Dan Bernstein Unfiltered – "Caleb Williams: Would You Rather?"

Podcast: Dan Bernstein Unfiltered
Hosts: Dan Bernstein (A), Matt Abbatacola (B)
Date: January 14, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode centers on a lively, in-depth exercise: "Would you rather?"—specifically, would the hosts swap the Chicago Bears’ young quarterback, Caleb Williams, for any current NFL starting QB if given the chance? Dan and Matt systematically debate the merits of Williams compared to his peers, offering insights into his perceived value after one standout year. The second half of the episode shifts to a thoughtful discussion about the Cubs’ decision to invite Addison Russell, a former player with a history of domestic violence, to their World Series anniversary event, and concludes with a segment on the mounting complexities surrounding financing the Bears’ projected new stadium.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The "Would You Rather?" Caleb Williams vs. The NFL (00:28 – 22:20)

Game Setup & Rules (00:28–03:01)

• Dan introduces the rules: ignore contracts, salary cap, or hypothetical situations—simply, would you currently swap Caleb Williams for any other quarterback, given their real age/health/trajectory?
• Matt clarifies he's answering from a head coach’s perspective looking for both immediate and future team success.

Quarterback Comparisons: Rapid Fire (04:03–12:25)

• The hosts go team by team, asking if they'd swap Williams for each:
  • Notable rapid “No” answers: Jacoby Brissett (Cardinals), Kirk Cousins (Falcons), various young/borderline starters.
  • Lamar Jackson (Ravens): Brief hesitation, but ultimately a No (05:22).
  • Josh Allen (Bills): “If this was before the season, I’d make that trade every day of the week” – B (07:28)
  • Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs): The only clear "Yes" swap by Matt (08:43).
  • Jalen Hurts (Eagles): Considers Hurts’ age, but sticks with Williams (11:00).
  • Others—Joe Burrow, Trevor Lawrence, C.J. Stroud, Justin Herbert, etc.—all declined, sometimes with a laugh or emphasis.

Reflections on the Exercise (12:25–18:00)

• Matt’s conclusion: “The ceiling for Caleb Williams is higher than all those other quarterbacks” – B (14:00).

  • Mahomes is the lone exception due to proven championships and similar skillsets.
  • Expresses that Williams’ running style is more about “escapability than escapism,” suggesting lower injury risk and longer career (15:50).

• Dan notes last season’s perceptions vs. now: One year of performance has completely shifted both fan and management feelings.

Fan Perspectives & Neutral Evaluation (18:00–24:22)

• Matt wonders aloud how many other teams’ fans would make these swaps; predicts most, outside of Chiefs fans, would want Williams for their own franchises, highlighting how rare it is for Bears fans to feel this way about their QB.
• Both hosts emphasize Williams is not just statistically impressive but fun to root for, and has major leadership and resiliency.

Notable Quote:
“The ceiling for Caleb Williams to me is higher than all those other quarterbacks... that ceiling is higher than any of those other quarterbacks in his complete ability as a quarterback.” – B (14:00)

2. A Moment in Bears History: How Rare is This Confidence? (28:55–31:20)

• Matt contextualizes the unique feeling among Bears fans:
  “This is probably the first offensive player since Walter Payton that you wouldn’t trade for anyone else—at least on offense. We’ve never had a Jay Cutler or Brandon Marshall moment where you wouldn’t take someone better.”

3. Addison Russell – Cubs, Celebration, and Controversy (34:00–48:52)

Issue Introduction (34:00 onward)

• Dan details the Cubs' decision to invite Addison Russell—a player previously suspended for domestic violence—to their World Series anniversary.
• Lays out the distinction between allowing someone back into society after atoning, versus celebrating them as a hero (39:00).

Nuanced Reactions (41:13–48:52)

• Matt opens up about his own family’s experience with domestic violence and details seeking multiple viewpoints, including from fans and his wife.
• His wife’s perspective: “He’s not the first person to do wrong in sports. She’ll focus on the team, not just him.”
• Both agree that group recognition is more appropriate than solo spotlights.
• Suggest that if Russell has since advocated for domestic violence awareness, a platform could be appropriate.
• Dan cites positive examples, such as Tim Hardaway and Meyers Leonard, who became advocates after misdeeds (46:29).

Notable Quote:
“I think there’s a lot of distance between allowing someone to atone… and being celebrated. I can respect someone’s growth, but that doesn’t mean I want to stand there and applaud.” – A (39:00)

4. The Bears’ Stadium – The Real Numbers Game (51:08–58:27)

Changing Financial Projections (51:08–58:27)

• Dan updates stadium cost projections: initial reports suggested $2 billion, but real estimates are upwards of $6–7 billion due to inflation, land value, and supply chain realities (54:38).
• Notes key barrier: NFL ownership rules restrict leveraging the franchise for enormous loans, making self-financing a huge challenge.
• Musings on the McCaskey family’s possible solutions (“where’s the money coming from?”), with banter about finding $4 billion hidden in matriarch Virginia McCaskey’s kitchen (57:16).

Notable Quote:
“If you think that initial commitment of $2 billion—that’s not gonna pour the foundation of a building, that would barely buy you a hot dog stand, let alone putting up a state-of-the-art indoor NFL facility.” – A (58:08)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:28–13:00 — “Caleb Williams: Would You Rather?” game, team-by-team QB comparisons
• 14:00–18:00 — Reflection on the Bears’ new feeling at QB and what it says about Williams’ value
• 28:55–31:20 — The rarity for Bears fans of truly believing in an offensive superstar
• 34:00–48:52 — Addison Russell Cubs controversy: atonement vs. celebration, family/fan perspectives, possible ways forward
• 51:08–58:27 — The Bears’ stadium funding dilemma; escalation of projected costs and what it means for team ownership

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Mahomes as the one exception:

  • “Yes, I would take a healthy 30-year-old Patrick Mahomes for the next, you know, five years or whatever.” – B (12:25)

• On Williams’ superpower:

  • “His greatest strength is that ability to play one play at a time… that means so much… when that’s your leader.” – B (20:31)

• On fandom and perspective:

  • “For us as Bears fans to be at that point about a Bears quarterback, it says a lot about us, too, because we’re not neutral… we’re always pining for something we don’t have.” – A (24:22)

• On the Cubs and Russell:

  • “There’s a big distance between making things whole and being allowed back on good standing as a human being, and being celebrated.” – A (39:00)

Overall Tone & Flow

The discussion is brisk, irreverent, candid, and full of humor, but frequently pivots to earnest, grounded reflections—especially around deeper issues of fandom, forgiveness, and organizational responsibility. Both hosts play off each other's perspectives with warmth, inside jokes (including an Alfred Molina/Indiana Jones riff at 06:18), and deep knowledge of Chicago sports history and dynamics.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

You’ll come away with:

• A real sense of how high the Bears’ brass and fans currently are on Caleb Williams—so much so that he’d virtually only be swapped for Patrick Mahomes.
• A nuanced, adult exploration of how sports teams and their fans deal with the complicated legacy of a disgraced (but talented) championship player.
• An understanding of how massive the Bears’ stadium challenge truly is—and how public communication about it may obscure the real dollars and hurdles ahead.

[End of Summary]