Dan Bernstein Unfiltered: "Chicago Bears – This Feels Different"

Podcast: Dan Bernstein Unfiltered
Host: Dan Bernstein with Matt Abbatacola
Date: November 6, 2025
Episode Theme: Evaluating the Chicago Bears at Midseason: “This Feels Different”

Episode Overview

This episode takes a deep dive into the Chicago Bears’ midseason landscape, reflecting on why this time feels uniquely promising for a franchise long beset by dysfunction. Dan and Matt discuss shifting organizational power dynamics, the positive impact of new head coach Ben Johnson, and broader issues in sports like gambling scandals and coaching controversies. The episode blends sharp, unfiltered commentary with moments of humor and personal connection.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Chicago Bears at the Midseason Mark

(00:38–19:11)

• Power Shift to the Head Coach:

  • Bernstein notes a stark but welcome change in the Bears’ hierarchy: “Are we agreed and that we have a full understanding that Ben Johnson is the most important person in this organization right now? No questions.” (05:42)
  • Unlike past seasons, fans no longer have to “go up the ladder” or rely on GMs or owners for answers – trust is now placed in the head coach.
  • “On the really good teams. There is no question who the most powerful, significant person in your organization is, and that is your head coach. Period. The head coach is your football program.” (04:24)

• Performance and Optimism:

  • The Bears have evolved into “one of the best offenses in football” under Ben Johnson, despite not having a fully loaded roster and facing injuries. (07:05)
  • Bernstein and Abbatacola agree that, regardless of the record or future outcomes, there is now a genuine foundation and sense of organizational direction.

• Culture & Leadership Comparison:

  • Previous coaches (Matt Nagy, Matt Eberflus, John Fox, Marc Trestman) drew skepticism and power struggles; now, “The general manager is finally a part of [the] vision and not like a separate entity.” (10:39)
  • The dynamic between GM Ryan Poles and Ben Johnson is highlighted: “Ryan Poles has given the keys to Ben Johnson, and Ben Johnson is going to have more influence on draft picks. He clearly had an influence on the trade deadline.” (10:05)
  • The sense of belief and shared vision hasn’t been felt in ages: “And there's a sense of belief. Yeah, that's all. There's a sense of belief that hasn't been here in a while.” (18:39)

• Relatable Fan Frustration:

  • Bernstein analogizes being a Bears fan to “customer service hell” — always waiting for the “next supervisor” for real answers. Now, that system feels fixed: “For the foreseeable future, we only have to go up to head coach to know that that person is empowered.” (15:45)

2. Around the Sports World

(19:11–41:40)

• NBA Gambling Scandal Fizzles Out:
  • Two weeks prior, a purportedly seismic gambling bust (including NBA coach/players, crime families) made headlines but quickly disappeared from public discourse.
  • Bernstein questions whether this reflects short public attention spans, institutional indifference, or effective policing of sports betting.
  • “It was a great story when it broke and happened and…now it's kind of like, all right, at the end of the day…” (26:27)
  • The segment also discusses the nuances of organized crime involvement and colorful details from trial (e.g., Anthony “Quack Quack” Ruggiero, Jr.’s bond hearing and threats). (28:09)

3. Coaching Scandals & Organizational Accountability

(34:19–41:40)

• Pat Fitzgerald, fired Northwestern head coach, claims “vindication” after a settlement with Northwestern – but Dan and Matt aggressively challenge the legitimacy of that claim.
  • Bernstein: “He's not vindicated. It was a settlement…that means he did a great job of building plausible deniability in to insulate himself from this...” (36:13)
  • Both stress that head coaches are “ultimately responsible for the culture of [the] team,” and are highly skeptical of any narrative that distances Fitzgerald from hazing and abuse in his program.

4. Sports and Pop Culture: Lighter Moments and Reflections

(43:16–58:15)

• Kiké Hernández Dodgers Story:

  • Hernández recounts a classic outfield play on Jimmy Fallon, likening it to an NBA posterization and providing comic relief after heavier discussions.
  • Memorable quote (Hernández): “My teammate dunked on me…and I feel like a tap on the back. He's like, are you okay? And I was like, f. Me being okay. Did you catch it? He goes, yeah, I caught it. I was like, oh, yeah, let's go.” (43:58)

• John Candy Documentary Review:

  • Warm, deep conversation about the new John Candy doc and its personal resonance for Dan, Matt, and the comedy world.
  • Highlights include rare candid moments from comedians (Martin Short, Steve Martin, Tom Hanks) and John Candy’s quiet struggles.
  • Memorable moment: “To hear him talk in such a human level about another guy, it broke my heart…what he was dealing with, the death of his father on his fifth birthday, that he carried that with him, his entire life.” (55:17)
  • The segment ends with an emotional scene of Cynthia Erivo singing “Every Time You Go Away.”
  • Bernstein: “Thank you for recommending that. Thank you for making me watch it. It's absolutely worth your time.” (58:08)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Chicago Bears Section

• On Ben Johnson’s Impact:

  • “It is clear he's the most powerful person in the Bears organization. And his side of the football is…doing the things that he said, explosive plays…they're leading the NFL. They're scoring points at a rate that this franchise has never seen.” (07:29)

• On Organizational Change:

  • “For so long we have defaulted to a feeling of having to go up the ladder…waiting for somebody to tell you, yes, we're watching the same games. […] On the really good teams…that is your head coach. Period.” (05:33–04:24)

Sports Gambling Scandal

• Fan Attitude Post-Scandal:
  • “Is it that everybody does care, but has the presumption… alright, well, this happened. I'm sure it's not that big a deal. I'm going right into my app and I'm gonna make my bets as ever. And that's just part of it.” (26:27)

Fitzgerald/Northwestern Segment

• On Plausible Deniability:
  • “You'd have to be a chump, you would have to be a SAP to believe that he wasn't, if not directing every bit of this, fully aware of…and fully aware of his distance and insulation from it, right? So spare me.” (38:39)

John Candy Doc & Personal Reflection

• On Community via Comedy:
  • “A shared love for SCTV…all of a sudden you found a like-minded person that knew every sketch and knew everything. Like we were crazy about it…” (47:07)
• On John Candy’s Humanity:
  • “His voracious appetite for, for life came from some very dark places and some things from his childhood. But Colin Hanks directed…to see Eugene Levy, Dave Thomas…just endless list.” (49:17; 50:01)
• On the Doc’s Emotional Impact:
  • “It broke my heart because I felt terrible for John Candy, what he was dealing with…the death of his father on his fifth birthday, that he carried that with him, his entire life.” (55:17)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Bears Evaluation, Power Shift, Ben Johnson: 00:38–19:11
• NBA Gambling Scandal Coverage: 22:17–31:15
• NFL/Mafia Connection Story (“Quack Quack”): 28:09–31:00
• Pat Fitzgerald/Northwestern Hazing Scandal: 34:19–41:40
• Kiké Hernández / Dodgers Moment on Fallon: 43:16–45:49
• John Candy Documentary, Personal Reflection: 46:02–58:08

Conclusion

In this episode, Dan Bernstein and Matt Abbatacola deliver a heartfelt yet clear-eyed evaluation of the Chicago Bears’ state at midseason, focusing on the empowering rise of head coach Ben Johnson and the newfound sense of hope that’s returned to the franchise. The episode expands to tackle the complexities of gambling scandals in sports, the culture of plausible deniability in major college football, and ends with warmth and nostalgia through a thoughtful discussion of the John Candy documentary. The tone is classic Bernstein: sharp, unvarnished, wry, but always anchored in honest fandom and humanity.