Forward Progress: A Chicago Bears Podcast
Episode: Herb Howard – The Bigs Media / Bears Beat Reporter
Hosts: Dan Bernstein & Matt Abbatacola
Date: December 25, 2025
Guest: Herb Howard (@HerbHoward411), Chicago Bears beat reporter (The Bigs Media)
Episode Overview
This candid, energetic episode welcomes beat reporter Herb Howard back to deliver insider Bears perspectives ahead of a hopeful postseason. Dan and Matt leverage Herb’s locker room experience, diving into padded practices, player development, the enigmatic Bears offense, and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. The trio discusses the mysterious “cheese grater” hat, the psychology of Caleb Williams, and what separates this team from its “lucky” predecessors. The tone is equal parts analytical, storytelling, and passionate fandom—a must-listen for Bears diehards and NFL aficionados alike.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. NFL Padded Practices Rules & Impact
[01:09]
- Teams get 14 padded practices per year (11 in first 11 weeks, 3 in final 6; one per postseason week).
- Herb’s insight: Fewer padded practices mean players must continually reacclimate to full-contact intensity, especially post-injury.
"Every week you're gonna have to go through this process of kind of re-acclimating to the physicality of the game." (Herb, [02:35])
- Example: Jalen Johnson returning from injury and regaining physical form.
2. Players Returning from Injury—Jalen Johnson’s Journey
[04:11]
- Jalen Johnson hasn’t yet hit All-Pro stride post-injury, but he’s improving.
"[Jalen said,] 'I don't think I can just snap my fingers and return to some all pro form. I'm just, you know, trying to take it one snap at a time.'" (Herb, [04:11])
- First games back showed mental lapses and hesitation; progress seen gradually.
3. Defensive Standouts: DeMarco Jackson vs. Tremaine Edmunds
[05:09],[05:49]
- DeMarco Jackson’s “player of the week” story (from cut to starter).
- Still, Tremaine Edmunds’ return was a no-brainer—his size, range, and red-zone prowess make him indispensable.
"You stand next to him and he's every bit of 6'5", 6'6" broad shoulders. He's long… He creates such a problem for quarterbacks down in that red zone..." (Herb, [05:49])
4. Bears Pass Rush and Defensive Tactics
[07:10],[08:22]
- Lack of front-four pass rush is the top concern for postseason viability.
- Herb’s solution: Be better on 1st/2nd downs to force 3rd-and-long, making pass rush more effective.
"The best thing they can do to help that pass rush is to play better on first and second down...put themselves in situations where they can kind of dictate what's happening." (Herb, [08:22])
5. Andrew Billings: Embrace Your Identity
[10:10]
- Dan’s theory: Coaches leaned into Billings’ massive frame, accepting he won't get faster but can dominate as a classic nose tackle.
- Herb shares a hilarious locker room story poking fun at the D-line’s size:
"'What makes you think you could just bend over, pick up the ball? And then what?'...Dex is like, 'He’s like, shut up. You know what? Just go. Just go. Bill's like, just, just, Just go. I'm like, I'm out, man.'" (Herb, [11:30])
6. Grady Jarrett’s Resurgence
[12:52]
- Grady Jarrett’s explosiveness has returned as his knee has healed.
- Described as “well put together, completely packed with muscle”—his early-season drop-off was purely health-related.
7. Caleb Williams’ Growth: Cadence, Ball Handling, Mindset
[14:04]-[16:49]
- Huge strides in cadence delivery and using it to manipulate defenses.
"Now, both of those things are far, far better than they were when he first got here." (Herb, [14:44])
- Quotes a D-lineman: “Get that weak ass cadence out of here” from early practices.
- Ball fakes and under-center mechanics now improving; still room for next-level mastery.
Best at it?
"Aaron Rodgers is really, really good at it… His handoffs and his play actions look exactly the same." (Herb, [16:54])
8. The Caleb Conundrum: Thrives in Chaos
[17:22]-[21:43]
- Caleb excels under pressure, third downs, late-game situations; is far less sharp early in games.
"Once the game is on the line or they're in these tough situations, he doesn't think as much. He just kind of relies on his natural ability and he goes and he just plays the game." (Herb, [18:50])
- Caleb is aware—jokes with Herb about “play better earlier in games.”
- Dan likens it to Seabiscuit, needing competition/trailing to “turn on the engine.”
9. Offensive Complexity & Player Development
[23:24]-[27:02]
- Bears offense is based on teaching whole-play concepts vs. role-based memorization.
"They're teaching us the entire concept of the play… so that you can move around and do it, and it's very beneficial..." (Herb, [24:22])
- Contrasted with other teams (e.g. last year’s Commanders) who simplified for rookies.
- Ben Johnson’s philosophy is “raise the standard”—players must rise to it.
10. Offense Ranking High Despite Room to Grow
[28:48]
- Bears ninth in NFL scoring; could be even better, leaving ~1 TD/game on the field.
"I've been watching Bears football for 40 years. I never thought I'd see it, period, never mind this season." (Herb, [29:46])
- Credits Johnson for assembling a teaching-focused staff that elevates backups and young players; expects assistants to be poached by other teams.
11. Locker Room Stories, Decals, and Player Relationships
[31:24]-[39:54]
- Kyle Manounguy’s helmet decals always come off—Herb says it’s his fearless running style.
"His physicality and his stature I think is what adds to how often his decal is coming off because he's just a physical, physical runner and he doesn't shy away from contact." (Herb, [32:07])
- Manounguy, a 7th-round pick, is a cheerful, unassuming guy—not the bruiser you’d imagine.
- DJ Moore’s “cheese grater” hat: Origin unclear. First appeared in Caleb’s locker, circulated through team after the game.
- Players Herb loves to see: DJ Moore (“silly”), Kyler Gordon (“smart”), Josh Blackwell (“super nice, thoughtful”), Jaquan Brisker (“like a big 10-year-old”—plays angry, acts sweet).
On DJ Moore's first winning season since high school:
"Having some stability helps him out a lot, but I think he's such an even keel guy. He doesn't get too up, doesn't get too down..." (Herb, [38:30])
Notable Quotes & Moments
-
On padded practices:
"I'm old, so I'm, you know, I'm used to guys putting on pads for practice...this new edge way of doing things...it does seem like every week you're gonna have to go through this process of re acclimating to the physicality..."
— Herb Howard, [02:35] -
On coaching approach:
“Coach Johnson came in and he understood right away, I'm not meeting you anywhere. You're going to meet me. But it's going to be way up there…get comfortable being uncomfortable. The standard is going to be set higher than it's ever been set."
— Herb Howard, [27:02] -
On the Bears leaving points on the field:
"Did you ever think from where it started…that they'd be ninth in scoring? And you could reasonably say they're leaving a touchdown a game, which would put them over 30 points a game?"
— Matt Abbatacola, [29:46]
"I've been watching Bears football for 40 years. I never thought I'd see it, period, never mind this season."
— Herb Howard, [29:46] -
On Caleb’s mindset:
"Once the game is on the line or in these tough situations, he doesn't think as much. He just relies on his natural ability and he goes and plays."
— Herb Howard, [18:50] -
On Jaquan Brisker:
"He's like that little brother. Like, he's just...he's silly. He's goofy in a way that's, like, adorable..."
— Herb Howard, [36:37]
"He plays like a violent, angry human being...but as a person, he's just a big kid, always big bright smile..."
— Herb Howard, [37:44]
Timestamps for Important Segments
- [01:09] — Padded practices and player readiness
- [02:35] — Jalen Johnson’s return and physicality discussion
- [05:09] — DeMarco Jackson and Tremaine Edmunds: linebacker depth
- [08:22] — Pass rush struggles and potential fixes
- [10:10] — Andrew Billings embracing “big body” identity, locker room stories
- [12:52] — Grady Jarrett’s knee, recovery, and play
- [14:44] — Caleb Williams' growth in cadence and ball-handling
- [16:54] — Best QB at ball fakes: Aaron Rodgers
- [18:50] — Caleb’s performance under pressure and mental make-up
- [21:43] — Athlete psychology, “Seabiscuit” parallel
- [24:22] — Offensive install philosophy: teaching concepts
- [27:02] — Johnson’s approach vs. “meet them where they are”
- [29:46] — Scoring output vs. what’s left on the field
- [31:24] — Helmet decals, Manounguy’s toughness
- [34:58] — “Cheese grater” hat and team culture
- [36:03] — Herb’s favorite locker room personalities
- [38:30] — DJ Moore’s journey through instability and first winning season
Listener Value & Takeaways
- Insider access: Herb’s stories and observations give listeners a feel for the personality and psyche of key Bears players.
- Tactical depth: Smart breakdowns of Bears’ technical issues, coaching choices, and why they’re succeeding.
- Human touch: Unfiltered locker room stories reveal the people behind the pads (and helmet stickers).
- Big picture: Contextualizes the 11-4 Bears in both historic and contemporary NFL terms—what’s different, what’s lucky, what’s sustainable.
Episode Summary:
A rich, revealing discussion on the 2025 Bears—from the nitty gritty of padded practices and pass rush o-line play to the minds and hearts of stars like Caleb Williams and DJ Moore. Herb Howard’s unique blend of candor, access, and humor makes this a must for Bears fans who want more than highlights; they want to know what truly makes this surprising Chicago team tick.