Dan Bernstein Unfiltered – “Chicago Bears Trade: What is the Message?”

Podcast: Dan Bernstein Unfiltered
Host: Dan Bernstein (with Executive Producer Matt Abbatacola)
Date: November 5, 2025
Episode Theme:
A sharp, signature breakdown of the Chicago Bears’ trade deadline move: what it means internally and externally. Dan and Matt dive into the Bears front office strategy, locker room messaging, and what the trade signals for the rest of the season. The Bulls’ historic comeback, the realities of Bulls PR, Michael Jordan’s ‘special contributor’ role, and civic optimism in Chicago also feature heavily.

Main Theme & Episode Overview

This episode centers on the core question: What message did the Chicago Bears send with their subtle, low-cost trade at the deadline? Dan Bernstein unpacks the implications—both for the team’s locker room and the broader fanbase—and explores the fine line between practical roster management and symbolic front-office moves.

There’s also lively recaps of the Chicago Bulls’ dramatic comeback win, inside stories from Bernstein’s night at the United Center, a candid take on Michael Jordan’s limited new media role, and, in classic Bernstein fashion, reflections on the Chicago sports scene and democracy itself.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Dan’s Return to Bulls Reporting

[00:45 - 07:03]

• Dan recounts his return to United Center as a credentialed Bulls reporter for 312 Sports. He’s visibly moved by the milestone and connections made:
  • “I was, I was a little emotional last night when I showed up at gate three and a half... Been a long time since I actually covered a game as a credentialed reporter.”
  • He reminisces with old friends like broadcaster Tom McGinnis and recounts the value of Bulls PR:
    • “They’re a top notch crew there. Really, really professional and nice and helpful. So it’s unfortunately rare... to have a group that really understands how the relationship with media [should work].”

2. Bears Trade Deadline Move: Internal & External Messaging

[07:03 - 13:55]

• Breaking Down the Trade: The Bears acquired a 26-year-old former first-rounder for essentially only swapping a 6th for a 7th round pick—a minimal cost.
• Core Take:
  • Dan believes the move is as much about “sending a message to the locker room” as it is about on-field production:
    • “I think this has more internal meaning than external. How’s that? I think it sends the message to the locker room... tells that team we believe in this team right damn now.” [11:30]
    • “Players know better than that. They know that their depth was being tested... I think adding a guy, even if it’s a fringe addition, tells that team we believe in what you’ve been doing.”
• Practicality vs. Symbolism: Both agree that the move—though modest—balances not over-spending with not ignoring real needs:
  • “There’s a really fine balance. Neither one of us wanted an overspend. Neither one of us wanted them to chase this year.” [12:49]
  • “It was a relatively low cost to make a statement that we believe in what we’re doing in this season.” [13:33]
• Quote Highlight:
  • “To have done nothing... they could spin it ‘we don’t need anything—everybody who’s going to win for us is right here’... Players know better than that.” — Dan Bernstein [10:40]

3. Bulls’ Historic Comeback & Game Analysis

[16:44 - 34:29]

• Recapping the Bulls’ 24-point comeback vs. 76ers:
  • “The 24 points ties for the second largest comeback in Chicago Bulls history... three of those four occurrences have happened against the Philadelphia 76ers.” [24:44]
  • Bulls’ relentless pace and depth wore the Sixers down: “They tired the Sixers out. They didn’t have the legs to make a shot in the fourth quarter... their pace is so relentless and overwhelming.” [28:06]
• Standouts:
  • Josh Giddey: back-to-back triple doubles, drawing comparisons with Michael Jordan’s 1989 run:
    • “You gotta go back to Jordan in 1989 to get consecutive triple doubles from the Bulls.” [19:55]
  • Modest Bouz Ellis: Dan asks Billy Donovan about whether young players should “ham it up” for foul calls; Donovan’s advice is to first “coach, beat him to the spot, be strong, hold your position,” physicality comes before gamesmanship. [17:48]
  • Okoro: He “never stopped moving... got a couple steals when they were down. He in large part was the bellwether for the comeback.” [28:06]
• Notable Play-By-Play Call:
  • Dan discusses the game-winning pass:
    • “That pass. That’s star stuff, that’s star stuff... With his left hand, he throws a dart to Vucevic in perfect shooting position, and he shoots a ridiculous... that won the game. That is star stuff.” [23:19]

4. Chicago Sports Media & Personalities

[03:46 - 07:03, 34:29 - 41:23]

• Dan sings the praises of Zach Zaidman’s radio call (“national level radio call”) and the Bulls PR staff.
• Reminiscing with Ayo Dosunmu and Andre Drummond, including childhood stories and mental health discussions.
  • “We talked about mental health for a little bit and just about how meaningful it was to hear some of what he has said publicly about his mental health journey... we just had a really nice talk about that.” [38:13]

5. Michael Jordan’s ‘Special Contributor’ Role at NBC

[42:27 - 47:53]

• The supposed big splash; reality is much smaller.
  • “According to Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports he [Jordan] could do two or three more interviews with Mike Tirico for the remainder of the entire season. Wow. Could.” [43:46]
  • “If there are more interviews, they will be done at Jordan's convenience. Jordan will not appear in studio, will not appear at games — two or three more of those.”
• Both Dan and Matt voice skepticism about what NBC promised versus what they'll deliver.
  • “If they did this at upfronts..., I’d be pissed — ‘get on the Michael Jordan NBC train’ — so it’s not... Right now, there’s nothing.” [45:38]
  • “I was excited about it because, like, it’s Michael Jordan. Like, how could I not be excited?” — Matt
  • “That’s nothing to do with what he says.” — Dan

6. Cubs’ Minor Trade & Roster Notes

[48:41 - 49:42]

• Cubs send Andrew Kittredge back to the Orioles for cash. “That was kind of a rental... maybe [they said], ‘just hand them back over at the end of the year.’ But let’s not forget how important Kittredge was... He was great in their circle of trust this year.” [49:21]

7. Civic Optimism & Hope in Chicago

[51:23 - 60:08]

• Dan ends with a passionate civic reflection, noting positive results from nationwide elections and calling for solidarity, activism, and hope:
  • “Yesterday was a good day... We got to wake up to Dick Cheney croaking, and that was already good to have a war criminal who should have been imprisoned leave the earth and make it a better place. So that was good.” [51:28]
  • “Something’s in the wind out there. Something’s in the wind and it’s okay to hope. You don’t have to apologize for it. Good things are still possible. And we don’t have to settle.” [53:56]
  • “We just have to look out for our neighbors. We just have to take care of our neighbors... If you're more religious than I, and you believe that every human being is made equally in God’s image, those are your neighbors. Things will get better. It’s the first time in a long time I can walk out into the sunshine of Chicago and feel like that the number and the amount of people who care about others still outnumbers the number who don’t.” [56:51]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Bears’ trade:
  • “Adding a guy... even if it’s a fringe addition, tells that team we believe in this team right damn now.” — Dan Bernstein [11:30]
• On player awareness:
  • “Players know better than that. They know that their depth was being tested... I think adding a guy, even if it’s a fringe addition, tells that team we believe in what you’ve been doing.” — Dan [10:40]
• On Bulls’ comeback:
  • “That is star stuff to make a pass like that... That won the game. That is star stuff.” — Dan [23:19]
• On PR and sports media:
  • “It’s unfortunately rare in modern big time pro sports to have PR departments that are often anything but secret service for coaches... But to have a group that really understands how the relationship with media and what it means to just kind of be cool. They’re cool.” — Dan [07:03]
• On civic hope:
  • “Something’s in the wind out there. Something’s in the wind and it’s okay to hope. You don’t have to apologize for it. Good things are still possible.” — Dan [53:56]

Timestamps of Important Segments

| Timestamp | Topic/Event | |:-------------:|:---------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:45 | Dan’s emotional return to Bulls reporting, media credential moment | | 07:03 | Introduction to Bears trade discussion | | 10:40 | The internal meaning of the Bears’ move, player awareness | | 13:33 | The trade as a symbolic gesture vs. overspending | | 16:44 | Bulls’ epic comeback discussed | | 19:54 | Josh Giddey’s triple doubles, comparison with Michael Jordan | | 24:44 | Historic context: Bulls’ biggest comebacks | | 28:06 | Okoro’s role in the comeback, Bulls’ pace and strategy | | 38:13 | Off-court conversations with Ayo Dosunmu & Andre Drummond | | 42:27 | Michael Jordan’s ‘special contributor’ role analyzed | | 48:41 | Cubs minor trade, Kittredge returns to Orioles | | 51:28 | Dan’s civic optimism, reflections on election and hope | | 56:51 | Final words on caring for neighbors and hope in Chicago |

Episode Highlights

• Bernstein’s heartfelt pride in 312 Sports’ growth, reflected in a simple credential.
• Practical, nuanced discussion of what an incremental roster move says to a contending NFL locker room.
• The strategic and psychological impact of a trade, even if modest in on-field terms.
• Behind the scenes at the United Center: Bulls PR respect, broadcaster shoutouts, anecdotal stories with players.
• Analysis that roots the current Bulls in historic context—statistically and emotionally.
• No-nonsense take on the reality versus PR spin of Michael Jordan’s new NBC role.
• Thoughtful, optimistic close on American society and the Chicago spirit.

Tone & Style

• Direct, candid, and “unfiltered” — exactly what longtime Bernstein listeners expect.
• Rich with Chicago sports references, honest debate, smart historical context.
• Witty, occasionally sardonic, and self-aware.
• Unafraid to blend sports, media, and the broader realities of life in Chicago and America.

Summary for Listeners

This episode of Dan Bernstein Unfiltered will catch you up on the straight talk surrounding the Bears’ stealthy deadline deal, break down the psychology of pro sports front offices, relive one of the Bulls’ wildest comebacks, and take you behind press row at the United Center. You’ll come away with perspective—practical and emotional—on what it means to care about sports, community, and the state of Chicago in 2025.