Day 21 of the Chicago Bears offseason. I had courtside sides for what I think might have been the starting point for a rivalry between *checks notes* the SIU Salukis and UIC Flames. It’s always a pleasure to go down to what I will always call the UIC Pavillion to watch my alma mater play basketball. And as a bonus, I made sure to hit up Carm’s before the game for an Italian beef. I don’t understand why more sports franchises don’t have stadium concession deals with local joints. That’s something we need more of in 2025 and beyond.
- NFL Conference Championship Sunday is here! The showdown for NFC supremacy between the Washington Commanders and Philadelphia Eagles kicks things off at 2 p.m. CT on Sunday afternoon in Philly on FOX. Over in the AFC, we get the Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Buffalo Bills at 5:30 p.m. CT. These should be two outstanding games.
- Former Bears players you could see this weekend:
- BUFFALO BILLS: QB Mitchell Trubisky
- KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: DT Mike Pennel
- WASHINGTON COMMANDERS: OL Cornelius Lucas, P Tress Way
- The only team that doesn’t have a former Bears player on its roster is the Eagles. This feels notable for reasons I cannot explain (unless you really want me to go deep into MIke Royko’s Ex-Cub Factor and apply it to the Bears).
- Pro Football Focus lists the top three free agents at every position. As far as I am concerned, there is only one free-agent-to-be playing this weekend who would make sense as someone who should be a high priority for the Bears: Trey Smith (Chiefs OL).
- In quiet moments, I wonder if the future would be better off if it were NFL Conference Championship Weekend. Spreading the games over Saturday and Sunday is an idea I think the league should kick around (if it hasn’t already done so). And while I do not have any strong feelings one way or the other, I am intrigued by the possibility of spreading out my football watching over two days instead of one.
- The NFL somehow needs to figure out how to make Super Bowl Sunday come before President’s Day so people can full-on enjoy the big day without worrying about work the next day. I could probably get a hefty amount of write-in votes if I ran for office on a platform of prioritizing making the Monday after a Super Bowl a paid holiday.
- Former Bears fullback (who also does media stuff with ESPN 1000) Jason McKie is digging the Al Harris hire:
- Al Harris Fun Fact: Harris had 21 interceptions as a cornerback in his professional career, but only one (1) came against the Bears. Harris’ lone pick of a Bears quarterback came in Week 1 of the 2009 season against Jay Cutler. It turns out that was one of four picks Cutler threw on the afternoon. Cutler finished with the following stat line: 17/36, 277 yards, 1 TD, 4 INT, 43.2 passer rating. I promise to never revisit this box score ever again.
- Antwaan Randle El vs. the Bears: Randle El played just two games against his hometown team. He did not score any touchdowns in those games, which is a bummer. And neither of those games took place at Soldier Field. Double bummer. But now he gets to coach there, which is cool.
- An actual Antwaan Randle El Fun Fact: While at Indiana, Randle El booted a 55-yard punt against the University of Illinois. Seriously, here is the box score from that game. I’m going to need someone who can find this footage to do so — and share it with the class.
- Chip Kelly’s name is reportedly atop the list of several teams looking to fill offensive coordinator positions. The Bears aren’t one of them, which makes sense when you consider that new head coach Ben Johnson will be calling plays in 2025 (and beyond). CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones reports Kelly is on the radar of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could be interested, too. Kelly just won a national title calling offensive plays for the Ohio State Buckeyes, so perhaps he is looking for that next challenge.
- Will Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine be part of a mega deal? Elias Schuster has the latest on potential suitors.
- Over at BN Blackhawks, Tab Bamford has more on the weekend’s big trade.
- Former Chicago Cubs closer Adbert Alzolay reportedly has a deal with the New York Mets.
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