Podcast Summary: Forward Progress – Veteran Bears Reporter, Mark Potash

Episode Date: September 25, 2025
Host(s): Dan Bernstein & Matt Abaticola
Guest: Mark Potash
Podcast: Forward Progress, a Chicago Bears podcast on 312 Sports

Episode Overview

This episode features veteran Bears reporter Mark Potash, known for his decades-long coverage of the team and candid takes on the infamous struggles at Halas Hall. Potash, now a freelancer for the Sun Times and his own site, joins the hosts to break down the state of the Chicago Bears under new head coach Ben Johnson, the dynamics between organizational leadership, Caleb Williams’ development, and the enduring dysfunction rooted in Bears ownership. The discussion is frank, analytical, intermittently skeptical, and rich in historical context, making it a must-listen for diehard and casual Bears fans alike.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Ben Johnson’s Early Tenure & Challenges

Timestamp: 01:13–03:25

• Learning Curve: Potash observes that Ben Johnson is “learning a lot about the roster he inherited” and the organization’s operating culture. He suggests Johnson may not have fully realized the complexities of the Bears before taking the job, saying it was a “red flag”
  • Quote: “I think he’s learning that the best way for him to do his job is... to take control... and handle things his way.” (01:31, Mark Potash)
• Organizational Power: Johnson appears to have more authority than previous coaches, which could allow him to enact real change—provided others at Halas Hall get out of the way.
  • Quote: “Everyone at Halas Hall has to get out of the way and let him do his job, and that's the only way the Bears are going to be successful.” (02:35, Potash)

2. Bears Front Office Dynamics: Johnson & Poles

Timestamp: 05:21–07:42

• The recent five-year contract extension for GM Ryan Poles aligns his fate with Johnson’s, but Potash senses Poles now plays more of a background role and that Johnson is likely to become the true power, similar to what Shanahan or McVay established elsewhere.
• Quote: “I see Ben Johnson just kind of taking control and being... the guy, I think, at Halas Hall.” (06:45, Potash)

3. Caleb Williams: Prospect Evaluation and Development Path

Timestamp: 07:42–11:28

• Johnson came in eager to coach Williams, but Potash notes it’s clear Williams is not quite the “it factor” quarterback—there’s a lot of development ahead.
  • Quote: “He’s a really great prospect... but he’s not that it factor instinctive quarterback. He needs help—and maybe more help than Ben Johnson realized.” (07:52, Potash)
• Parallels are drawn to Harbaugh’s rejuvenation of Herbert in L.A., suggesting Johnson must take a hands-on developmental approach.
• Questions arise about how to discern “fool’s gold” games—a recurring Bears quarterback curse—and true, sustainable growth.
  • Potash admits skepticism, describing how watching Bears games now is “almost hard... because I’m consumed by my own skepticism.” (12:09, Potash)

4. Chronic Dysfunction and the McCaskey Ownership

Timestamp: 15:24–21:38

• Both the hosts and Potash lament the culture of dysfunction within the organization, with Potash attributing it squarely to the McCaskeys’ lack of football acumen.
  • Quote: “It starts at the top. The McCaskeys are not football people... They don’t know how to hire football people.” (16:41, Potash)
• They discuss the team’s massive $9 billion valuation and how organizational structure and a lack of outside perspective perpetuate old habits.

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5. On-field Struggles: Run Game and Offensive Line

Timestamp: 21:38–25:58

• Despite investing heavily in the O-line and veterans, run game woes persist. Potash questions why things that worked in Detroit under Johnson—like the run game—aren't translating in Chicago.
  • Quote: “Everything here is difficult. And I don’t know why that is.” (24:29, Potash)
• Echoing the broader theme: Why is football always “pulling teeth” at the Bears compared to other organizations?

6. Player Development, Leadership, and Locker Room Chemistry

Timestamp: 26:08–35:38

• DJ Moore’s Role: Discussion about DJ Moore’s adjustment as younger talent emerges. Potash likens Moore’s temperament to Martellus Bennett—talented, but sometimes disengaged—and speculates Ben Johnson must keep him involved.
  • Quote: “[Moore] seems like he’s a guy who can just do his own thing because he’s quiet... but he has a lot of feelings. He’s a strong-willed guy.” (30:38, Potash)
• Leadership Void: The Bears lack vocal, emotional leaders; many highest-paid players have never been on winning teams, which skews locker room culture.
  • Potash calls for “a Mike Brown” or an “Olin Kreutz”-type—vocal, galvanizing presences who can shift culture and expectations.

7. Media, Access, and Organizational “Optics”

Timestamp: 36:19–42:12

• Potash and the hosts discuss changes (like virtual press conferences) that diminish media access and accountability.
  • Quote: “Any kind of eye to eye, face to face interaction means everything to me.” (37:11, Potash)
• They highlight the odd reluctance of coaching staff to address questions about previous games and the lack of internal management to correct these optics.

8. The Low Bar for “Success” and Rebuilding Outlook

Timestamp: 43:16–48:37

• Potash defines the minimum bar for Ben Johnson as “three consecutive winning seasons”—a feat the Bears have not accomplished since 1988.
  • Quote: “My bar... for the Ben Johnson era is... three consecutive winning seasons or three consecutive playoff seasons. That’s a fair bar.” (44:13, Potash)
• Discussion follows about draft misses, roster churn, and how few current Marquee veterans may be part of the next truly competitive Bears iteration.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Everyone at Halas Hall has to get out of the way and let him do his job... Otherwise, he will also, like everyone else, be consumed by the dysfunction.” (02:35, Potash)
• “This is a learning stage... he has a little more pull, maybe a lot more pull, in Halas Hall.” (01:56, Potash)
• “[The McCaskeys] just don’t hire good football people because I don’t think they know what good football people are.” (20:19, Potash)
• “If you’re a good team, everyone’s a leader... This [Bears] team needs some kind of edge. This team needs a Mike Brown.” (33:19, Potash)
• “You thought [Caleb Williams] was a plug and play guy, but he’s an assembly required guy.” (36:04, Potash)
• “It’s almost hard for me to watch the Bears now because I’m consumed by my own skepticism.” (12:09, Potash)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:13: Ben Johnson’s early lessons & approach
• 05:21: GM/head coach power dynamics
• 07:42: What Johnson’s learning about Caleb Williams
• 11:28: The “fool’s gold” Bears QB curse
• 16:41: Why the Bears are so dysfunctional
• 21:38: Challenges establishing the run game and O-line cohesion
• 26:49: Key storylines to watch this season
• 29:40: DJ Moore’s role and temperament
• 33:19–36:19: Leadership void and “assembly required” roster
• 36:19: Media access and organizational optics
• 44:13: Potash’s bar for success, draft/development themes

Conclusion

This freewheeling episode, powered by Mark Potash’s candid expertise, lays bare the daunting but possible road ahead for the Bears. The team’s persistent woes—from misaligned leadership, talent development struggles, and a culture resistant to change—are all laid at the feet of ownership, management, and institutional inertia. While Ben Johnson is seen as a potential culture-changer, skepticism pervades among all three voices about just how hard winning and progress are at Halas Hall—yet there’s a sliver of hope that, with patience and a new approach, something may finally break the pattern.

For More

• Mark Potash Website: markpotash.net
• Hosts: Dan Bernstein & Matt Abaticola (312 Sports)

This summary excludes all ads, show introductions/outros, and focuses strictly on content-rich discussion for Bears fans and NFL observers seeking real insight into the state of Chicago football.