“He was vulnerable. Hurt. Devastated. Alone. But that’s how he should have felt. That all comes with it. You let down 52 other guys. You let down 20-some coaches. You let down one of the most passionate football fan bases in the world. That’s heavy s—.”

Tyrique Stevenson’s passion remains his fuel. His background made him stronger. Fatherhood has provided added purpose. Now, as his painful Hail Mary scars heal, Stevenson is trying like hell to raise his focus and become his best self. DEEP DIVE:

— A well-timed offensive reset at the bye. — Questions remain at offensive tackle. — Kyler Gordon itching to return plus other injuries worth keeping an eye on. www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...

“In the city where your fortune is decided by the turn of a card, the roll of the dice, the spin of a wheel, the Chicago Bears showed even the hardest-luck folks can leave Vegas with a smile.” ✍️⁦‪ By: @jongreenberg.bsky.social

Even with all his obvious competitive aggravation, Ben Johnson gave his team a sense of calm. Even at the end of an afternoon of offensive struggle, Caleb Williams instilled belief. By ⁦‪@kfishbain‬⁩ What a way to exit Las Vegas.

You need to know more about Sunday’s game-winning blocked kick. You need to know more about Josh Blackwell. Diving deeper on the Bears’ special team ace and the Vegas magic trick that would make Criss Angel jealous.

Caleb Williams was impressive Sunday, delivering an award-worthy, four-TD, hot dog-winning effort in a blowout win. That performance … WAS: Explosive, clean, a needed tension breaker WASN’T: An arrival, perfect, the final exam A comprehensive look:

All that pre-snap chaos from the Bears? QB1’s role in the cleanup? “We can’t go to the next level until we’ve taken care of those basics. Ben has talked from the very beginning that the secret sauce in Detroit was not the trick plays and all that fun stuff; it was mastery of the fundamentals."

WEEK 1 REVIEW Unofficial Caleb Williams report card of his 47 called passing plays vs. Vikings 🌟— 3 plays (star power) 👍— 12 plays (very nice) ⭕️ — 18 plays 👎— 9 plays (substandard) 🤢— 5 plays (gross) (Includes 6 scrambles and 4 penalty “no plays”)

You need a rant on the Darnell Wright holding penalty and what it meant? You want a Ben Johnson confession? You want Caleb Williams’ review and patience timelines? The Take The North pod has it all and MORE … www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKKr...

“Here we go again” — or — “This is different”? That fierce tug-of-war is back in Chicago for Week 2. For the Bears, @kfishbain.bsky.social and I play a game of what exactly was that and what’s next? www.nytimes.com/athletic/661...

A fast and encouraging start. And then a frustrating fizzle. @kfishbain.bsky.social goes deep on Caleb Williams' first night of 2025 ...

Ahead by 11 points with a legitimate chance to land a knockout punch, the Bears instead stumbled, swung wildly and somehow knocked themselves out. Then the Vikings dropped an anvil on them. About last night .. www.nytimes.com/athletic/661...

2025 season. Official arrival.

Amid all the clamor about Caleb Williams, the key leaders at Halas Hall have some very specific criteria for their 2025 evaluation of the Bears’ QB1. Let’s take a walk through a five-point checklist that will guide the assessment. 🏈✔️

Ben Johnson vs. Brian Flores. A fascinating chess match awaits Monday night at Soldier Field. The Athletic’s Alec Lewis dives into the back-and-forth of two established play-callers trying to outwit one another.

For a coach so often lauded for showcasing the intelligence and problem-solving skills of Sherlock Holmes, Ben Johnson also has a *much* more savage side to him. Think Anton Chigurh from “No Country for Old Men.” Inside the mind and m.o. of the Bears new coach. www.nytimes.com/athletic/658...

New from @kfishbain.bsky.social and I at The Athletic … Week 1 observations on: — Ben Johnson’s leadership — Caleb Williams’ growth — Uncertainty at left tackle — Montez Sweat’s momentum — A surprise revelation at WR

The Fourth Annual “Take The North” PREDICTIONS episode is here. -- Bears record -- Team MVP -- Breakout player -- Most disappointing -- Signature win -- Caleb stats -- "Take the North" division champ -- Super Bowl LX 🗣️🎙️👂👀📺

It’s Wednesday morning. Let’s talk. Bears. Now. With @mullyhaugh on @670TheScore 670theScore.com/listen

Jaylon Johnson’s availability for Monday night remains in question. If he can’t play or is limited, Nahshon Wright is eager for his chance — with unique experience covering Vikings WR Justin Jefferson.

“We decide in this league very quickly whether a guy can or can’t play quarterback like it’s a simple yes or no. Let’s either have a parade or move on.” GREAT read here from ⁦Zak Keefer‬⁩ on the minefield of QB development in the NFL.

The Bears’ final play of last season was a deep FG to beat the rival Packers. Why that moment — and all that led up to it — is something Cairo Santos can never forget.

The Bears initial 53-man roster is in. So … — A Jaylon Johnson update — An underdog story — Exiting draft picks — A depleted RBs room — Some late-night homework for the front office From me & ⁦‪@kfishbain www.nytimes.com/athletic/657...

Kevin Fishbain checks in on one of the Bears’ most important and most accomplished newcomers. Joe Thuney means business. www.nytimes.com/athletic/657...

Friday’s fantastic finish didn’t quite resonate with Ben Johnson as much as that sloppy offensive start. What it all means for Caleb Williams and Co. as Week 0 arrives.

Presence matters. For all NFL head coaches. And certainly for the one leading the Chicago Bears. A deeper look at Ben Johnson’s arrival at Halas Hall, his energized honesty and his attempt to awaken “a sleeping giant.” www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/24/c...

BEARS 29, CHIEFS 27 Take the North: After Dark (Dungeon episode) Sloppiness, heroics, head coach aggravation. www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOit...

There’s a scene in Ep. 1 of “Quarterback” where Jared Goff talks about his career rebirth in Detroit. Goff: “I was reinvigorated with this energy of, ‘Oh, like, this is what it feels like to truly be wanted.’” Week 1 at The Athletic: that’s exactly how I feel. This is going to be so much fun.

Details matter. New Bears coach Ben Johnson doesn’t just preach that. His actions scream it into a megaphone. The great ⁦‪@kfishbain‬⁩ with more from inside Halas Hall … www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...

— Tying a bow on the game and the joint practice with the Bills. — Braxton Jones opens up to @markgrotesports — What Sunday’s opening drive meant - and didn’t mean. TAKE. THE. NORTH. 🗣️🎙️👂📺 youtu.be/ZACCMPGtraQ

Caleb Williams walks into Year 2 with a refurbished OL, a proven play caller and a full stable of playmakers. So now what? A closer look at why Williams’ preseason TD pass could be a sign of things to come for the Bears O. www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...

Day 1 vibes at the new job. For me: Senior Writer, The Athletic (Bears beat) Been a long time since I have had a professional adrenaline rush like this. Let’s. Go.

The Bears played host to the Bills for a joint practice Friday at Halas Hall. Here are nine observations from another busy day in Lake Forest. 📝 @bradbiggs.bsky.social, @seanhammond.bsky.social and @danwiederer.bsky.social

JAM. PACKED. EPISODE. — MVP Josh Allen has his hands full with a feisty Bears D. — What’s the latest at LT? — Ben Johnson keeps it real with his Caleb Williams eval. — A Mitch Trubisky reunion. 🗣️🎙️👂 🏈📺 www.youtube.com/watch?v=rn1h...

A sharper day from Bears QB Caleb Williams ended with a successful “end-of-game” drive into FG range. Plus … Theo Benedet’s opportunity at LT, Josh Blackwell’s continued rise and more. CAMP RUNDOWN www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/14/c...

“I know it’s preseason. But man, throwing touchdowns and celebrating with your teammates is what it’s all about.” Count Case Keenum among those who really leaned into Sunday’s preseason game. (See also: Booker, Sewell, Bagent, Alexander, Walker, Santos) www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/10/c...

Great stuff from ⁦‪Brad Biggs‬⁩ in today’s 10 Thoughts, including an opener that reviews Caleb Williams’ 87-play morning Sunday. Yep, you read that right. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/11/c...

In the words of Ben Johnson, while Sunday’s preseason game didn’t count per se, it still mattered. And, for different reasons, it mattered to guys like Austin Booker, Noah Sewell, Tyson Bagent, Jahdae Walker and Case Keenum. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/10/c...

The Bears win the toss and elect to receive. Moments away from Tyson Bagent time at Soldier Field.

We. Are. Back!

All eyes are on Bears QB Caleb Williams right now. All ears too. So where is his headspace for Year 2? I sat down w Caleb to explore: — His union w Ben Johnson — His (im)patience with the growth process — This fast-paced “marathon” ONE on ONE www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/08/c...

Hot and bothered … The flareups at Bears training camp today were attention grabbing. Some good ol’ fashioned competitive tenacity. Plus: — More emphatic praise for Tyson Bagent — Energy from Tyrique Stevenson — An injury exit for Cole Kmet www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/05/c...

Cancer SUCKS. Shout out to @Cubs, @670TheScore, @DannyParkins for going all in and all out to raise money for research to fight it. The 24-hour radiothon is still humming and producing … Help if you can. fundraise.givesmart.com/f/5g5c/n?vid=1…

Caleb Williams has a lot on his plate these days. And as he continues to ride the training camp roller coaster, both patience and progress are musts. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/01/c...

Asked Ben Johnson this morning about a best-case scenario for Jaylon Johnson’s return to the field and he offered up Week 1 as a target. Johnson’s unspecified leg injury will almost certainly keep him out for all of training camp and, from the sounds of it, possibly into September. 😬

Go time. Ben Johnson has advertised this AM’s practice as the longest and most intense session of camp to date. Ideally, the competition level will be way up and the competitive periods increased. Here. We. Go.

Bears guard Jonah Jackson has a leg injury, did not practice today and will be day-to-day for a return. LT Braxton Jones did not practice today but it was a scheduled rest day.

In a scripted low red zone period to end practice, Caleb Williams was 0-for-2 passing, took a sack but had a short TD scamper on a read-option keeper. Case Keenum, w the 2s, threw TDs to TEs Stephen Carlson and Durham Smythe. Williams was 4-for-10 today during 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 work.

Jaylon Johnson’s extended absence from training camp has opened a window of opportunity. Nahshon Wright is taking advantage as a strong match for Dennis Allen’s D. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/07/28/c...