NEWSLETTER
It’s here. Finally! The biggest thing to hit Soldier Field since the forward pass was brought to Chicago (shortly after the Bears took Justin Fields in the 2021 NFL Draft) has arrived! No, you haven’t slept through the offseason. And that highly anticipated Bears-Packers Week 1 showdown isn’t kicking off later today. Instead, pop music superstar Taylor Swift’s epic The Eras Tour touches down in Chicago later tonight. And it’s got me thinking about which Bears are in what Taylor Swift Era.
For those who aren’t up to speed, The Eras Tour is a musical journey through her 10 studio albums. Each “Era” has its own distinctive style and tells its own story. With that as our backdrop, let’s discuss which Bears are living in their own Era.
Debut: Darnell Wright
It only makes sense to have the rookie right tackle living in his Debut era. Much like Swift’s first album was the start of something special, the Bears are hoping to say the same about Wright’s rookie season. The first-round pick was one of the top offensive line prospects who came out in last April’s NFL Draft. An up-and-comer with loads of potential, Wright can set a solid foundation with a strong rookie campaign.
Song: “Our Song”
Fearless: Kyler Gordon, Jaquan Brisker, Braxton Jones
After hitting the ground running with her self-titled debut, Taylor’s Fearless album was one in which she took the all-important second-year leap. Swift’s second album is one that put her on my radar by doing more than the pop-country stuff she did on the first album. Through that lens, my hope is that second-year players Kyler Gordon, Jaquan Brisker, and Braxton Jones can follow the blueprint Swift laid out on her Fearless album. That joint has a bunch of bops. And if you’re a fan of the Taylor’s Version, the vault tracks are some go-to cuts for me. All in all, if this trio of second-year standouts can make a “Fearless” leap, then I’d bet on this year being a successful one — and one we might look back on fondly as the beginning of an era of sustained success.
Song: “Jump Then Fall”
Speak Now: DJ Moore
This album gets slept on in some circles because it is sandwiched between two fan favorites. But when the Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) re-release drops in July, that’s going to change. And when it does, fans (both new and old) are going to grab and hold onto the fairy-tale vibes that emanate from this album. With that being said, acquiring stud receiver DJ Moore in a trade last March definitely feels like a fairy tale. Adding a legit WR1 who is a virtual lock to catch a bunch of balls and rack up 1,000 receiving yards is definitely the stuff we wistfully dream of at night. Here’s to Moore making those dreams come true in 2023 (and beyond).
Song: “Sparks Fly” (because it sure sounds like they’re flying with Justin Fields)
Red: Ryan Poles
If Ms. Swift’s Red era was one of re-invention, then GM Ryan Poles’ offseason is his. Because one year after tearing it all the way down, Poles went about building a new and improved Bears outfit in 2023. This year’s Bears project to have at least 12 starters who weren’t starting in Week 1 for last year’s Bears. It’s giving “on a Wednesday, in a cafe, I watched it begin again” vibes to me.
Song: “Begin Again”
1989: Justin Fields
Swift’s 1989 era saw her go from pop star to international music sensation. So of course we’re dreaming of Fields taking that type of leap in 2023. Taylor took a full-on dive into pop music with 1989, which I consider one of the best pop albums of all-time. The feelings I got from listening to that album the first time are similar to what I felt when I first heard Thriller (Michael Jackson) and Purple Rain (Prince). It is one of the five most transformative albums of my lifetime that absolutely changed my musical listening ear, joining The College Dropout (Kanye West), Lord Willin‘ (Clipse), The Chronic (Dr. Dre), and Take Off Your Pants and Jacket (Blink-182). If Fields can change how I look at Bears quarterbacks, he’ll do for football what Swift’s 1989 album did for my music tastes.
Song: “Wonderland”
Reputation: Darnell Mooney
After some recent soul searching with a good friend, it hit me that Reputation might be my favorite album. Because if I were to rank my top 100 T-Swift songs, I think Reputation would be the album most represent. Also, the 2018 Rep Tour at Soldier Field was a top-5 concert experience for me. Anyway, I don’t think a player better represents the Reputation era of switching the vibe like Darnell Mooney, who’s out for revenge in 2023 — just as Taylor was when this album dropped in 2017.
Song: “End Game” feat. Future and Ed Sheeran (this is probably every receiver’s favorite Taylor Swift track)
Lover: Luke Getsy
Finding a fit for the Lover era was my toughest challenge. Mostly because while on the surface Lover comes off as a light, airy, poppy love album, there are undertones of a breakup on the horizon. And it’s not even a breakup you want. Go listen to “Cornelia Street” and “Death By A Thousand Cuts” and tell me this is a love album. Anyway, Bears Offensive Coordinator Luke Getsy is in his Lover era. Because while it might be all heart-eye emojis and flirty texts now, there is an inevitable future in which Getsy is hired away to be someone else’s head coach. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
Song: “Me!” feat. Brendan Urie (of Panic! At the Disco)
Folklore and Evermore: Khalil Herbert
These two albums were dropped five months apart during the 2020 pandemic. Swift giving us new music during some tough times was a godsend. In that vein, running back Khalil Herbert came through with some of the Bears’ best rushing performances by a running back while David Montgomery was out of action the last two years. Nothing like coming through when your team was needing someone to step up.
Song: “The Last Great American Dynasty” (Folklore), “‘Tis the Damn Season” (Evermore)
Midnights: Matt Eberflus
Swift’s latest album dropped last October. This means it might be too early to define the era. But for now, I see Midnights as a reflective self-assessment of where Swift is while also channeling some retro vibes. The song “You’re On Your Own, Kid” fits the aesthetic of a second-year coach who’s taking the training wheels off in 2023.
Song: “You’re On Your Own, Kid”
