The 1969 Cubs might be the most beloved team of infamy in baseball history. "My 100 Favorite Collectibles" series continues with No. 95 — the '69 Cubs ... www.markpotash.net/post/my-100-...

Caleb Williams is a video game/cheat code, but before the days of Madden 27, even a video game could not complete Williams' spectacular TD pass to Cole Kmet vs. the Rams. "My 100 Favorite Collectibles" continues with No. 96 — Atari Football and arcade games: www.markpotash.net/post/my-100-...

The Magnificent 7 — Seven people who had the biggest impact on the Bears' 2025 resurgence ... www.markpotash.net/post/the-mag...

Nothing is guaranteed in the NFL, but with Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams, #Bears' progression should trump regression in 2026. 1st-and-10 ... www.markpotash.net/post/1st-and...

WTF? Ben Johnson is meeting his biggest challenge as the #Bears' head coach — changing Halas Hall before it changes him. 1st-and-10, now only at markpotash.net ... www.markpotash.net/post/1st-and...

Ben Johnson already has succeeded where other #Bears coaches have failed. But Bears-Packers in the playoffs is the ultimate test of The Ben Johnson Effect. 1st-and-10: www.markpotash.net/post/1st-and...

The Magnificent 7 — Seven players who made the biggest impact in the Bears' 19-16 loss to the Lions on Sunday at Soldier Field: www.markpotash.net/post/the-mag...

The best "statement loss" since the Ditka era ("We will be back") is the latest indicator that Ben Johnson's #Bears have staying power. ... Caleb Williams and the "it" factor. ... Should Tyson Bagent get meaningful snaps against the Lions? 1st-and-10: www.markpotash.net/post/1st-and...

The Magnificent 7 — Seven players who made the biggest impact in the Bears' 42-38 loss to the 49ers on Sunday night at Levi's Stadium: www.markpotash.net/post/the-mag...

Despite a season fueled by fortuitous plays that beat the odds and will be tough to repeat, the 2025 #Bears aren't just "special," they're sustainable. 1st-and-10: www.markpotash.net/post/1st-and...

Ben Johnson's fourth-and-1 gamble failed, but at least he lost being Ben Johnson. That's the only way the #Bears are going to break the cycle of losing at Halas Hall. 1st-and-10: www.markpotash.net/post/1st-and...

The Magnificent 7 — Seven players who made the biggest impact in the Bears' 28-21 loss to the Packers on Sunday at Lambeau Field: www.markpotash.net/post/the-mag...

Before Ben Johnson was hired, Ryan Poles traded a second-round pick (No. 32) for WR Chase Claypool. After Ben Johnson was hired, he traded a fourth-round pick (currently No. 131) for All-Pro guard Joe Thuney. How Johnson is making Poles a better GM. 1st-and-10: www.markpotash.net/post/1st-and...

Ben Johnson vs. Vic Fangio will be a playoff-caliber matchup in the #Bears' showdown vs. the Eagles on Friday — the kind of battle Johnson ultimately will have to win to get the Bears over the top. 1st-and-10: www.markpotash.net/post/1st-and...

The Magnificent 7 — Seven players who made the biggest impact in the Bears' 31-28 victory over the Steelers on Sunday at Soldier Field ... www.markpotash.net/post/the-mag...

The #Bears' 2025 season is trending like 2012, when Lovie Smith's team started 7-1 against a soft schedule, predictably fell flat against better opponents and missed the playoffs. But there's one big difference. Well, two. Maybe three. 1st-and-10: www.markpotash.net/post/1st-and...

The Magnificent 7 — Seven players who made the biggest impact in the Bears' 19-17 victory over the Vikings on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium: www.markpotash.net/post/the-mag...

The Magnificent 7 — Seven players who made the biggest impact in the Bears' 24-20 victory over the Giants on Sunday at Soldier Field: www.markpotash.net/post/the-mag...

Dawn of a New Era: There's always been an an excitement about Ben Johnson's offense. Now there's a confidence it can put the same hurt on vulnerable defenses like the Giants' that good teams have done: www.markpotash.net/post/weather...

It remains to be seen if Caleb Williams is the right guy. But he's at the right place at the right time, which is a big advantage over previous #Bears QBs, like Jay Cutler — 1st-and-10: www.markpotash.net/post/1st-and...

The #Bears have a chance to exorcise a demon that led to their ruin last season — and show the heart, leadership and verve they didn't have last year — in return trip to Northwest Stadium to face the Commanders on MNF. This isn't just another game: www.markpotash.net/post/1st-and...

With a tip of the cap to my former Sun-Times colleague Jim O'Donnell, who did this better than anyone ... The Magnificent 7 — Seven players who made the biggest impact in the Bears' 25-24 victory over the Raiders on Sunday in Las Vegas: www.markpotash.net/post/the-mag...

Ben Johnson's offense vs. Matt Eberflus' defense Sunday is a poetic litmus test for Johnson in an early key moment of his #Bears coaching tenure. The last time they met, it was Eberflus who had the edge, until the fateful final minute at Ford Field ... 1st-and-10 www.markpotash.net/post/1st-and...

A checklist for Ben Johnson's debut season — is going 3-3 in the NFC North too much to ask for? ... Why D'Andre Swift is the pick to click in Week 1 ... Jaylon Johnson should not play in the #Bears opener vs. the Vikes ... all that and more in 1st-and-10: www.markpotash.net/post/1st-and...

It's up to Ben Johnson to make a QB out of Caleb Williams and a GM out of Ryan Poles. ... Did the Bears use the 56th pick of the draft on a backup RT? ... A legitimate bar for success in Wk 1 ... An optimistic Bear-ometer. All that and more in 1st-and-10: www.markpotash.net/post/1st-and...

The Bears' upset of the Packers in Week 18 was a big morale boost at Halas Hall, but also cost them 3 spots in the draft, and the chance to take Texas OT Kelvin Banks — the dedicated LT the Bears appear to need. Will Ryan Poles' regret not trading up to get him? www.markpotash.net/post/the-ris...

History shows you don't have to win the training camp battle to win the war — see Olin Kreutz vs. Casey Wiegmann, 1998. But if Ozzy Trapilo is close, shouldn't he be the Bears' starter at LT in Week 1? www.markpotash.net/post/experie...

Ryne Sandberg was beloved as player with the Cubs, but beloved as a person in retirement — a transformation that endeared him to multiple generations of Cub fans who will miss him, but never forget him. RIP. www.markpotash.net/post/ryne-sa...

"Collusion" used to be like yelling "shark," but not when mid-tier quarterbacks are making $55M a year, with $150M+ guaranteed. Fans want to see players get what they earn, but they also want to see players earn what they get. www.markpotash.net/post/why-nfl...

The Bulls are preaching patience — which is a tough sell after the Thunder and Pacers played for the NBA title two years after being at or below the Bulls' level. What are the Bulls doing wrong? www.markpotash.net/post/with-pa...

Oh, to be 16 again — 1975 was the summer of not only "Jaws," but "Love Will Keep Us Together," a smash hit by Captain & Tennille that came out of nowhere, and brings back a lot of great Summer of '75 memories 50 years later: www.markpotash.net/post/50-year...

In MLB's first ever draft in 1965, the Cubs took pitcher Richard James sixth overall, but also U of I left-handed pitcher Ken Holtzman, who became the first draftee to make it to the big leagues and later was traded for No. 1 overall pick Rick Monday. Story: www.markpotash.net/post/the-196...

Ben Johnson's attention to detail is another new-coach cliche, but can't be dismissed as the same-old, same-old with the #Bears. Sometimes the coach who thinks he's the smartest guy in the room actually is the smartest guy in the room. markpotash.net www.markpotash.net/post/ben-joh...

The #Bears offseason Bingo card is filling up, with good reason this time ... markpotash.net www.markpotash.net/post/bears-o...

When Ben Johnson became the Lions' OC in 2022, the running back (D'Andre Swift) and tight end (T.J. Hockenson) were among the proven veterans who didn't make it to Year 2. That puts a the spotlight on Swift and Cole Kmet in 2025. markpotash.net www.markpotash.net/post/d-andre...

The pursuit of a new stadium was typical of Bears dysfunction — but unlike drafting Mitch Trubisky or hiring Matt Eberflus, it will still end well. "No harm, no foul" seems to be the way the Bears are rolling these days. That's progress at Halas Hall. www.markpotash.net/post/the-new...

The Carl/Caleb Williams story — a moot issue with a new coach in place? Or a red flag that Halas Hall dysfunction might make Ben Johnson's job tougher than he thought? 🤔 www.markpotash.net/post/the-cal...

On this day in 1970 — Ernie Banks hit his 500th career home run — ninth on the all-time list at the time. Did you know ... Hank Aaron hit No. 568 at Wrigley Field the day before ... and Banks broke up a no-hitter in the eighth inning the day after? www.markpotash.net/post/may-12-...

Happy Birthday to former Westinghouse star Eddie Johnson. Two of my favorite EJ anecdotes: — Went to Westinghouse because it didn't have a pool and he could not swim. — Went to Illinois to "blaze my own trail" after college coaches opened a door for Magic but let is shut on him.

Did Ryan Poles' draft discipline cost him a running back? ... Why Coleston Loveland was the right TE ... the concern about keeping everyone on a #Bears offense happy will never not be amusing ... a tribute to Mongo. All that and more in 1st-and-10 ... www.markpotash.net/post/1st-and...

My favorite Bears draft tweets ... markpotash.net

Draft Week 2025: Ranking Ryan Poles' 26 draft picks as the #Bears' GM. Few, if any, unqualified big hits, but a lot of room for growth ... especially if they get the QB right. markpotash.net

Ben Johnson continues the Cubs winning streak when the Bears' new head coach throws out the first pitch at Wrigley Field — started by none other than. George Halas — but in a little different way. Why that might be a good omen ... markpotash.net

Remember Cam Payne? After washing out as the Bulls' "point guard of the future, he's found a niche as a playoff spark, and did it again to save Tom Thibodeau and the Knicks from a Game 1 loss. He typifies the Bulls' wayward path since firing Thibs. markpotash.net

The Cubs' 13-11 victory over the Diamondbacks on Friday evokes memories of the greatest slugfest in modern Wrigley Field history — the Cubs' 23-22 loss to the Phillies in 1979. markpotash.net

Chicago's five major pro sports teams have not played a playoff game since April 27, 2022 (Bucks 116, Bulls 100) — 1,005 days ago. A streak that is assured of extending into at least October with the Bulls' loss to the Heat. What did we do to deserve this? markpotash.net

Ryan Poles is the first #Bears GM/VP of player personnel to re-sign his initial draft pick to a long-term contract since Dave Wannstedt/Rod Graves drafted WR Curtis Conway in 1993, then re-signed him in 1996. The last actual GM to do it was Jim Finks in 1975 (RB Walter Payton). markpotash.net

#Bears GM Ryan Poles knows Ben Johnson is the key to his success, so the NFL draft figures to have a familiar focus — giving Johnson the best chance to get his side of the ball right. markpotash.net

Bears GM Ryan Poles' top offensive linemen via free-agency/trade before hiring Ben Johnson: Nate Davis, Lucas Patrick, Coleman Shelton, Ryan Bates, Matt Pryor. Ryan Poles' top offensive linemen via free agency/trade after hiring Ben Johnson: Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, Jonah Jackson.

The Ben Johnson Effect: After breaking the bank to hire Johnson, Bears GM Ryan Poles is fixated on giving him — and Caleb Williams — the best chance to succeed. Signing center Drew Dalman is the latest evidence: chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2025/0...