Forward Progress - A Chicago Bears Podcast

Episode: "The Bears should seriously consider any offers for Tyson Bagent"

Hosts: Dan Bernstein & Matt Abbatacola
Date: February 18, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Dan and Matt break down the recent Chicago Bears coaching staff updates, discuss NFL player movement rumors, and dig into a particularly interesting story: whether the Bears should consider trading backup quarterback Tyson Bagent if teams like the Arizona Cardinals come calling. The hosts bring their trademark mix of sharp analysis and easy banter, mixing Bears-specific chatter with league-wide observations, personnel moves, and a few offbeat tangents.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Bears Coaching Staff Updates (02:12–04:54)

• Recent coaching hires include Will Long as offensive analyst and Isaiah Ford as offensive quality control coach.
  • Matt jokes about the possible double meaning of “offensive analyst.”
• Press Taylor is officially named offensive coordinator, replacing Declan Doyle who’s joined Baltimore and made comments about unlocking Lamar Jackson’s “higher ceiling.”

Notable Quote

"He might be an Analyst who just offends everybody!"
— Dan Bernstein [02:31]

2. Former Bears Coaches Resurface (05:11–09:33)

• Zach Azani, former Bears WR coach, now holds the same position with the Raiders.
• Nostalgic debate about the infamous Kevin White situation and Azani’s unconventional approach to reviewing old college highlight tapes with players.

Notable Quote

"I just did not expect to see the name of former Bears wide receiver coach Zach Azani again today."
— Dan Bernstein [09:18]

3. Caleb Williams Podcast Rumors (09:33–10:44)

• Brief examination of a podcast where potential Bears draft target Caleb Williams chatted with a prospective teammate. Dan and Matt agree the pod was more a feel-good bromance than any meaningful recruitment effort.

Notable Quote

"So many player pods are just like, ‘Hey, you’re really good!’ ‘Yeah, you’re good, too!’"
— Dan Bernstein [10:30]

4. Tyson Bagent Trade Rumor – Main Segment (10:44–14:15)

• Reports link the Arizona Cardinals to interest in Tyson Bagent as a backup or potential lottery ticket.
• Both hosts immediately agree: be open to any reasonable offer.
• Dan: “Make me an offer.” [11:07]
• Strong consensus: A fourth-round pick for an undrafted backup would be a major win.
• Skepticism that the Cardinals (or anyone) have enough film or information on Bagent to make such a deal with confidence.

Notable Quotes

"If you can turn somebody undrafted into a fourth [round pick]… Yeah, that’s a massive win."
— Dan Bernstein [11:57]

"That's my first thought: 'Yeah, what's the offer? When do you need him at the airport?'"
— Matt Abbatacola [11:09]

Timestamps

• [10:44] – Rumor surfaces about Cardinals’ interest in Bagent.
• [11:07] – Dan: "Make me an offer."
• [11:31–12:48] – Debate on appropriate draft pick compensation and Bagent's value.

5. Player “Change of Scenery” List (14:15–21:32)

• Host Matt discusses Aaron Schatz’s off-season list: one player per NFL team who needs a new start.
• Bears’ pick: OL Kiran Amegadjie—met with shrugs; both agree he's underwhelmed.
• Picks from the NFC North:
  • Lions: David Montgomery (due to age/cap hit)
  • Packers: Quay Walker
  • Vikings: J.J. McCarthy (called “tough but maybe true”)

Timestamps

• [14:30] – Introduction of the offseason list.
• [15:01–16:52] – Guessing the Bears entry, segueing into OL discussion.
• [18:43–19:34] – Other NFC North names.

6. Intriguing NFL Talent Moves (21:32–27:29)

• Matt shares standouts from the change-of-scenery list relevant to Chicago:
  • Keon Coleman (WR, Buffalo): Young talent, potentially appealing.
  • Breece Hall (RB, open to tag), Nick Herbig (EDGE, PIT), Brian Thomas Jr. (WR, JAX), Jonathan Brooks (RB, CAR): An array of possible targets for teams needing “the next thing.”
  • Special focus on Nick Herbig’s high pass rush win-rate despite rotational role.

Notable Quote

"I loved him [Keon Coleman] out of college. I just think he’s fun… he’s talented as hell."
— Dan Bernstein [22:24]

7. Thoughts on Veteran Wide Outs and Bears WR Room (25:36–28:12)

• Brandon Aiyuk and Mike Evans mentioned as potential veteran additions; Dan firmly against old “patchwork” Bears moves.
• Hopes for development from in-house youth and recent draftees Luther Burden and Rome Odunze.

Notable Quote

"I just want more Luther Burden… between Loveland and Burden and what we’re still expecting Roma Dunes A to do, DJ Moore is here… That to me smacks of old Bears stuff."
— Dan Bernstein [27:16]

8. Roster Names & Bears-wide Tangents (28:12–32:19)

• Side conversations about Mahomes' contract restructuring and the Bears stadium saga—cautioning listeners against hyped political narratives.

Notable Quote

"Don’t believe half the hype that you’re hearing about… the Bears have been playing three-dimensional chess this entire time. No, they really haven’t."
— Dan Bernstein [31:11]

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On Zach Azani:
  "He was watching college film. He was being weird." — Dan Bernstein [39:59]

• On how fleeting NFL careers and evaluations can be:
  "Sometimes, because somebody really knows what they're doing, they can deploy somebody at the right times against the right matchups... there's a lot of bad free agent money that can be spent chasing some guys like that."
  — Dan Bernstein [23:38]

• On old Bears strategies for wide receivers:
  "That to me smacks of like old Bears stuff that they would do. Trying to just take some old, old guy."
  — Dan Bernstein [27:29]

Useful Timestamps

• 02:12: Bears coaching/news updates: staff titles, coordinator moves
• 05:11: Nostalgic Azani/Kevin White/receiver room discussion
• 09:33: Caleb Williams “bro-love” podcast segment
• 10:44: Start of Tyson Bagent/Arizona trade rumors
• 14:30: Offseason “change of scenery” player list
• 21:32: League-wide player movement speculation
• 25:36: Veteran WRs and Bears’ current receiver group
• 28:12: Mahomes’ contract restructure/Bears stadium politics

Tone & Language

Unfiltered, humorous, and rooted in long-standing Windy City sports knowledge. The hosts are irreverent, open to tangents, but always loop back to football and the Bears—never afraid to poke fun at themselves, their memories, or football’s many ironies.

Summary Takeaways

• The Bears are making incremental but possibly important coaching staff changes.
• If real interest exists in Tyson Bagent, the Bears should absolutely listen—turning an undrafted free agent into a Day 3 pick is “a massive win.”
• League-wide, there are always players whose careers could be resurrected by fresh starts, but the Bears need to avoid falling into old habits—especially at wide receiver.
• The episode balances sharp football talk with breezy, entertaining sidebars; perfect for diehards or more casual Bears fans alike.