

First, she’s joined by Jon Ledyard, who covers the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, so he’s seen plenty of new Bears defensive tackle Grady Jarrett in the NFC South. He also covers the NFL Draft, so they discuss Chicago’s options with the tenth overall pick.

She also speaks with Destin Adams, who is on the Indianapolis Colts beat for A to Z Sports, about new Bears defensive end and former Colt, Dayo Odeyingbo. Adams is also an NFL draft analyst for A to Z, so they dive into some prospects the Bears could be interested in.

Check out her show in either of the embeds below.

Podcast version:​

Video version:​

Our 2nd City Gridiron Podcast Channel is available on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, Audacy, and other popular podcast platforms, so hit subscribe wherever you get your audio. Our YouTube home is also called 2nd City Gridiron, so subscribe there for our pods and other video content.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...t-on-the-bears-plus-nfl-draft-options-podcast

 

[Chicago Bears]

What to make of Bears’ attendance at Ashton Jeanty’s Pro Day

Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images

The Chicago Bears didn’t send much in terms of representation to Boise, ID.

It’s Pro Day season, and the Chicago Bears are all over the country watching as many NFL Draft prospects as possible.

Wednesday was a busy day on the pro day circuit. Ohio State has several players who will go in the early rounds of this year’s draft, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that Ben Johnson, Ryan Poles, Dennis Allen, and others were all in Columbus to watch the Ohio State prospects.

But what was interesting was that there was another pro day on Wednesday, this one at Boise State, featuring running back Austin Jeanty.

Now, when you have multiple pro days across the country, you have to divide your resources. With so many prospects from Ohio State, it shouldn’t be shocking that the Bears had heavy representation there, but they had close to no representation in Boise.

According to someone I spoke with in attendance, the Bears had a regional scout at the Boise St pro day, but they did not have anyone else there; notably, running back coach Eric Bieniemy was not there.

Bieniemy has been involved in the pro day tours, he was recently at the Texas Longhorns’ pro day.

The source says that all 32 teams had some sort of representation to see Jeanty, but notably, Raiders GM John Spytek was there; he was the only GM in attendance.

Also, multiple members of the Saints organization were there and took Jeanty out to dinner the night before his pro day.

In comparing this to the Bears' previous first round picks under Ryan Poles, Poles had attended both the pro days of Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze last year. In 2023, Poles did not attend Tennessee’s pro day, but it’s worth noting that Darnell Wright was on the Senior Bowl team coached by Luke Getsy, so the Bears got a close look at Wright via that avenue.

The Bears do have a Top 30 visit scheduled with Jeanty so he is certainly under consideration by the Bears, and while you can never speak in absolutes during draft season, it is notable that the Bears did not invest much (including choosing not to send Bieniemy to Boise) to see or speak with Jeanty at his pro day.

It may also be that the Bears may expect that Jeanty will not reach them with the 10th pick. Based on pro day attendance, it certainly seems like the Raiders (at 6) and the Saints (at 9) may be two teams to watch in terms of who may take the Jeanty decision out of the Bears' hands.

There is a lot of time before the NFL Draft begins in 4 weeks, but just sharing some notable observations from draft season.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...n-jeanty-pro-day-ryan-poles-ben-johnson-draft

 

[Chicago Bears]

Bear Bones: Chicago Bears Mock Draft 3.0

Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Join our Bear Bones LIVE at 5:30 (CT) on the 2nd City Gridiron YouTube channel as we continue our mock draft series!

Dr. Mason West is up to version 3.0 on his bi-weekly Chicago Bears mock draft podcast/video series, and if you’ve checked out each week, you've learned plenty about some prospects the Bears could be targeting, and hopefully had some fun along the way!

In today’s Bear Bones, Mason will be joined by his frequent co-host, Khari Thompson.

One thing to keep in mind for all these Bear Bones mocks is that they’ll be selecting different players and going through different scenarios each time to learn more about the process and prospects. We feel that makes for a more enjoyable and educational show than mock drafting the same basic way over and over.

Enjoy!

Watch the latest Bear Bones in the video below at 5:30 p.m. CT, or visit our YouTube channel and hang out with the fellas!

Once the podcast version is available, we’ll share it here:

Our 2nd City Gridiron Podcast Channel is available on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, Audacy, and other popular podcast platforms, so hit subscribe wherever you get your audio. Our YouTube home is also called 2nd City Gridiron, so subscribe there for our pods and other video content.

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Here’s how the fellas mocked it, and remember, they’re purposefully taking each mock version in a different direction to learn about as many prospects as possible before the real draft.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2025/3/27/24394677/bear-bones-chicago-bears-mock-draft-3-0-nfl

 

[Chicago Bears]

Why Caleb Williams’ QB trainer thinks he and Ben Johnson are a ‘perfect storm’ for Bears

Audrey Richardson / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Quarterback trainer Will Hewlett of CORTX knows Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams as well as anyone, having trained him from the seventh grade through his nascent NFL days.

So when he says he expects big things from Williams now that he’s paired with offensive guru Ben Johnson, it should intrigue Bears fans — and hopefully alleviate some fears about how Williams’ play style will mesh with his new play-caller.

During a recent interview with NFL journalist Tyler Dunne’s “Go Long” substack, Hewlett let football fans behind the curtain on Williams and why he thinks big things are on the horizon for the Bears under Johnson’s management.

“It’s the perfect storm,” Hewlett said of the pairing. “There’s great situations in the NFL and some that aren’t so great. But if you take a look at my Christmas list when all this stuff was starting to happen, that would’ve been my No. 1 choice based on my understanding of Ben and what type of guy he is and what type of coach.

“I don’t know that there’s a better scenario that could have panned out for Caleb. Because the pieces are there. And I’ve got nothing against the old staff—‘Flus’ was great to me and I know Shane Waldron—but it just wasn’t the right fit. Having an offensive-minded head coach and the mix of personalities, I think, now is going to be exactly what Caleb needs. Ben’s going to have a ton of fun with it.”

Wouldn’t it be great to watch a “fun” Bears offense again?

That’s what we were hoping for last year when the Bears drafted Williams No. 1 overall and put a stacked skill position group around him. But Year 1 was a roller-coaster for Williams’ individual play and a downright nightmare for Chicago as a whole, largely due to coaching malpractice from Matt Eberflus.

With Johnson, there’s hope Williams can become the superstar Hewlett and many others believe he’s meant to be.

“All these guys, you can never really predict what level they’ll get to and how they’ll get there, but there are always some common identifying factors,” Hewlett said. “It’s a desire to do the little things great, and they’re not afraid of hard work. That was one thing that always stood out about Caleb.”

As far as the criticism that Williams can’t play efficiently for a coach like Johnson, who has spent the last few years working with a more traditional pocket passer in Jared Goff, Hewlett doesn’t see a problem.

In fact, as Johnson himself has said, the key is to elevate Williams, not change him.

“He’s got that Allen Iverson-like aspect to his game,” Hewlett noted of Williams, whom he claimed “over-corrected” last year in an effort to play more stock-standard football from the pocket. “You want him to play within the system, but you also don’t want to take away the magic that makes him special.”

We saw snatches of “special” from Williams last year even amid the turmoil. It’s time to see if Johnson can help him keep that superstar switch flipped on all the time.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...hicago-bears-trainer-cortx-sports-performance

 

[Chicago Bears]

Even more ammunition for a Charles Tillman Pro Football Hall of Fame case

Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images

The Pro Football Hall of Fame voters need to come around and recognize the game and the influence of Charles Tillman.

Commentators, analysts, and studio personalities reflecting on the game's history is a common occurrence when watching NFL games or highlights. Comparing this player’s style to that player, or this player is chasing the records of that player, or this player has done something for the first time since... well, you get this gist of it.

But is any former player mentioned more frequently than Chicago Bears’ legend Charles “Peanut” Tillman?

His Peanut Punch revolutionized the game on all levels, and every time a player punches the football out, we get a “Tillman” or a “Peanut” reference during the game, on highlight clips, or social media.

Tillman’s 44 forced fumbles are tied for sixth all time with Hall of Fame defensive end Chris Doleman. His 10 forced fumbles in one season are tied for the most ever with defensive end Osi Umenyiora and four-time Hall of Fame semifinalist, defensive end Robert Mathis. Peanut’s four forced fumbles in a single game stands alone atop the all-time list.

I’ve always thought Tillman’s on-field accolades warranted a place in Canton — so I won’t reshash that argument here — but his contribution to the sport should be enough to push even the most skeptical voter over the top.

The Peanut Punch has been taught on practice fields for decades now, but the Purdue Boilermakers have come up with a fantastic new way to teach it.

Attack the ball pic.twitter.com/N5qzjSKIbi

— Purdue Football (@BoilerFootball) March 27, 2025​

I’m not certain that Purdue invented the drill, but regardless, this is a fantastic way to get defensive players locked in on the idea of taking the ball away in a safer environment. The tackle ring (or tackle wheel) has been a popular invention to simulate pursing a ball carrier, and the added element with the ball should further engrain the Peanut Punch into players' subconscious.

In case you missed it last month, Tillman was a guest on 670 The Score, and he told the story of how he transitioned from using the technique he first started at Louisiana-Lafayette to the NFL.

“The one thing I used to do in college is, I would purposely take bad [tackling] angles,” he said on The Score via Bleacher Nation Bears. “Clearly, you can’t do that in the NFL because everybody is fast. I just said, well damn, I got to figure out a way to punch it out and make a tackle at the same time. So my first game, we played San Francisco at old Candlestick, and it was a special teams play. I was the gunner. I was a dope gunner, too. Running down the field, I don’t know who the return man was, but I just punched it out, first one. He had that thing like a loaf of bread, and I just punched it out. And then I was like ‘Oh yeah, I can do that in this league.’ And I just started punching them.”

Forced fumble #1 came in his first game of his NFL career on September 7, 2023, and over two decades later, the league is still talking about the Peanut Punch.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...otball-hall-of-fame-case-chicago-bears-purdue

 

[Chicago Bears]

Remembering the NFL’s Biggest Blowout

Chicago Tribune file photo/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

The 73-0 score in the 1940 NFL Championship remains the largest margin of victory in NFL history

The Chicago Bears in the 1940’s pushed the league into the future with their offensive innovation of the T-Formation with man in motion. The new scheme led to four championships over the course of a seven year stretch from 1940 to 1946, interrupted by World War II.

Pigskin Dispatch is running a series of all NFL Championship games before the league merged with the AFL to create the Super Bowl. The Bears feature prominently in this era overall, highlighted by this historic run starting with the 73-0 obliteration of Washington in 1940.

I shared the highlights of the build-up to that game with Pigskin Dispatch host Darin Hayes in the video below.

If you prefer a podcast, check out the audio version at the Pigskin Dispatch, where you can find your favorite podcasts, or at the player linked here.

The 1941 episode will drop early next week, which I also covered. The 1943 and 1946 episodes will drop later in April, featuring Jack Silverstein.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...p-chicago-bears-washington-sid-luckman-mcafee

 

[Chicago Bears]

Bears Building Block or Not: Quarterbacks

Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images

This one won’t take too long

It’s time for part five of our building block or not series as we continue to look at the Chicago Bears roster and which players that Ben Johnson and Ryan Poles will be planning on being a key part of the team moving forward.

As we continue to say, we are defining a building block by looking at the following factors: age, contract, ability, position, and projection.

Let’s look at the quarterbacks (this one could probably just be a leaflet).

Austin Reed​

We all like the Austin Reed story. He made the team as a UDFA, he works out with Caleb Williams, they’re friends, and here he is. Reed made some nice throws during the preseason last year and certainly showed he can stick around on an NFL roster.

Perhaps one day in the distant future, Reed will have some path to NFL stardom like Kurt Warner or Tony Romo (the odds are about 1%, but they’re still there), but if he ever does, it won’t be in a Chicago Bears uniform.

Not.

Tyson Bagent​

Three touchdowns. Six Interceptions. I want to make sure I start the Bagent conversation with his career stats through two seasons because I don’t want to be beheaded if I say anything negative about the man.

First of all, let me say, that if you grab a UDFA quarterback and he becomes your QB2, that’s a great job by the GM and the scouting department. But there is no reason to ever consider Bagent to be anything other than this. We’ve had this debate over and over again.

Bagent will be the QB2 this year and perhaps he leaves after this season to try and get an opportunity to seek more playing time, but again, that playing time won’t be in Chicago.

Not.

Caleb Williams​

Now, this may shock you, but we believe Caleb Williams is a building block for this team in the present and the future. In Caleb Williams' rookie season, he faced subpar protection from his offensive line, poor decision-making by his coaches, and let’s sound like LeBron here, not one, not two, but three offensive coordinators, in one season!

Not every issue was on Williams’ environment, some of them were on Williams himself, but despite learning on the job and going through multiple head coaches and coordinators in one season, Williams still threw for over 3500 yards with 20 TDs and only 6 interceptions.

Williams advanced stats are far less pretty than his volume stats, so it’ll be up to his growth with Ben Johnson to improve on those, but between some of Willams’ spectacular games and some of the incredible plays he made in between, there’s no reason to think Williams will not be this team’s quarterback for years to come.

Block.

---

What’s there to say? Caleb is a building block. He’s thee building block. Without Caleb, there would be no Ben Johnson. No big deal, the entire future of the charter franchise of the NFL is pinned on his shoulders. Go get’em, kid.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...ding-block-or-not-quarterbacks-caleb-williams

 

[Chicago Bears]

Mocking the Mocks: Chicago Bears Mock Draft Roundup

Photo by Nicholas Faulkner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Let’s see what the experts think the Bears will do in the NFL Draft.

Let’s take another trip around the internet to see what various NFL analysts have the Chicago Bears doing in their latest mock drafts.

• Bucky Brooks of NFL.com has the Bears taking a running back at 10 overall, but it’s not the player you’re thinking of.

Omarion Hampton - North Carolina · RB

Ben Johnson’s immense success with a two-back rotation in Detroit could prompt Chicago to expend its top pick on a physical runner to partner with the dynamic D’Andre Swift.

This running back class is strong, which is a big reason I’d rather the Bears not take one at 10. The contract he’d be getting as the 10th pick is nearly $23 million for four years, which would just crack the top ten at the position for 2025.

However, Hampton (6', 221 pounds) is an incredible talent and would upgrade Chicago’s offense. He’s a downhill hammer who can do the one thing well that all rookie backs need to do to get on the field: pass block.

• Geoff Schwartz at FOX Sports has the Bears taking the other running back.

Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

New Bears head coach Ben Johnson is going to continue building his offense in the image of his successful unit in Detroit. The Bears added offensive linemen via trade and free agency, and now they have the opportunity to add the explosive Jeanty to help the Bears offense and Caleb Williams.

This very well could be the best player available and the top remaining prospect on the Bears’ board on draft day. I’d come around eventually on Jeanty at pick at 10, because it would most definitely help the offense and Caleb Williams, but my initial reaction would be

• The latest from CBS Sports has the Bears addressing the trenches.

Kelvin Banks Jr. - OT - Texas

Make that three offensive linemen in the top 10. Just like he did with Darnell Wright, the 10th overall pick in 2023, Bears general manager Ryan Poles overlooks the arm length of Kelvin Banks Jr. and instead focuses on Banks’ accolades. The Texas standout was a unanimous All-American in 2024 and won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy and the Outland Trophy as the best offensive lineman in college football.

Arm length has been a hot topic these last few weeks, and Banks’ NFL Combine number was 33.5 inches. Banks has over 40 starts at left tackle for the Longhorns.

• Charles McDonald made all the even picks in the latest mock at Yahoo Sports, and here’s what he has the Bears doing.

Will Campbell, OT, LSU

The Bears have completely revamped the interior of their offensive line and now they find a long-term option at left tackle to finish their efforts up front. Campbell, Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman and Jonah Jackson would be a massive improvement over what they had last year and they already have a quality player at right tackle in Darnell Wright. Campbell could go much higher than this, so this is a nice get for the Bears.

I know Campbell’s arms are just 33”, but he’s a left tackle to me. Quick hands, quick feet, smart with blitzes and stunts, all make him the best OL prospect in this draft.

Our Lead Draft Analyst also has the Bears going with Campbell at ten.

• The 33rd Team may be trying too hard to be different with this pick, but a move tight end with this skill set would be fun.

Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan

The thought of taking Ashton Jeanty here is logical, but Ben Johnson may find more value by adding a dynamic tight end. Cole Kmet is a fine but unspectacular veteran making $12.5 million a year. Colston Loveland is a better short and intermediate threat in comparison, and the Bears can save money long-term.

Kmet and Loveland play different positions (Y/U), so the assumption that this would be Kmet’s replacement could be short-sighted. The Bears should be looking for a complement to Kmet at some point in the draft, but I doubt it’d be at ten overall.

• Charles Davis’ latest at NFL.com has the Bears going defense.

Jalon Walker - Georgia · Edge

Da Bears went strong in free agency. Now they add a bookend buddy for star pass rusher Montez Sweat.

At 6’1’, 243 pounds, Walker is undersized for what defensive coordinator Dennis Allen usually has out there at defensive end, but perhaps the Bears would view Walker as a SAM who will also rush off the edge on passing situations.

Which of these mocks would you be most pleased with?

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...marion-hampton-ashton-jeanty-colston-loveland

 

[Chicago Bears]

The Bear’s Den, March 31, 2025

Photo by James V. Biever/Getty Images

NFL League Meetings start this week. What business will Bears HQ do behind closed doors?

WE WANT YOU!

Would you like to show your Chicago Bears spirit to the world? I’m starting a feature where Windy City Gridiron readers can share pictures of themselves and their families and friends in Bears attire. Simply email a picture to me at the following address: denmasterken at aol dot com. The pictures need to be clear, and full resolution (i.e. full size from your phone if that’s how you take them). Include any description information you like along with the photo!

THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL

DENMASTER KEN’S VIDEO GRAB BAG

BEARRRSSSS​

What to watch for from Bears brass at this week’s NFL Annual Meeting - Chicago Sun-Times - There’s plenty for the franchise to debate, discuss and decide upon during the three-day gathering of the league’s owners, coaches, general managers and staffs at The Breakers.

2025 NFL Draft: Chicago Bears linked to Tyler Warren after Penn State pro day - SI - Penn State tight end Tyler Warren is considered one of the best pure football players in the 2025 NFL Draft, and a new report suggests the Chicago Bears have interest.

The really tough Bears problems free agency and the draft can’t answer - SI - Free agency is basically over and once the draft ends the four biggest issues confronting the Bears this year will still remain.

Chicago Bears seven-round mock draft dramatically restocks depth - SI - A final run for mock drafts in March and the Bears should have no problem after losing much of their depth in free agency, plus they even find a running back and quarterback.

How George McCaskey should vote on tush push and other rule changes - SI - Analysis: Several rule changes proposed, like eliminating the tush push, are on the docket for this week’s owners meetings and the Bears owner needs to take this route if he’s smart.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Raiders are the favorites to draft Ashton Jeanty, who calls them a "great organization" - NBC Sports - The Raiders will take Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty in the 2025 NFL draft, if the betting odds are to be believed.

Battlehawks win UFL opener in sparsely attended game in Houston - NBC Sports - The United Football League kicked off its season on Friday night, and the game didn't have a lot to offer, not that there were many fans in the stands to complain.

Brian Callahan: Titans have a short list of prospects for the No. 1 pick - NBC Sports - The Titans could trade the No. 1 overall pick as General Manager Mike Borgonzi recently said "everything is still on the table."

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON​

Mocking the Mocks: Chicago Bears Mock Draft Roundup - Windy City Gridiron - Let’s see what the experts think the Bears will do in the NFL Draft.

Introducing Jacob Infante’s 2025 NFL Draft Guide! - Windy City Gridiron - WCG’s lead draft analyst has published his full 2025 NFL Draft guide on his Patreon.

Chicago Bears Building Blocks or Not: Special Teams - Windy City Gridiron - Is there anyone on the third phase that will be a key part of the team?

Remembering the NFL’s Biggest Blowout - Windy City Gridiron - The 73-0 score in the 1940 NFL Championship remains the largest margin of victory in NFL history

Bears Building Block or Not: Quarterbacks (Probably have one here) - Windy City Gridiron - The franchise is counting on Caleb Williams to be the man.

Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson are a ‘perfect storm,’ says Caleb’s Trainer - Windy City Gridiron - Quarterback trainer Will Hewlett of CORTX knows Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams as well as anyone, having trained him from the seventh grade through his nascent NFL days.

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2nd City Gridiron Podcast Channel which includes Bears Banter hosted by Bill Zimmerman, Bear & Balanced from Jeff Berckes and Lester A. Wiltfong Jr., Bears Over Beers featuring a rotating host line-up of Ryan Droste, Khari Thompson, Jacob Infante, and Bryan Orenchuk, Making Monsters with Taylor Doll, Bear Bones from Dr. Mason West, and an occasional T Formation Conversation from Lester; Steven’s Streaming Twitch Channel from Steven Schweickert is another fun one.

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Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...s-offseason-draft-ben-johnson-league-meetings

 

[Chicago Bears]

2025 NFL Draft interview: Georgia DL Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins

Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

WCG’s lead draft analyst spoke with Georgia’s explosive, versatile defensive lineman.

Winning one national championship during your college football career is a dream come true. Georgia defensive lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins accomplished it twice.

The Bulldogs are notorious for their freakishly athletic defensive line, and Ingram-Dawkins has fit right in as a key piece of their rotation over the last three years. Coming off the best season of his collegiate career in 2024, he’s riding high and looking to carry his level individual and team success onto the NFL level.

Windy City Gridiron spoke with Ingram-Dawkins about being a two-time champion, his defensive line versatility, his pre-draft process thus far, and more.

JI: You’re coming into the NFL a two-time college national champion. If you had to choose, which was your favorite win of the two?​

TID: My favorite one probably would be the second one, because I actually played in the game. I actually played a lot that season, so it made me feel more like I had something to do [with it], like I was the cause. My first year, I redshirted, so I really wasn’t playing like that, but we still went and won it. At the end of the day, we still won a natty that season, but the second one felt a little bit different because I played more.

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins getting a TFL in the run game, then two plays later chasing down the QB on a bootleg scramble pic.twitter.com/nrHb22KWmP

— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) February 1, 2025​

JI: What’s that jump like, going from high school immediately to a blue-blood program like Georgia?​

TID: It was even bigger [than I expected], because when I committed to Georgia, they were having winning seasons, but they weren’t [title winners]. When I got there, we had just become a championship team. We hadn’t won any championship in 40 years before I got there. When I committed to Georgia, it wasn’t like I was already going into a program that had already had championships. I had no idea that we were gonna win a natty [right away]. That’s what made it a little bit better, because we never knew, but if we look back on it and try to reflect on the work that we put in before that season, we could tell that was a natty-type season. That’s probably what made it even more special, because of me not knowing what was going to happen.

93 Tyrion Ingram Dawkins is finally showing what he can do when he somewhat healthy. pic.twitter.com/8W3VFfyknV

— Trey (@Trey2Triggerr) September 5, 2024​

JI: When I watch your tape, I love the the versatility you have along the defensive line. How does your approach differ, depending on where you’re lined up?​

TID: I maintain it off the repetition of work and reps that I have at each position we did at Georgia. They did a great job preparing me weekly with the amount of reps that I had at each position, so I could have the mind knowing on Saturdays, so I had the information all in for each position, because every position is not the same. You got to have different footwork for different types of position, depending on what type of technique you’re trying to do and those at that position. I’ll say that’s what prepared me the most for it was the reps and the work that I did throughout the week, so I’d perform well at those different positions in the game on Saturday.

JI: You were a part of some super talented Georgia defensive lines. What was it like, being in the building where all of you guys have such high expectations?​

TID: It was fun, because you’re around all these great players. Everybody did their job. Everybody’s gonna eat, so putting that burden on everybody, knowing we have the ability to be something great — everybody’s good and everything — if you do your job, you’re helping somebody else. Being in that type of environment, knowing that if I do my job, good things are gonna come out, because I know everybody else gonna do theirs, it was fun.

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins - DT/DE - UGA

Posting for no particular reason. pic.twitter.com/UKbXZ3HlkB

— Jacob Morley (@JacobMorley) March 22, 2025​

JI: A lot of you guys who started are going to the NFL this year. Who’s up next on that Georgia defensive line in 2025?​

TID: [Defensive tackle] Christian Miller, number 52. He’s gonna have a breakout year.

JI: You’ve been busy with the Senior Bowl and the Combine. How’s the pre-draft process been for you?​

TID: It’s been going good, man. I just feel like I’m at a point where it’s slowed up a little bit. At first, things were fast, going back to the first activity that I had in the process, which was the Reese’s Senior Bowl. Things were fast back then, but when you’re going on, it gets slower throughout the process. I just feel like things have slowed up for the most part right now during the process. But the most part, everything’s been moving, man. Everything’s been good. You go through the step of being in Mobile then — because for me, I trained out in Phoenix, Arizona, I was on the west coast — so I went after to Mobile, I went back to Phoenix. trained for a little bit for the Combine, went the Indianapolis for a week, came to [Athens, Georgia] for a little bit, did the Pro Day. Now, I’m at a point where I’m just back and forth from Athens to South Carolina and doing meetings with teams and coming up on [top-30] visits here in April.

JI: How do you like to spend your free time outside of football?​

TID: Outside of football, I just spend time with my little brothers. I got two baby brothers; one of them’s eight years old, one of them’s four years old, and they just started playing sports and stuff. I’ll be trying to have time with them, shoot around, stuff like that. I like to play video games here and there, when I have a little free time. [I’m a] Call of Duty type of guy; that’s really all I play. I just started getting into reading books, so just a lot of different things I do in my off time off the field.

JI: That’s got to be cool, having the two younger brothers watching you come up in the league as they grow up. What kinda books are you into?​

TID: It definitely it is. As far as what type of books, I want to learn things. like books where I can learn something, especially about finances. That’s really what I’m into right now, book-wise.

JI: Let’s say I’m an NFL general manager. What would I be getting if I drafted you to my team?​

TID: A great locker room presence. I feel like the locker room and connection of a team is what helps them perform together greatly on the field. I feel like that’s important, [to have] a great locker room guy, bringing positive energy. I’m a guy that likes to make people laugh and bring joy to people, no matter what’s going on around the building. That type of presence, I feel like that’s very important. [I’m] also a great worker. You’re not gonna have to ask me to do my job; I’m gonna come in and execute it every way that I can, and a great person that’s just gonna play hard. I’m gonna try to do everything that I can to help the team win, and I’ll play any way to help provide value for the team. [You’ll be getting] a selfless person that’s coming in to try to make a great impact.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...erview-tyrion-ingram-dawkins-georgia-football

 

[Chicago Bears]

The Bear’s Den, April 1, 2025

Welcome to your annual April 1 prank-free zone. Trust nothing posted today (except this, of course)

WE WANT YOU!

Would you like to show your Chicago Bears spirit to the world? I’m starting a feature where Windy City Gridiron readers can share pictures of themselves and their families and friends in Bears attire. Simply email a picture to me at the following address: denmasterken at aol dot com. The pictures need to be clear, and full resolution (i.e. full size from your phone if that’s how you take them). Include any description information you like along with the photo!

THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL

DENMASTER KEN’S VIDEO GRAB BAG

BEARRRSSSS​

Potential Bears target must deal with critical unnamed sources - SI - NFL writer Bob McGinn annually presents unnamed scouts as sources who criticize the talent in each draft and his latest installment targets a possible Bears player of interest.

New Bears Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen is Helping in Unexpected Ways - BN - I did not have Bears Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen making a case for one of the NFL Draft’s top offensive prospects.

Will Campbell and the Bears: ESPN Insider Believes He *CAN* Play Left Tackle - BN - The growing buzz around the Bears drafting LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell isn’t quieting any time soon.

Bears Have Reportedly Discussed Trading UP in 2025 NFL Draft - BN - It sounds like the Chicago Bears are exploring their options ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Ranking Three Biggest Needs Heading into Draft - Da Bears Blog - The Bears possess three of the first 41 draft selections in this coming draft, and expectations would be that each of those three players would be potential starters/contributors in 2025. So, where are the biggest needs on this roster as currently constituted?

Emma: Could Bears trade up in the top 10 of the NFL Draft? - 670 - As of Monday, there hasn’t been a single trade of a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. This marks the closest point to the draft in more than three decades that every NFL team owns its original first-round pick.

Chicago Bears: Ben Johnson presses forward as coach - Chicago Tribune - Ben Johnson is one of 19 NFL head coaches who also serve as offensive play caller. So what do play-calling coaches value most in their OCs?

Jaquan Brisker puts out details of injury and lengthy IR stay - 670 - Bears safety says he had to

Ben Johnson’s message about start to Bears voluntary minicamp - SI - There will be a difference from what the Bears have done in the past at a voluntary minicamp, the new Bears coach said at the NFL owners meetings.

KNOW THINE ENEMY

Steelers waiting on Aaron Rodgers, though Mike Tomlin is ‘comfortable with being unsettled’ - Chicago Sun-Times - The man who claims to own the Bears spent Friday trying to talk his way into a new job.

POLISH SAUSAGE

Sean McVay: Tush push "doesn't look like football to me" - NBC Sports - Rams coach wishes NFL had never allowed the play in the first place.

Mike Vrabel says Patriots "won March" but it's "comical" to celebrate the offseason - NBC Sports - The Patriots have made several big moves since free agency opened three weeks ago, but Mike Vrabel says nobody should be celebrating just yet.

Jets think they can get more out of Justin Fields — but the Steelers once believed that, too - Chicago Sun-Times - Fields will be the starter this season. For him to be successful, though, the team will have to fine-tune what the Bears and Steelers could not

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON​

Chicago’s T Formation Offense Really Started Cooking in 1941 - Windy City Gridiron - In the 1940s, the Chicago Bears pushed the league into the future with their innovative wrinkle of adding motion to their T Formation. The Bears rode the offense to four championships over seven...

Dark Horse Candidates for Chicago’s Draft Board - Windy City Gridiron - Here are few players who could fit into the plans at Chicago who are receiving less attention.

2025 NFL Draft interview: Georgia DL Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins - Windy City Gridiron - WCG’s lead draft analyst spoke with Georgia’s explosive, versatile defensive lineman.

Chicago Bears Building Block or Not: Cornerbacks - Windy City Gridiron - Which cornerbacks on the Bears roster should figure into their future plans.

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Windy City Gridiron Community Guidelines - SBNation.com - We strive to make our communities open and inclusive to sports fans of all backgrounds. The following are not permitted in comments. No personal attacks, politics, gender-based insults of any kind, racial insults, etc.

2nd City Gridiron Podcast Channel which includes Bears Banter hosted by Bill Zimmerman, Bear & Balanced from Jeff Berckes and Lester A. Wiltfong Jr., Bears Over Beers featuring a rotating host line-up of Ryan Droste, Khari Thompson, Jacob Infante, and Bryan Orenchuk, Making Monsters with Taylor Doll, Bear Bones from Dr. Mason West, and an occasional T Formation Conversation from Lester; Steven’s Streaming Twitch Channel from Steven Schweickert is another fun one.

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A few of us are also over at Bluesky.​

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...es-offseason-draft-ben-johnson-no-april-fools