Dan Bernstein Unfiltered - Episode Summary

Episode Overview

Title: Caleb Williams, Ben Johnson and the Bears - Green Bay Packers, the Beginning of Something Special?
Date: January 7, 2026
Host: Dan Bernstein (with Matt Abbatacola, producer)
Podcast: Dan Bernstein Unfiltered on 312 Sports

This episode dives deep into the anticipation and anxiety surrounding the Chicago Bears’ playoff showdown with the Green Bay Packers, zooming in on themes of beginnings, endings, legacies, and the future of both teams. Dan and Matt provide Chicago-style, no-holds-barred commentary, analyzing coaching implications, team development, key player performances, Bears/Packers rivalry dynamics, and even off-the-field topics like new stadium politics. The tone is sharp, irreverent, and passionate—true to Dan’s long-standing place in Chicago sports radio.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Playoff Anxiety and Bears’ New Era (00:00–04:25)

• Dan revels in the playoff tension, framing it as a positive and necessary part of sports fandom.
• He urges fans to enjoy the anxiety:

  “I'm enjoying the anxiety. I am. I'm reveling. This anxiety is a good thing. It’s a good thing. You should enjoy it.” – Dan Bernstein (00:30)

• The conversation sets up Saturday night’s Bears-Packers playoff game as a potential launching point for a sustained period of relevance for the Bears, regardless of outcome.
• Dan and Matt debate if this is genuinely the “beginning of something special”—a true new phase under head coach Ben Johnson.

2. Beginnings vs. Endings and What’s at Stake (01:19–04:25)

• Dan stresses how every decision and performance now has higher stakes:

  “You hope that this is the beginning of a significant time where Bears games mean more and we're not making up reasons for them to be important…” – Dan Bernstein (02:30)

• They imagine a future where being part of the “division champion Bears” has meaning for player evaluations and the franchise’s reputation.

3. Coaching Legacies: Ben Johnson & Matt LaFleur (04:25–09:32)

• Matt LaFleur: Reflect on his seven seasons as Packers head coach; speculation on his job security if Green Bay gets blown out.
• Dan references rumors from analysts like Mike Florio about LaFleur being on a possible hot seat.
• Matt’s bold call:

  “If the Bears do embarrass the Packers Saturday night... Matt LaFleur will be launched.” – Matt Abbatacola (08:10)

• They define “embarrassment” as a multi-touchdown rout (e.g., 31–3).

4. NFL Coaching Carousel – Harbaugh, TV Rumors (05:35–06:25)

• Discuss John Harbaugh’s position and suitors, with playful banter about him getting TV offers.
• Commentary on the trend that head coaches now essentially need to be offensive play-callers.

5. Cheese Grater Hats: End of a Gimmick? (09:32–13:58)

• A light-hearted takedown of the “cheese grater” hats adopted by Bears fans (in mocking, retaliatory reference to Packers' cheeseheads).
• Dan:

  “My guess is, if the Bears lose, you can't come back next year and wear that again, can you?... Not until you win again. Right.” – Dan Bernstein (12:06, 12:07)

• They agree the novelty has peaked and that it may fade regardless of the outcome, making fun of merchandising and potential overproduction.

6. Bears, Bulls, and Broadcast Schedules (15:55–17:44)

• Amusing sidebar: Bulls players are upset about playing during the Bears-Packers game.
• Debate: Is it a bad look for athletes to complain about missing Bears/Packers? Matt disagrees with Dan’s lenience:

  “Because at the end of the day, you play a fucking game for your job, man.” – Matt Abbatacola (16:41)

7. Ben Johnson’s Coach-Speak: On Trust and Player Development (19:43–24:53)

• Audio and analysis on Ben Johnson’s trust in rookie tight end Colson Loveland and his evolving relationship with QB Caleb Williams.
• Ben Johnson (on Loveland):

  “We asked him to wear a lot of hats...he's still learning and growing and really excited...for his future.” (19:52)

• Dan playfully interrogates Johnson’s reluctance to name-check Caleb Williams directly, debating potential hidden meaning in his usage of “the quarterback.”

8. Loveland, the Bears, and Tight End Growth (24:12–26:14)

• Matt and Dan discuss Loveland’s rare production for a rookie Bears tight end, drawing comparisons all the way back to Greg Olsen and Mike Ditka.

9. Player Audio: Confidence, Hope, and Accountability (27:06–36:48)

• Ben Johnson on Caleb Williams:

  “He’s a completely different quarterback than when we first took this job...” – Ben Johnson (27:15)

• Cole Kmet (on his big hit and the two-point conversion): Admits painful catch, credits teammates, jokes about his sister dating a Packers player.
• Montez Sweat is comically evasive about defensive struggles and injuries—Dan mocks the lack of transparency.
• Kevin Byard, when asked why he’s confident in the defense, falls back on takeaways and red zone stats.

10. Defense: Statistical Reality vs. Hope (35:18–38:48)

• Dan pushes back on the spinning of defensive “strengths” (turnovers, average red zone defense) as true reasons for confidence.
• Matt points out the Bears’ statistical reality:

  “24 points or less, you allow that. You're nine and one on the season. Offense has to show up, which is why Ben is so on the offense and Caleb, because they have to score points to carry this defense.” – Matt Abbatacola (38:18)

11. Chicago Bears Stadium Politics & Ownership Woes (40:46–49:37)

• Dan highlights comments from Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch, who calls Bears’ stadium funding talks “insensitive” given cost-of-living concerns.

  “Talking about a brand new Bears stadium when this one’s not even 25 years old. That’s insensitive…” – Chris Welch via Dan Bernstein (41:14)

• Discussion of financing issues, lease terms, and long-term uncertainty: Bears likely lack the liquidity for a new stadium without public money, and have mishandled negotiations.
• They predict Bears could remain at Soldier Field far longer than fans expect, with Indiana threats seen as hollow.

12. Miscellaneous: College Hoops, Media Personalities (53:05–55:18)

• Brief foray into Duke basketball, with Dan geeking out on player analysis and coach comparisons.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Playoff Anxiety:

  “I'm enjoying the anxiety. I am. I'm reveling. This anxiety is a good thing. It’s a good thing. You should enjoy it.” – Dan Bernstein (00:30)

• On Franchise Beginnings:

  “You hope that this is the beginning of a significant time where Bears games mean more and we're not making up reasons for them to be important…” – Dan Bernstein (02:30)

• On “Embarrassing” the Packers:

  “If the Bears do embarrass the Packers Saturday night... Matt LaFleur will be launched.” – Matt Abbatacola (08:10)

• On Cheese Grater Hats:

  “My guess is, if the Bears lose, you can't come back next year and wear that again, can you?” – Dan Bernstein (12:06)

• On Accountability:

  “How would you kind of assess the pass rush overall through the season?”
  “I’ll probably touch on that later on after we done with all this type of stuff.” – Montez Sweat (31:54–32:09)

• On Defensive Confidence:

  “I don't believe there's a team in this league, especially in nfc, that's unbeatable... I believe in us being able to take the ball away at a high level.” – Kevin Byard (34:11)

• On the Super Bowl Mindset:

  “The goal, at the end of the day, there's only 32 teams, so the goal is the super bowl, and that's what our mission is.” – Cole Kmet (31:08)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro, Playoff Anxiety: 00:00–01:09
• Beginnings & Endings Frame: 01:19–04:25
• Coaching Hot Seat Talk: 04:25–09:32
• Harbaugh/TV Banter: 05:35–06:25
• Cheese Grater Hat Gimmick: 09:32–13:58
• Scheduling & Bulls Riff: 15:55–17:44
• Ben Johnson Audio/Colson Loveland: 19:43–24:53
• Tight End Development Debate: 24:12–26:14
• Player Audio - Johnson, Kmet, Sweat, Byard: 27:06–36:48
• Defense - Statistical Reality: 35:18–38:48
• Stadium Politics & Ownership: 40:46–49:37
• College Hoops Mini-Segment: 53:05–55:18

Takeaways

• This game is seen as a crossroads: It can be the start of a golden era for the Bears under Ben Johnson—or the familiar ending to something that never quite took off.
• Coaching futures are on the line: Matt LaFleur's position is surprisingly fragile, with the hosts speculating that a blowout loss could end his tenure.
• Chicago's new fandom culture has novelty limits: Gimmicks like the “cheese grater hat” are fun but fleeting.
• The Bears’ future is built on youth and coaching: There’s real enthusiasm for Colson Loveland’s rookie year and Ben Johnson’s steady hand, cautious as it may be.
• Defensive reality sets in: Optimism about “takeaways” is tempered by the sheer volume of points and yards allowed.
• Stadium drama may drag on for years: The Bears’ inability to finance a new home and the lack of political support signals a long standoff.

This episode is a quintessential blend of Chicago sports angst and optimism, delivered with wit and the unfiltered candor Dan Bernstein is known for—a must-catch for Bears fans and sports radio junkies alike.