Podcast Summary: Dan Bernstein Unfiltered

Episode: Chicago Bears - Green Bay Packers week | Bottom 10 Packers of All-Time
Date: December 19, 2025
Host: Dan Bernstein with longtime producer Matt (Co-host/Nick)

Episode Overview

This episode blends classic Chicago sports talk and trademark DBU irreverence with thoughtful engagement of listener feedback. It’s Bears-Packers week, so naturally, the hosts dig into the history of the rivalry, share their expectations for the upcoming game, and—highlight of the episode—Dan unveils his notorious, darkly comedic “Bottom 10 Packers of All-Time” list. The show also features a robust listener mailbag on movies, mental health, and more, combining both humor and moments of surprising sincerity.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Pre-Show Banter and Football Talk

• Lighthearted opening: Dan jokes about wearing a “green” hoodie and the stress of holiday cocktail parties among the “rich and famous.”
• Analysis of a wild recent NFL game (presumably Seahawks vs. Eagles): Dan and Nick missed the finish, discuss Puka Nacua’s talent, and draw entertaining Heinz Ward parallels (04:11).
  • Quote: Dan: "He looks like Peak Heinz Ward. Just really strong and fast and plays with his hair on fire." (04:14)

2. Friday Feedback Friday

(Starts around 08:29)

A. Listener Engagement and Mental Health

• Nick makes a sincere appeal to listeners, especially men, struggling with mental health or feeling isolated, offering the show as a safe space and email outlet (09:23–14:07).
  • Quote: Nick: “If you’re a dude that you don’t feel like you have anyone you could talk to… you can email us anytime to share anything that’s going on in your brain.” (10:01)
  • Dan adds, “Sometimes there isn’t always a problem to be solved… maybe this [trolling the show] is just your outlet. If that’s what we are, I get it.” (11:07)

B. Selected Listener Messages

• Holiday Movie Hot Takes
  • Shugo Shin rails against “A Christmas Story” overexposure and dislikes “Miracle.” Nick counters with childhood nostalgia and a social media poll result: “89% said it’s a good movie worth watching.” (16:39–17:23)
  • Ryan argues “Die Hard” is a Christmas movie: “If Die Hard isn’t a Christmas movie, then neither is Home Alone. They’re the same movie…” (17:31)
    • Comedy: Bruce Willis roast clip—“Die Hard is NOT a Christmas movie. It’s a goddamn Bruce Willis movie. So a yippee ky-yay to all of you.” (19:13)
  • Classic Quote: Dan: “He’s wrong. Die Hard is a Christmas movie. Yeah, it is. There you go.” (19:36)
• Locker Room Critiques:
  • Nick voices irritation at Bears president Kevin Warren’s frequent locker room appearances (24:26).
• Random Bears and Pop Culture Atoms:
  • From a Bears-practice-squad name sounding like a furniture store magnate (JP Peterson) (25:58).
  • A deep dive into “Different Strokes” actor Danny Cooksey’s hair metal band roots (26:51).
  • Animal interference in Bears history and coach John Fox’s tendency to challenge the absurd (26:53).
  • The story behind the Dead’s “Dick’s Picks” series via Bill Walton and a legendary t-shirt (21:02–23:12).
• Email about Rob Reiner’s “The American President”:
  • Brendan’s touching testimonial tying his love for the movie to his worldview and writing style. (29:36–31:12)
    • Quote: “Every time I watch The American President, it gives me the same feeling I had when I saw it in fifth grade… That magic ingredient I have come to understand was Rob Reiner.” (30:53)

3. PACKERS “BOTTOM 10” LIST

(Starts around 33:55; structured countdown begins at 45:54)

A. Committee Honorable Mentions

• Notorious bad free-agent signings: Amari Rodgers, Mark Roman.
• Teams: 1950 Packers (3-9 with 57 turnovers, 7 games with 5+ turnovers, 9 in a game against the Rams).

B. Bizarre/Infamous Packers Players & Moments

• Charles Martin: Ejected and suspended after hitting Jim McMahon (36:03).
  • Quote (Nick): “Martin pulled away from Mark Bright and said, I’m not going anywhere with you.”
• Najeh Davenport (Running back): Broke into a dorm and defecated in a laundry basket before NFL.
  • Quote (Dan): “My favorite is he maintained his innocence after the hearing, saying, ‘Where’s the evidence?’” (49:59)
• Mossy Cade (DB, 1985-1986): Convicted of sexual assault (54:06).
  • After prison, “the Vikings tried to sign him, but the NFL refused.” (54:54)
• LaShon Johnson (RB): Convicted in 2025 on multiple federal felony counts for large-scale dog fighting (55:56).
  • Quote (Dan): “Authorities seized 190 dogs… the largest number ever seized from a single individual in a federal dog fighting case.” (56:04)
• Darren Sharper: Multiple convictions for serial rape across several states.
  • “Currently imprisoned… may be as many as 16 victims.” (57:25–58:57)
• Randall Woodfield (“I-5 Killer”): Packers 17th-round draft pick (1974); linked to up to 44 murders.
  • Quote (Dan): “He was cut by the Packers… after a series of indecent exposure arrests—not one, not two… How many does it take?” (60:33)

C. Other Notables

• Don Majkowski: Remembered mainly for "beating the Bears in 1989 by passing over the line of scrimmage" (39:24).
• Rich Campbell: 6th overall pick (1981), started zero NFL games.
• Tony Mandarich: Legendary draft bust, taken ahead of Barry Sanders, Derrick Thomas, and Deion Sanders (44:12).
• Animal references and running jokes: Ken Stills (late hit), Mark Lee (cheap shots), and John Fox’s “animal interference” (46:10, 26:53).

D. Dan’s "Bottom 10 Packers" (in order)

• 10. Mark Lee (dirty play against Walter Payton + McMahon INT, 45:54)
• 9. Ken Stills (cartoonish late hit, 47:55)
• 8. Charles Martin (body slammed McMahon, 48:22)
• 7. Najeh Davenport (“Laundry basket incident”, 48:43)
• 6. Ahman Green (arrested for child abuse, 51:00)
• 5. Mike Neal (recent sexual battery and domestic battery charges, 52:23)
• 4. Mossy Cade (convicted of assaulting his aunt, 54:06)
• 3. LaShon Johnson (large-scale dog fighting, 55:34)
• 2. Darren Sharper (serial rape convictions, 57:25)
• 1. Randall Woodfield (“I-5 Killer”: serial killer, 59:14)

4. Bears-Packers Game and Betting Picks

(Starts around 68:32)

• Betting Picks:
  • Nick’s picks: Bears -2, Cleveland +10.5 vs. Bills, Pittsburgh +7 at Detroit.
  • Dan’s props:
    • Caleb Williams OVER 209.5 passing yards
    • D’Andre Swift OVER 14.5 receiving yards (“That’s one screen pass.”)
• Game Expectations:
  • Nick “meatball pick”: Bears will win and cover.
  • High spirits for the Bears’ chances this week.

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “Sometimes there isn’t always a problem to be solved or a solution to be had. But I understand it. Maybe that’s how you use the show…that’s the outlet for anger and bad feelings.” (Dan, 11:07)
• “If Die Hard isn’t a Christmas movie, then neither is Home Alone. They’re the same movie!” (Ryan, 17:31)
• “He was cut by the packers during training camp after a series of indecent exposure arrests. Not one. Not two…How many do you need?” (Dan, 60:33)
• "He maintained his innocence after the [pooping] hearing, saying: 'Where is the evidence?'" (Dan on Najeh Davenport, 49:59)
• “I ended up emerging from this feeling kind of gross.” (Dan, previewing the Packers list, 45:22)

Overall Tone & Style

• Classic, irreverent Dan Bernstein: mixing biting humor, Bears fan exasperation, and sharp trivia.
• Nick balances with more earnest moments, especially about mental health and community.
• The “Bottom 10 Packers” segment is both darkly funny and genuinely disturbing in parts—clear content warning territory.
• Listener feedback is treated with warmth and witty banter, punctuating sports talk with movie debates and deep-cut cultural references.

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp Approx. | |---------|------------------| | Pre-show and game banter | 01:24–05:14 | | Friday Feedback Friday (intro and mental health) | 08:29–14:07 | | Listener mailbag (movies, Packers, random pop culture) | 15:01–31:27 | | Packers "Bottom 10" (starts: setup) | 33:55 | | Packers "Bottom 10" (countdown proper) | 45:54–63:41 | | Bets and Game Preview | 68:32–71:08 |

Summary for New Listeners

If you crave a sports podcast that combines caustic wit, Bears-obsessed history, a willingness to tackle heavier subjects, and deep-dish Chicago attitude, this is quintessential Dan Bernstein. This episode, in particular:

• Honors fan tradition during Bears-Packers week by skewering the Packers' dark and comically inept history.
• Makes time for meaningful connection through candid talk about mental health and community.
• Offers a laugh-out-loud, occasionally jaw-dropping look at the worst of Packers lore—and backs it up with the receipts.
• Wraps with practical, actionable sports betting picks and hope for the Bears’ fortunes.

Warning: The "Bottom 10 Packers" list is not for the squeamish, but it’s the kind of wild ride only this podcast would deliver.