Dan Bernstein Unfiltered | 312 Sports

Episode: Ben Johnson had critical thoughts on the passing game then walked them back, why?
Date: December 3, 2025
Host: Dan Bernstein
Producer/Co-host: Matt Abbatacola

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode dives into Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson’s recent comments about the team’s passing game: his initial critique, why he softened it, and what it reveals about the culture around the Bears and quarterback Caleb Williams. Dan and Matt also reflect on coach accountability, the role of honest criticism in sports, and the potential dangers of organizational or fan-driven censorship of coaching candor. The episode then branches briefly into other sports topics like Chris Paul’s bizarre Clippers exit, the chaotic world of college coaching, and a humorous raccoon story.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ben Johnson’s Passing Game Critique & Walk-Back

• Initial Honest Critique

  • Johnson originally candidly stated the Bears are “winning in spite of our passing game, not because of it, and none of us are pleased with that right now.”
  • Bernstein calls this “a legitimate, correct observation. Honest. More importantly, honest observation from the head coach of the Chicago Bears.” [05:15]

• The Walk-back (Why Soften the Truth?)

  • In a subsequent media session, Johnson clarified, “It's easy to construe [my comment] as I’m not happy with the quarterback. That’s not the case whatsoever. He continues to get better each and every week… I couldn’t be more pleased with how he played last week.”
  • Johnson urged: “Throw [the stats] out the window. He’s doing a really good job managing the ball game.” [05:56]
  • Dan expresses discomfort at seeing Johnson “sounding a little defensive,” noting, “I don’t like him sounding like he got chastised or humbled or felt that some word got to, ‘hey, Caleb doesn’t like what you said.’ ... I want to know why he felt he had to clarify what he said.” [12:03]

• Why Did Johnson Walk It Back?

  • Dan speculates on internal or external pressure: “Is this all of the cult of Caleb that is not allowing the head coach to criticize the quarterback? ... Caleb Williams is one of the least accurate passers in the NFL. Period, paragraph. And they're winning. And I still think he's good, but these are all facts and we don't have to ignore them.” [14:36]
  • He asks, “What was the mechanism that resulted in him wanting to offer the walk back of his comments? Was it from outside or was it from inside? Was it both?” [17:56]

• The Importance of Coaching Candor

  • Dan insists, “Let Ben Johnson coach and get out of his damn way.” [16:14]
  • He worries about setting a precedent: “I don’t want this to become habitual. ... That’s what’s cool right now is the coaching. ... Are we emasculating him? ... Who made it a priority for him to walk back that critique?” [14:36]
  • Matt supports that Johnson’s critique “was about the entire passing game. It wasn’t just about Caleb Williams.” [16:18]
  • They agree that honest critique is essential to team growth, especially headed toward playoffs: “The passing game's gotta be better. Why isn't he allowed to say that?” [13:50]

• Notable Quotes

  • “We’re winning in spite of our passing game, not because of it. And none of us are pleased with that right now.” – Ben Johnson [05:15, cited by Dan]
  • “So let Ben Johnson coach and get out of his damn way.” – Dan Bernstein [16:14]
  • “I want it to stay this honest. So I’d like to figure that out. I’d like to be rooting for a team that doesn’t have to be worried about that shit.” – Dan Bernstein [19:12]

2. Bears Passing Game, Team Identity & Playoff Aspirations

• The Reality of Current Winning (and Its Limits)

  • The Bears are 9–3, but the passing game is clearly trailing the rushing attack.
  • “This passing game is going to have to win games for the Bears. ... The NFL is not going to change for the 2025 Bears. They will have to pass the ball better to win anything important.” – Dan [17:23]

• Statistics and Quarterback Performance

  • “Caleb Williams is one of the least accurate passers in the NFL… leading the league in off target throws.” – Dan [16:02]
  • Matt clarifies, “Any criticism of Caleb Williams is accurate... he is one of the least accurate passers in the league and that’s going to come back and bite you in the ass.” [16:46]

3. Around the Sports World

Chris Paul’s Abrupt Clippers Departure

• Chris Paul, a franchise icon, was suddenly “sent home” by the struggling Clippers amid unclear circumstances, prompting comparisons to schoolchildren being sent back from a trip or summer camp [39:09–44:04].
• Dan: “There’s clearly some tension here. Otherwise you don’t do this.” [43:09]
• They anticipate more details to emerge about the peculiar timing and handling.

College Football Coaching Carousel

• Dan decries the egos and power of high-paid college coaches: “It would be more fun if all these vainglorious baby emperors all got the comeuppance, like Dabo Swinney’s getting right now. Every single damn one of them.” [24:44]
• Lane Kiffin is called out for allegedly holding Ole Miss hostage during his exit for LSU [25:08–29:53].
• Dan floats the “billionaire rule” for these coaches: “I’m going to assume that you’re awful until proven otherwise.” [24:44]
• Discussion of coaching instability, transfer portal chaos, and a push to hire Ed Orgeron at Tulane, more for entertainment than program health [32:12–34:55].

Blackhawks, Connor Bedard, and Hockey Notes

• Dan describes watching Connor Bedard (“the best player out there by a mile”) and marvels at his unique talent and playmaking [47:41–50:41].
• “You don’t have to be much of a hockey fan to like watching Connor Bedard. The moment the puck is on his stick, you can’t take your eyes off him.” – Dan [47:41]

4. Notable Lighthearted Segments

“The Drunken Raccoon” & College Antics

• The show closes with a humorous news story about a raccoon breaking into a liquor store, echoing tales of youthful overindulgence and the inevitability of not learning from one’s mistakes (“He’ll be Gary.”) [52:10–59:03].

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Dan Bernstein, on Johnson’s original quote:
  “We’re winning in spite of our passing game, not because of it. And none of us are pleased with that right now. That is a legitimate, correct observation. Honest. More importantly, honest observation from the head coach of the Chicago Bears.” [05:15]

• Dan Bernstein, on candor:
  “Let Ben Johnson coach and get out of his damn way.” [16:14]

• Matt Abbatacola:
  “The criticism that Ben Johnson was talking about Monday was about the entire passing game. It wasn’t just about Caleb Williams.” [16:18]

• Dan Bernstein, questioning the walk-back:
  “I don’t like him sounding like he got chastised or humbled or felt that some word got to… I want to know why he felt he had to clarify what he said.” [12:03]

• Dan Bernstein, on NFL realities:
  “The NFL is not going to change for the 2025 Bears. They will have to pass the ball better to win anything important. And it’s okay for the coach to say that. It is okay.” [17:23]

• Dan Bernstein, on college coaches:
  “I’m going to apply the billionaire rule to college football coaches that at this point, especially major Power 5 coaches, that I’m going to assume that you’re awful until proven otherwise.” [24:44]

Important Segment Timestamps

• [03:13] – Dan first introduces frustration with Ben Johnson’s walk-back
• [04:26] – Details of Johnson’s original (critical) comments
• [05:40] – Johnson’s clarifying, defensive statements
• [12:03] – Dissection of what may have led Johnson to back down; organizational/fan pressure
• [14:36] – Discussion of honest critique and the “cult of Caleb”
• [16:14] – “Let Ben Johnson coach and get out of his damn way.”
• [17:23] – The necessity for a better passing game if Bears are to meet higher goals
• [39:09] – Chris Paul’s exit from the Clippers
• [24:44] – Thoughts on college coaches, corruption, and chaos

Tone & Style

• Signature unfiltered and witty style; plenty of sarcasm, cultural references (“get comfortable being uncomfortable”), and banter
• Dan mixes pointed sports analysis with humor, using sharp language especially when targeting sports hypocrisy or managerial overreach
• Matt is a supportive, slightly more reserved counterweight, chiming in with specifics and affirmation

Useful for Listeners Who Missed the Show

• The episode powerfully voices worry about outside influence stifling honest coaching—“what we’re celebrating right now is the coaching”—and makes clear that Bears fans should want and expect the same candor that’s led to winning.
• The show also provides entertaining sports-world updates and breaks up the intensity with comic relief and storytelling.

Summary Table of Key Segments

| Timestamp | Topic | Speaker(s) | Highlight | |-----------|---------------------------------------------------|---------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:13 | Intro to Johnson Walk-back | Dan | Introduces main concern | | 04:26 | Ben Johnson’s initial critical comments | Dan | Quotes Johnson’s “winning in spite” line | | 05:40 | The walk-back: Johnson clarifies critique | Dan | Reads Johnson’s defensive second statement | | 12:03 | Analysis – Why the walk-back? | Dan, Matt | Theorizing about outside pressure/fan culture | | 16:02 | Caleb Williams' accuracy issues | Dan | Stats: “Leading the league in off target throws” | | 16:14 | "Let Ben Johnson coach and get out of his way" | Dan | Key quote | | 17:23 | Importance of passing game for playoff success | Dan, Matt | “The NFL is not going to change for the 2025 Bears…” | | 39:09 | Chris Paul’s Clippers exit | Dan | “Sent home” nature of star’s dismissal | | 24:44 | NCAA coaching carousel critique | Dan | “Assume you’re awful until proven otherwise” | | 47:41 | Connor Bedard/Blackhawks impressions | Dan | “Best player out there by a mile” | | 52:10 | Drunken raccoon story | Dan, Matt | Comic closing anecdote |

For Chicago sports fans, this episode underlines both the delight and the responsibility of having a frank, fearless head coach — and the risk of losing that edge to outside sensitivities or institutional caution.