Podcast Summary: Dan Bernstein Unfiltered – "Top 10 Chicago Bears Playoff Memories"
Host: Dan Bernstein (A)
Co-host: Matt Abbatacola (B)
Date: January 9, 2026
Platform: 312 Sports
Episode Overview
In this energetic and nostalgia-packed episode, Dan and Matt count down their personal top 10 Chicago Bears playoff memories, reflecting on the most emotional, triumphant, and heartbreaking moments in Bears postseason history. The pair brings the usual mix of sharp humor, inside stories, and Chicago grit, making the episode feel like a sports-loving therapy session. The show also features listener feedback, a few detours into Chicago sports culture, food, and some memorable call-in moments.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Opening: Bears-Packers Playoff Hype
Timestamp: 00:01–04:09
- Dan opens with palpable anxiety and excitement about the upcoming Bears-Packers playoff game.
- Matt’s energy is off the charts, expressing eagerness to “just roll over this piece of shit organization” (Green Bay Packers) and hopes for a Bears triumph to “shut these guys up” ([00:56]).
- Matt's proximity to the Wisconsin border is discussed as fueling his disdain for Packers culture infiltrating Illinois retail spaces.
Notable Quote:
"I cannot wait for Ben Johnson to just shove it up this guy's ass for 60 minutes and the Bears to kill this fucking Green Bay Packer team."
— Matt, [00:56]
Chicago Sports, College Football, and Broadcast Tangents
Timestamp: 04:09–15:18
- Brief, humorous recounting of a rare Chicago Bulls game "rainout" due to court conditions ([04:09]).
- Discussion of calling sports games, broadcast challenges, and stories from Dan’s days broadcasting in Raleigh.
- College football playoff analysis, focusing on Miami vs. Ole Miss and player prospects like Trinidad Champliss ([05:31]).
- Mockery of coaching attire and quirks: “Any coach that wears jeans, I don’t trust. Coaches and visors, I don’t trust…” — Matt, [07:42].
Feedback Friday & Listener Stories
Timestamp: 15:18–37:38
- Shared listener emails and stories:
- Justin from Modern Day Romeos sends "My Gundy" (a play on Stan Van Gundy).
- Dan and Matt discuss the show's culture of odd listener messages and voice submissions.
- A Jack Nicholson impression voicemail asks Dan to “not forget your meds, and above all, don’t forget your jock” ([19:08]).
Notable Quote:
"Don’t go down the rabbit hole. Don’t read about Badfinger. It’ll just make you unhappy."
— Dan, [33:00], warning about music fandom turning tragic.
- Listener Eric shares a classic “bad radio caller” anxiety story:
“I realized at this moment any point I made would be glossed over since I’d be immediately labeled another stupid ass caller and get berated. So I hung up.”
— Eric’s email, [24:15]
- Discussions of Bears stadium politics and Kevin Warren's tactics ([26:58]).
- Deep-dive on expensive ice cream recommendations and jokes about Chicago food obsessions ([29:58]).
Top 10 Chicago Bears Playoff Memories
Timestamp: 37:40–68:50
Methodology
- Both hosts build subjective lists based on emotional impact, not just significance.
- Super Bowl XX is deliberately excluded from lists because it’s an obvious #1.
Matt’s List Highlights
- Dishonorable mention: 2020 Bears/Saints wild card loss (“just wanted to mention out the 2020 NFL season,” [39:33]).
- 2 Honorable Mentions:
- 1940 NFL Championship (not personal, “but it’s an honorable mention” [41:08]).
- 1991 playoff loss to Cowboys - beloved Jim Harbaugh’s playoff heartbreak.
- #10: 1995, Steve Walsh leads Bears to playoff victory over Vikings and Warren Moon ([42:46]).
- #8: “Steve Smith Game,” 2006. Panthers’ WR Steve Smith torches Bears ([43:58]).
- #6: 1986 NFC Championship, Wilbur Marshall’s fumble return as snow falls at Soldier Field ([45:04]).
- Dan: “That play is my number one Bears memory.” ([45:32])
- #5: Jay Cutler's knee injury in 2011 NFC title game vs. Packers; media fallout ([48:00]).
- #3: Devin Hester’s iconic opening kickoff return in Super Bowl XLI ([49:37]).
- #2: "Double Doink" – 2019 wild card FG miss vs. Eagles ([50:05]).
- #1: Walter Payton not scoring a TD in Super Bowl XX.
"I’ll never, ever, ever not think of Super Bowl 20 and not think of Walter Payton not scoring a touchdown." — Matt, [51:33]
Dan’s List Highlights
Honorable Mentions include:
- Steve Smith's 218 yards in 2006, Pat Dunsmore’s TD catch from Walter Payton (1984), Hugh Douglas injuring Jim Miller (2002), BG Raji pick-six vs. Caleb Haney (2011).
- #10: Walter Payton’s fumble at start of Super Bowl XX – immediate anxiety ([58:10]).
- #9: Bears’ 1985 NFC title loss to 49ers; Bill Walsh mocks Bears with a fat-guy fullback ([59:06]).
- #8: 1979 wild-card vs. Eagles, Walter Payton’s would-be 84-yard TD run called back ([60:05]).
- #6: 1987 playoff loss — Art Monk torches Bears, ending hopes of repeat ([62:14]).
- #5: Double Doink.
- #4: 1985 Giants playoff (start of Super Bowl run), Sean Landetta’s whiffed punt – Sean Gale scores ([64:15]).
- #3: Devin Hester’s Super Bowl return.
- #2: The Fog Bowl experience, watching from a Mexican bar called “Roc y Ambergesas” ([66:51]).
- #1: Wilbur Marshall’s fumble return TD to seal the 1986 NFC title and “the best feeling I have ever had as a Chicago Bears fan.” ([45:32], [68:47]).
Notable Exchange:
"That play is my number one Bears memory… the best feeling I have ever had in my life as a Chicago Bears fan."
— Dan, on Wilbur Marshall’s return, ([45:32])
Final Thoughts: Playoff Anticipation & Prop Bets
Timestamp: 68:50–72:50
- Conversation on Bears gameday traditions and the Ditka sweater.
- Prop bet selections and picks for upcoming playoff games:
- Dan: DJ Moore TD + Cole Kmet over 13.5 yards.
- Matt: Five-team parlay, skipping Eagles/49ers; “Bears plus one, Panthers plus ten and a half…” ([71:15])
Notable Quotes & Moments
-
On Jay Cutler criticism:
“All the shit that Jay Cutler took, not being tough enough, not being, you know, man enough to stay…”
— Matt, [48:00] -
On the “Double Doink” bar reaction:
“Before I saw their bodies fall… I heard the misery and pain coming from the other bar down the street.”
— Matt, [50:43] -
On Bears invincibility (Wilbur Marshall play):
"It was when Wilbur picked it up and took off... the Super Bowl became almost an afterthought."
— Dan, [45:53]
Segment Timestamps
| Segment | Start | Key Topics | |------------------------------- |----------|--------------------------------------------------| | Bears-Packers Playoff Hype | 00:01 | Playoff nerves, Packers rivalry | | Sports/Broadcast Sidebars | 04:09 | Bulls game issues, college football | | Feedback Friday | 15:18 | Listener stories, fandom pain, food tangents | | Bears Playoff Moments List | 37:40 | Top 10 lists, honorable mentions, debates | | Picks & Closing | 68:50 | Gameday rituals, prop bets |
Tone and Style
- Classic radio camaraderie, laced with biting sarcasm and unvarnished fandom.
- Deep historical knowledge and storytelling blended with humor and venting.
- Tone is passionate, often self-deprecating, never dry – making it highly accessible to sports fans whether or not they’ve lived the Bears’ playoff years.
Who Should Listen?
- Any Bears fan, Chicago sports obsessive, or those who thrive on vivid sports nostalgia.
- Listeners who appreciate honest, unfiltered banter with genuine emotional investment in the pains and joys of being a fan.
Summary Takeaway
This episode is a love letter to Bears fans, documenting the agony and ecstasy of playoff memories through a deeply personal, unfiltered lens. Whether reliving the triumph of Wilbur Marshall's iconic return or the heartbreak of the double doink, Dan and Matt deliver a masterclass in sports storytelling—infused with Chicago flavor, listener camaraderie, and the sense that being a Bears fan is, in itself, a lifelong playoff game.