Dan Bernstein Unfiltered

Episode: "Chicago Bears – that's what good leadership sounds like"
Date: January 22, 2026
Host: Dan Bernstein with Neil
Podcast: Dan Bernstein Unfiltered on 312 Sports

Episode Overview

The central theme of this episode is a refreshing change in leadership and competence displayed by the Chicago Bears during their end-of-season press conference, breaking a longstanding pattern of organizational dysfunction and confusion. Dan Bernstein and Neil delve into how new head coach Ben Johnson’s attitude and forthrightness, along with general manager Ryan Poles’ alignment, have begun to shift the culture. The hosts also branch out to discuss Chicago’s young sports stars, Cubs projections, and a fun run through Oscar nominations, all delivered with sharp wit and signature Chicago sports banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Bears End-of-Season Press Conference: A Shift in Tone

• Tradition of Frustration:
  • Historically, Bears fans have come to dread the end-of-season press conference due to mixed messages, lack of accountability, and organizational confusion.
• A New Day with Ben Johnson:
  • “It was incredibly refreshing to hear yesterday’s end of season Bears press conference…when you can have the coach and the general manager stand in front of the assembled media representing all of us as Fans and not sound stupid. That's really the victory.” – Dan Bernstein [04:30]
  • Ben Johnson refused to dwell on exceeded expectations, framing 2025’s NFC North-winning campaign as “not good enough.”
  • “Ultimately we came up short. We're one of the 31 other teams that fell short. If anything, that just rejuvenates me and makes me want to push harder and longer…It's back to the bottom again, and we got to build this thing back up.” – Ben Johnson [11:03]
• Alignment Between GM & Head Coach:
  • GM Ryan Poles repeatedly referenced “what coach said,” signaling cohesion and mutual respect.
  • The press conference avoided the past pitfalls of blame-shifting and confusion seen in other franchises (e.g., Buffalo Bills’ recent PR disaster).

2. Competency and Quiet Confidence

• Contrast with Previous Regimes:
  • “Previous head coaches who had kind of an unexpected year would have talked about all the good things they did, would have lived on how great it was…Ben Johnson, plain and simple, wasn’t good enough. It starts over.” – Neil [12:51]
  • The new leadership is focused, self-critical, and driven by high standards rather than self-congratulation.
• Press Conference Structure Praised:
  • Only Johnson and Poles addressed the media, keeping the messaging streamlined and focused on football.

3. Assistant Coaches Attracting Interest

• Offensive assistant Declan Doyle and DBs coach Al Harris being interviewed elsewhere signals the broader league’s respect for the Bears’ coaching improvements (even if “fraud” and “luck” narratives linger).
• Poles and Johnson’s steadying influence credited for this interest.

4. Ryan Poles on Close Games and Roster Building

• “I heard the whole Cardiac Bear thing. I'd rather not be the Cardiac Bears, but if that's what that game needs, then that's what you need to do. …I don't think that's a characteristic that you should ever shy away from.” – Ryan Poles [14:20]
• While the “Cardiac Bears” label isn’t the preferred brand of football, he values the poise and ability to perform in tight situations.
• Poles echoed the importance of the offensive line, highlighting improvements made through trades, free agency, and the lasting impact even amid injuries.

5. Addressing Injuries and Offseason Challenges

• Injury updates: Jalen Johnson’s wrist not deemed serious, but Ozzie Tripillo’s avulsed patella tendon is a significant, potentially career-altering setback (“deep into next year,” per Poles).
• Consensus that the roster will look “very, very different” heading into 2026.

6. Chicago’s Young Sports Star “Boy Band” (Fun Segment)

• The hosts riff on Caleb Williams, Pete Crow-Armstrong (PCA), Connor Bedard, and Modest Buzelis as a “Mount Rushmore” or “boy band” of emerging Chicago sports stars [24:03].
• Imagined as a sitcom or superhero team living together, each with quirky roles and “superpowers” – a humorous highlight demonstrating Chicago fans’ hopes for a new era of homegrown talent.

7. Cubs Offseason & ZiPS Projections

• Cubs projections for 2026 have them in the low 90s win range, setting expectations for another playoff run.
• Discussed individual positional projections and upside, especially for Michael Bush, PCA, and Tyler Austin [43:14].
• Dan and Neil reflect on how baseball projections can’t predict crucial streaks (e.g., Brewers’ 14-game win streak), emphasizing the role of unpredictability in sports [44:40].

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Bears’ Progress:
  • “It's a small thing, but if you've really gone through it every single year for so long, …it shouldn't be a luxury to have intelligence and competence.” – Dan Bernstein [17:34]
• On Good vs. Past Leadership:
  • “To have a working relationship built on confidence and trust…There are counterparts of Ryan Poles that would be envious of a press conference like that.” – Dan Bernstein [16:39]
• Ben Johnson’s Reset Mentality:
  • “You can look at [2025] and say, hey, it's a great start. Well, the truth is, it was really hard to accomplish what we accomplished, and it wasn't good enough.” – Ben Johnson [11:03]
• On Ice Cream Shop Sitcom with Chicago Athletes:
  • “They all live together…it's like a reality show follows their lives…I like boy band. I think boy band’s the way to go.” – Dan & Neil [27:06–30:04]
• On Postseason Drama:
  • “As exciting as it was, you don't choose that life [Cardiac Bears] because it's not one you want to live. It's not a healthy one for anybody involved.” – Dan Bernstein [15:06]
• On Baseball’s Unpredictability:
  • “The one thing that's always important to remember with any of these projection systems is sequencing. Timing of things in sports is nearly impossible to predict.” – Dan Bernstein [44:40]
• On Pitch Labs:
  • “I love pitch labs staffed by elves…they actually climb up on the pitcher's back and grab his hand and move his hand around.” – Dan Bernstein [48:21]

Important Segment Timestamps

• [04:30] – Overview of why Bears’ end-of-season presser has traditionally been dreaded
• [11:03] – Ben Johnson on “coming up short” and the reset mentality
• [14:20] – Ryan Poles on not wanting to be the “Cardiac Bears”
• [16:01] – Poles repeatedly aligns his answers with “what coach said” (Ben Johnson)
• [19:14] – Poles discusses achievements with the offensive line and team-building
• [21:08] – Injury updates and long-term consequences
• [24:03] – [30:04] – Creative riff on Chicago’s boy band/mount rushmore of young talent
• [34:35 – 47:26] – Deep dive into Cubs’ ZiPS projections and discussion of baseball’s unpredictability
• [48:21] – Humorous discussion about “pitch labs staffed by elves”
• [51:09 – 55:02] – Recap and reactions to the 2026 Oscar nominations

Tone and Style

Dan and Neil maintain a sharp, humorous, and self-aware voice throughout, poking fun at sports clichés, longstanding organizational dysfunctions in Chicago, and current sports media tropes. The tone is equal parts skeptical and hopeful, as the duo note the genuine improvement in Bears leadership while acknowledging the city’s scars from years of disappointment.

Summary Takeaway

For the first time in years, Bears fans can walk away from an end-of-season press conference feeling seen, heard, and, most importantly, respected by their team leadership. Dan Bernstein and Neil celebrate this turning point—not with giddy optimism, but with the measured satisfaction of fans who know how rare such moments are in Chicago. Along the way, they provide context, humor, and holistic perspectives on the broader Chicago sports landscape.

Recommended if you want to:

• Understand what good sports leadership sounds like in action
• Get insight into the Bears’ evolving culture and offseason priorities
• Enjoy sharp, Chicago-centric sports banter touching the Bears, Cubs, young stars, and more
• Laugh at some of the more creative riffs in Chicago sports media today