@kfishbain.bsky.social
Senior writer at The Athletic covering the Chicago Bears.
When a head coach is fired but a GM stays, what red and green flags might that create for prospective hires? I asked sources around the league with significant experience in the NFL’s hiring cycles and got fascinating responses about the dynamics of a “holdover GM”: www.nytimes.com/athletic/682...
20.11.2025 14:29 — 👍 21 🔁 3 💬 3 📌 2
When Ben Johnson sat on Chase Rice's tour bus last summer and heard his friend and former teammate reciting a pre-concert chant, Johnson couldn't help but smile.
"Good, better, best..."
For @theathletic.com, here’s the origin story of the Bears’ rallying cry
The Bears are 12-1 against the Steelers in Chicago. One of those wins came in 1971, the first game with Soldier Field as the franchise's permanent home. Story (from 2021) on that game
19.11.2025 20:56 — 👍 33 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0Bears injury report...
DNP: Jaquan Brisker (shoulder), Tremaine Edmunds (groin), T.J. Edwards (hand/hamstring), Noah Sewell (elbow), Grady Jarrett (rest), Kevin Byard (rest)
Limited: Dalman (knee), Gordon, Homer, Jaylon Johnson, Stevenson, Swift, Wright.
Bears were without their top three LBs.
Links to listen...
Apple podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...
Spotify open.spotify.com/episode/6ewi...
Overcast overcast.fm/+ABOeBEdYEdA
Pocket casts pca.st/episode/48f5...
“Breaking In with Kevin Fishbain” episode 33
Guest: @marklazerus.bsky.social
Laz’s origin story is a fun one, and it includes the time he got an angry call from a reader on Christmas morning!
Bears head coach Ben Johnson calls the Steelers' edge rushers "werewolves on the outside."
Pittsburgh has 4 players with at least 10 quarterback hits (Watt - 16, Herbig - 16, Benton - 10, Highsmith - 10). The Bears have only one (Montez Sweat - 10).
Will Aaron Rodgers play through a broken wrist?
@jennaharner.bsky.social and I discuss the variables on this week’s edition of The Yinziders.
Plus, @kfishbain.bsky.social breaks down the Bears surprising 7-3 start.
Subscribe and join us every Wednesday!
m.youtube.com/watch?v=WDDB...
There’s a lot to talk about regarding our first place #Bears! On @billtzimmerman.bsky.social’s latest Bears Banter, he’s joined by the fantastic @kfishbain.bsky.social! Ben, the defense, Caleb, and so much more!
🐻⬇️&🔊⬆️ right here:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/2...
The Bears opened the 21-day practice window for CB Kyler Gordon.
19.11.2025 18:17 — 👍 50 🔁 4 💬 2 📌 1The Bears signed LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin to their practice squad. He was with the Lions 2017-21 and 2023-24, so some familiarity with Ben Johnson. He made the Pro Bowl after the ‘23 season.
18.11.2025 21:04 — 👍 24 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
The Bears in @theathletic.com playoff simulator
18.11.2025 16:08 — 👍 36 🔁 3 💬 9 📌 2
BREAKING: We’re getting six (!) edible mascots at this year’s @poptartsbowl.com!
- six edible mascots, three on Team Sprinkles and three on Team Swirls
- fans get to vote on which mascot team to sacrifice to Mouth Heaven at game’s end, the biggest edible mascot sacrifice EVER
They beat the Vikings in the 2019 season finale without recording a sack. That's the third.
17.11.2025 21:58 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0More from Johnson on Kmet, who had 5 catches for 45 yards: "When he was a ball carrier, you felt his presence out there. He was lowering his shoulder. He was stiff-arming. He brought our sideline to life a couple times."
17.11.2025 21:58 — 👍 27 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0Bears head coach Ben Johnson said Sunday was one of TE Cole Kmet's best games. "I get that he caught a couple more balls, but I'm not even talking about that. He was great in the running game. And then in pass pro, we put him in some tough matchups there ... and I thought he did an outstanding job."
17.11.2025 21:57 — 👍 66 🔁 1 💬 1 📌 0Since 2014, the Bears are 3-23 in games where they don't register a sack on defense.
Two of those wins have come in the past eight weeks — Raiders and Vikings.
The Jets are making a quarterback change, benching Justin Fields in favor of veteran Tyrod Taylor, per source.
New York faces Baltimore in Week 12 and ranks last in the league in passing yards per game.
Bears Live Room is live! Bring your thoughts, questions, etc. www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv...
17.11.2025 17:06 — 👍 8 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Devin Duvernay’s season-long return put the Bears in position to escape. They just needed a field goal.
Cairo Santos: “I just had full confidence that I was gonna put that ball through and find a way to bounce back from the previous miss.”
Story from Minnesota on the third phase
Bears snap counts from Sunday’s win…
• Burden out-snapped Zaccheaus 33-10
• Chicago avoided long drives on defense, could keep their starting DL out there often. Austin Booker played 51/55 snaps.
17.11.2025 04:35 — 👍 118 🔁 9 💬 6 📌 2
Bears special teams giveth, Bears special teams taketh.
From Minnesota, story on Duvernay’s return, Cairo’s kick and another wild win
Bears QB Caleb Williams had season-low marks in completion % (50.0) and first downs (6). EPA/dropback (-0.07), rating (68.9) and YPA (6.0) were second-lowest of the season. The Vikings also threw a ton at him, blitzing 66.7% of the time, per @trumedia.bsky.social, and he did not turn it over.
16.11.2025 22:35 — 👍 78 🔁 3 💬 6 📌 2This team, man.
Bears 19, Vikings 17
Ben Johnson gets his first division win. More to come.
The Bears have had 5 offensive drives get inside the Vikings' 40-yard line and have 16 points to show for it today.
16.11.2025 20:36 — 👍 55 🔁 7 💬 6 📌 3Another missed opportunity for the Bears to put this game away. D'Andre Swift had a great drive, it stalled, Cairo Santos misses from 45.
16.11.2025 20:36 — 👍 31 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0Caleb Williams sacked, 42-yard punt return, Jordan Mason 16-yard touchdown.
And just like that, we've got a one-score game in Minneapolis.
Bears 16, Vikings 10
Bears CB Tyrique Stevenson (hip/calf) is questionable to return. Nick McCloud on the field.
16.11.2025 20:24 — 👍 14 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 2After an illegal formation penalty put them in third-and-13, the Bears had consecutive plays of 16, 16, 18 and 11 yards, then they had to settle for a field goal.
10 plays, 65 yards in 5:07
Bears 16, Vikings 3
