Story by @danwiederer.bsky.social on the next chapter in the Bears' stadium saga

The Bears board of directors voted to advance their stadium detriment project in Hammond, Indiana.

At the Madden 27 cover shoot in L.A., there was a push to recreate Caleb Williams’ magical fourth down throw to Rome Odunze from the Bears’ playoff win. Caleb added a Jordan-esque twist. To be like Mike. Fun. Bold. And perhaps a self-given push for QB1. www.nytimes.com/athletic/733...

What happened when an intern went into the St. Louis Cardinals’ clubhouse during the playoffs and had to write a story on Jim Edmonds? Let @paultenorio.bsky.social tell it

Bears story from Halas Hall... - Rome Odunze's "new normal" - D-line emphasizing the get-off - Tyrique Stevenson on the small details - Jonah Jackson praise from Ben Johnson And more! Dive in (free to read)

DE Dayo Odeyingbo and LB T.J. Edwards were back at Bears practice today. No sign of Montez Sweat or Kyler Gordon. 102 days until the opener in Carolina.

Bears preseason schedule… - Aug. 15 vs Cleveland (noon) - Aug. 22 at Cincinnati (6p) - Aug. 29 at Tennessee (5p)

"Breaking In with Kevin Fishbain" episode 61 Guest: @paultenorio.bsky.social With "The Messi Effect" available now, and The World Cup a week away, this was the perfect time to learn Tenorio's origin story, which goes from Northwestern to the Cardinals clubhouse to the Washington Post

Caleb Williams is the first Bear to be the main cover of Madden

The Bears will have a joint practice with the Bengals in Cincinnati on Aug. 20 ahead of their preseason game, Zac Taylor told reporters today. Bengals are a trendy team to bounce back in 2026. Should be a good preseason test.

The Rams first called about Myles Garrett in 2022. For years, they admired him. In March, they began trade talks with CLE and by the draft were so confident it could happen that it partially informed their pick strategy. W/ Zac Jackson, inside the seismic trade: www.nytimes.com/athletic/732...

“He just got up like, ‘Okay, screw it. I’m gonna do it.’” Messi stood up on a chair. “Hola,” he said. “Soy Lionel Messi.” Then, he started to sing. On book launch day, I wrote for @theathleticfc.bsky.social on what I learned reporting The Messi Effect 📕. Out today! www.nytimes.com/athletic/732...

OFFICIAL: The Eagles trade WR A.J. Brown to the Patriots for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick, pending a physical.

Welp

It’s June 1. Do you know where the Bears’ next stadium will be? Colleague @danwiederer.bsky.social burned the 5a oil to give you the latest on what happened (and didn’t happen) in Springfield. Free to read

If you want to remember some guys, here’s the Bears’ starting lineup in their first game after purchasing the Arlington Park property (a 24-14 win over the Lions, whose tight ends coach was Ben Johnson)

lol

In case anyone wants some light, bedtime reading, here’s the amendment to house bill 958, “The Municipal Stadium Authority Act” www.ilga.gov/documents/le...

A big win to start the World Cup send-off tour. #USMNT 3, Senegal 2. Good win. Pulisic goal and assist. Starting XI contenders looked strong. Game story and takeaways with @henrybushnell.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/732...

🎶This is the song that never ends🎶

Talked Luther Burden, Rome Odunze and Caleb Williams on The Score this afternoon

The buzziest name out of Halas Hall on Thursday? Luther Burden III. Ben Johnson is all-in on his second-year wide receiver. www.nytimes.com/athletic/731...

“The Fridley roots are so deep. For him to come back here … he could be anywhere. He was anywhere. And he chose to come here.” Cannot recommend this @jourdanrodrigue.bsky.social story enough. Free to read

First Bears OTA open to the media has concluded. Highlight was a scramble-drill bomb from Caleb Williams to Rome Odunze. Jaylon Johnson was participating. Kyler Gordon was out there in a limited fashion. No sign of Sweat, Dayo Odeyingbo, TJ Edwards, Shemar Turner, Malik Muhammad, Keyshaun Elliott

Bears head coach Ben Johnson: "I'm buying Luther Burden stock right now. ... Yesterday, he had numerous explosive plays." (Hello from OTAs at Halas Hall)

"Breaking In with Kevin Fishbain" episode 60 (!) Guest: Jon "Boog" Sciambi This origin story includes where the "Boog" nickname came from, Sciambi's one-night stint working at a donut shop, calling Marlins games into a tape recorder, and much more

Texting my Knicks friends like they just successfully made it back from space

"Thank you for bringing awareness to how important connection is with the written word and literature is.” My newest @theathletic.com on the 'Read Like Wemby' campaign at San Antonio Central library: www.nytimes.com/athletic/730... free and unlocked to read

My favorite Kelly Amonte Hiller story: In the early days of the D1 program, she’s sit at the Lakefill and watch students run. If they ran like lacrosse players, she’d pitch them on playing. (Even if they hadn’t before!) Now she just won a ninth national title, at Northwestern, on the lake. Unreal!

🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 Go Cats

The White Sox got 5 hits tonight, ALL in the 4th inning They also scored 9 runs That’s the 2nd-most runs in a game by a team to get all of its hits in one frame in at least the expansion era (1961) On 9/11/21, TOR got all 11 hits in a 11-2 win in the 7th in G2 of a 7-inn DH h/t @EliasSports

The Bears just released the following statement: “The Chicago Bears have exhausted every opportunity to stay in Chicago, which was our initial goal. There is not a viable site in the city. As a result, the only sites under consideration are in Arlington Heights and Hammond.”

Good stuff today from Bears special teams coordinator Richard Hightower on rookie Zavion Thomas

Bears roster moves…RB swap, veteran safety added, and getting to have 91 players for the summer thanks to the international player exemption

The 2025 season presented an encouraging breakthrough for Caleb Williams and the Bears offense. But the stair climb must continue. “That was a good stepping stone for me. But that wasn’t the last stepping stone.” www.nytimes.com/athletic/729...

"Breaking In with Kevin Fishbain" episode 59 Guest: Danny Parkins Ahead of his annual Radiothon, learn how Parkins made his radio debut in high school, why he spent his first year out of college playing poker, and how he got his start making $9/hour 🍎 podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...

If Tom Condon had one defining characteristic, it's that he always found a way. And in a new phase of life, he's trying to find a way again. My story is free to read here. www.nytimes.com/athletic/724...

Joined @danwiederer.bsky.social on “Take the North” to unveil the 14th annual Bears Watchability Rankings

Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers have reached an agreement on a one-year deal, a league source confirmed to @theathletic.com OTAs begin for the Steelers on Monday.

14th annual Bears watchability rankings coming soon, but get a sneak peek of the top 3 on my IG www.instagram.com/kevinfishbain

Bears schedule. What does it all mean? www.nytimes.com/athletic/727...

The 2026 Bears schedule

Last season, the Bears had 3 tight ends on the field for the following plays: - Cole Kmet's TD in Philly - DJ Moore's walkoff vs. Green Bay - Colston Loveland's 2-pointer in the playoffs Story on rookie Sam Roush and "13 personnel" (free to read)

For those curious, the Bears have played on Christmas Day twice in franchise history — 2005 and 2011, both against the Packers under the lights in Lambeau. They're 3-1 all-time in Friday games, including last year's win over the Eagles, which was their first Friday game since 1966.

A fun Ron Santo story from Cory Provus

"Breaking in with Kevin Fishbain" episode 58 Guest: Cory Provus Long before his career as a MLB and BTN broadcaster, one of Provus' side hustles was providing sports updates for 4 radio stations in a ranch house, going room to room throughout the afternoon. Here's his origin story

"That’s all blocking is, it’s hip mobility and that explosion, and he has that, which makes him different, because most blocking tight ends might be 6-6, 265 pounds, but they don’t have that step.” On Bears TE Sam Roush (free to read)

Notes, nuggets, insight from a packed weekend of Bears rookie camp: www.nytimes.com/athletic/726...

The Bears signed WR Scotty Miller, WR Kyron Hudson, LB Wayne Matthews III and LB Jon Rhattigan. They placed WR Squirrel White on reserve/retired list. Miller, Barrington native and Super Bowl winner, has been in the NFL since 2019. Rhattigan, Naperville native, has played for 5 teams since 2021.

Munetaka Murakami has homered in the first game in each of the last eight series He’s the first player in MLB history to do so