The Chicago Bears are looking more and more like a team that will be active at the trade deadline on November 10th. They’re 5-2 and riding some momentum with three wins in their past four games. Quarterback Caleb Williams and the offense are humming. Even the defense has made timely plays despite continued injury setbacks. This team feels like it can build on its playoff run last season. Maybe this time, they should see if they can bring in some extra help. That is where Khalil Mack comes in.

A few weeks ago, the pass rusher became a hot topic among possible trade targets, what with the Los Angeles Chargers being winless. He’s 35 years old and on a one-year deal. If the Chargers can get anything for him, they should. The Bears were mentioned as a potential landing spot, given their need for pass rush help and Mack’s obvious history with the organization. If you needed further proof that the smoke is very real, Adam Schefter of ESPN provided it with his recent deadline update.

“You have to wonder if teams like the Chicago Bears will keep calling to try to bring Khalil Mack back to Chicago.”

Khalil Mack would be a bunt. Not a home run swing.

Whispers indicate it would cost a 5th round pick to likely get him from Los Angeles. People must keep in mind this is not the Mack of eight years ago. Not even the one from three years ago. His physical gifts have diminished with his age. It’s been his power and savvy as a pass rusher that have kept him effective. Any team trading for him must recognize that they shouldn’t put full snaps on his body. His best role is as a designated pass rusher. Is that worth paying the price to bring him in?

That depends on who you ask. Many feel Khalil Mack still has some of that old juice. Enough to give the Bears’ rush a considerable jolt. You’re only as good as your depth in that department. Right now, Chicago’s is questionable. Daniel Hardy has played surprisingly well with Montez Sweat and Dayo Odeyingbo out the past two weeks. Would the Bears rather continue giving him more snaps since he’s younger and cheaper? Or do they feel Mack would be that much of an improvement.

The numbers tell an interesting story.

While Mack does have 16 pressures and 3 sacks this season, that is only good enough to rank him 39th in the league. His 10.1 pass rush win percentage is 82nd. This isn’t somebody who’s been as productive as his name would suggest. The Bears would be gambling that a change of scenery to play for a contender might reinvigorate the aging veteran to make a strong push in the second half of the season. It’s worked before. The Bears would need to have a plan for him, though.

Thankfully, defensive coordinator Dennis Allen should have no issue with that. He’s the man who helped draft Mack in the first place as head coach of the Oakland Raiders. There is no denying how cool a story it’d be. The Bears traded Mack in 2022 to kickstart a rebuild. Now they bring him back after the rebuild is over, and maybe help carry him to that Super Bowl ring that has eluded him.

One of the more surprising decisions of the 2026 offseason by the Chicago Bears was not retaining safety Kevin Byard. It was hard to understand. The guy had just snagged 7 interceptions in 2025, producing one of the best seasons of his career. One would think that is more than enough to earn him another year with the team. Instead, the Bears decided to let him walk in free agency, opting to go young at the position by signing 27-year-old Coby Bryant in free agency and drafting Dillon Thieneman in the 1st round.

Byard turned 33 in August. That, along with his diminishing speed, was considered the primary reason Chicago opted to move on. Some have speculated that the safety wanted out, eager to reunite with former head coach Mike Vrabel in New England. Byard quickly dispelled that idea when speaking to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. He made it clear that his initial hope was to stay with the Bears. However, attempts to engage the team on a possible extension weren’t reciprocated. While disappointing, there are no hard feelings.

In fact, Byard admitted that he believes the Bears did a really smart thing by drafting Thieneman.

“Once they signed Coby, I had to pivot. No complaints or ill will toward the organization. I loved my time in Chicago. Maybe the timelines didn’t match up. I think 31 (Thieneman) is a hell of a player. Under Dennis, I think he’s going to have a really good career.”

Kevin Byard can already see the truth.

He’s played in the NFL for a long time. Some pretty good teammates have flanked the man in that time, including Kenny Vaccaro and Amani Hooker. For him to offer unprompted praise for Thieneman like that feels pretty significant. It almost felt like an acknowledgment that the Bears made a smart call. Remember, he is a major advocate of Dennis Allen, believing the Bears’ defensive coordinator extended his career. Putting an elite physical talent like Thieneman under his guidance feels like a no-brainer.

The results speak for themselves so far. Thieneman leads the Bears with 47 tackles and has added 1.5 sacks and an interception in his first 7 games. He’s been a major factor in almost every win the Bears have had this season. Pretty remarkable considering he doesn’t have Bryant there to help because of a knee injury suffered in August. Kevin Byard may feel a pang of regret at not getting the chance to play with the rookie. They probably could’ve made a fun pairing.

As always, the man is pure class.

It is the biggest reason fans love the man. He was a superb team leader during his short stint with the team and a key piece that helped them get over the hump last season. Without him, the Bears don’t make the playoffs in 2025. He will likely go down in history as one of the team’s folk heroes. Maybe not atop the mountain of franchise greats, but widely appreciated by those who watched him. If Thieneman ends up becoming a star, he’ll also have been among the first actual NFL players to acknowledge it.

There isn’t much time for him to dwell on the past. Byard is on a good team in New England. He should enjoy continued success despite the setback on Thursday night. It will be interesting to see how his prediction on Thieneman unfolds in the coming months. It took a lot to praise what was essentially your replacement like that. Byard remains the gold standard of class in the NFL.

The Chicago Bears took down a surging New England Patriots team on Thursday Night Football. Most of that was because of how well quarterback Caleb Williams played. He finished with over 300 yards passing and 2 touchdowns without an interception. His efficiency was once again at peak levels. There is no way the Bears win that game without him. Drake Maye played too well in his own right to believe that was ever possible. Both quarterbacks made big plays. However, Williams made the biggest ones.

While there were some absurd throws throughout the evening, most agree the one that changed the game came in the 4th quarter. Chicago was nursing a 27-21 lead. New England had them 3rd and 9 from the 10-yard line. A failed conversion would force a punt, giving the Patriots good field position with plenty of time left. Williams had to have it. What followed was an absolute rocket in between four defenders to Rome Odunze for a monumental 1st down. It was so precise that it grazed the outstretched fingers of former Bear Kevin Byard.

Caleb Williams called his shot on that play.

Earlier in the half, Chicago was driving for a potential touchdown. Williams lofted a pass to Odunze in the end zone, but the wide receiver dropped it. He was called for offensive pass interference on the play.

Williams wasn’t discouraged. He sat with Odunze on the bench and talked it out. He gave the receiver encouragement and then immediately told him what would happen next. Williams told him on the next route to run at full speed, but to look for the ball quickly. If done right, he felt he could get the ball to Odunze on the back shoulder, where the defense couldn’t cover. That is precisely how it played out.

Odunze hit the gas over the middle. The New England defender tried to stay in front of him. Caleb Williams saw the window and fired a missile right to the receiver’s back shoulder. Odunze twisted to make a perfect grab for the 1st down. Chicago drove down the field enough to give Cairo Santos a shot at a 58-yard field goal, which he nailed, putting the score at 30-21 with 1:30 left. That sequence decided the game. It’s amazing to think that Williams pinpointed how it would unfold.

Nothing better illustrates the quarterback’s growth.

It is one thing to be able to play the game at a high level. It is another thing to think about the game at a high level. That clip of Williams demonstrates how much he has come to understand football at a fundamental level. He’s starting to see pass patterns like a coach would. This is undoubtedly a benefit of all the work he’s been putting into honing his craft over the past two years. He understood where the window would be if Odunze ran his route as instructed. It worked exactly as intended. From there, all he had to do was deliver a good ball.

When was the last time a Bears quarterback had this strong a grasp on the game? You’d probably have to go all the way back to Jim McMahon to find him, at least from a mental standpoint. Most teammates agreed that his mastery of the Xs and Os was unrivaled. Now, try to imagine what would happen if McMahon had Williams’ talent. You’re starting to see how devastating a weapon that can be.

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams isn’t the type of guy who intentionally stirs up trouble just for the fun of it. While he attracts his fair share of controversies, most of that has nothing to do with what he says. Some people just don’t like him for his life choices. However, from time to time, Williams will do something that he truly believes in that might run afoul of certain people. Something that is 100% intentional. Such a case emerged this week when news dropped that the NFL was levying an $11,000 fine on the quarterback.

Why? There are no instances in which Williams was flagged for unnecessary roughness or any other penalty. He didn’t talk back at the referees. No, this was something centered around the NFL’s weird dress code. Williams has been wearing something called Caddix cleats in recent weeks. It is a specialized shoe that utilizes something called SmartStuds. Unlike regular cleats, these flex and release when players cut or pivot on the field. It is specifically designed to ease pressure on lower-body joints, helping protect against knee and ankle injuries.

However, because they aren’t sponsored by NFL partners Nike or Adidas, they are not allowed. Hence the fine.

It isn’t a surprise Caleb Williams is going in this direction.

His legs are a vital component of his game as a quarterback. He is at his most dangerous when he runs. The smart thing to do is to protect them with the best investments possible. If Caddix cleats are proven to do what they say, it makes all the sense in the world to use them. Don’t forget he just recovered from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for three games. Part of it was because his cleats didn’t handle his mobility as hoped. Williams wasn’t about to come back from that, having done nothing to help prevent it from happening again.

So, of course, the NFL, as it’s done for decades, had to ruin a good thing. It has corporate partnerships to protect. Never mind the actual players who make them all their money in the first place. They’d rather Caleb Williams risk his own health and future by wearing regular cleats rather than anger a couple of shoe companies that wouldn’t dare break their licensing agreement anyway. The interesting part of this is how the quarterback will respond to the fine. He’ll pay it, sure. Will he keep wearing the cleats anyway?

This guy isn’t afraid to take a stance.

He’s shown that plenty of times over the years. Would Williams willingly keep taking the fines just to wear those cleats? According to NFL rules, a second dress code violation results in the original fine being tripled. That means Williams would have to pay over $30,000. The maximum it can go is $100,000, but that’s reserved for wearing unsponsored logos at major events like the Super Bowl. Brian Urlacher got hit with that one for wearing a vitamin-water hat at Super Bowl XLI. Tyreek Hill didn’t wear the right socks for multiple weeks and collected over $100,000 in fines.

It all comes down to how much money Williams is willing to sacrifice. Remember, he’s anything but poor. He is due almost $40 million from his rookie contract with the Bears. That is in addition to the millions he earned in NIL money with Oklahoma and USC in college. He can afford to pay the fines with little concern about his financial well-being. If he is truly determined to wear those cleats, he can take a stand. If nothing else, it would create a public spectacle.

Everybody knows how much the NFL hates those.

Caleb Williams sees it all, and he isn’t hiding behind burner accounts either. He’ll gladly tell you, smiling. The Chicago Bears quarterback may be petty, but the only difference between him and Michael Jordan is that Williams grew up in the social media age.

The haters can call it petty all they want, or say Williams is too online, but the Bears’ star quarterback is showing the same qualities that made Jordan a god in Chicago. The drive and determination have been apparent on the field, as the third-year QB is excelling in Ben Johnson’s offense in year two of their partnership. He’s doing it all, still making explosive plays in and out of the pocket, but the biggest difference so far in the 2026 season is that Williams is taking what the defense gives him.

After his second straight 300-yard passing performance in Thursday’s 30-24 win over the Patriots, Williams is now second in the NFL with a 71% completion percentage.

As Bears fans, we’re also getting to the stage where Williams will get criticized for anything he does because, sadly, as a society, we love tearing everyone around us down. So even if Williams proves himself on the field, we’ll keep seeing the haters pile on, but that’s actually what’s fueled him all this time.

Before his return against the Atlanta Falcons, Williams lashed out at the media, and while his wrath may have been misdirected at some local reporters, he was well within his rights to fight back against the bullshit narratives being spread about him nationally following the hamstring injury that sidelined him for three games.

And like Jordan, Williams doesn’t back down from adversity. He doesn’t shy away from the pressure or the responsibility of being the team leader, the one everyone depends on; Williams knows he is the guy. He wants to be the greatest of all time; he has the killer instinct, and in this day and age, where anyone can spout off, and everyone’s thoughts are a click or tap away, Williams eats it all up.

Barstool Sports owner Dave Portnoy was one of the buffoons taking shots at Williams after he went down against the Minnesota Vikings, and before this week’s matchup against the Patriots, the Boston-based media mogul was stirring things up again. Williams took note, and after beating New England, the Bears’ QB made a point of singling out Portnoy on Instagram.

But that’s nothing new. Williams has gone back at Portnoy on social media, either through direct acknowledgment or that post on Friday. What makes the comps to Jordan stronger is that Williams is now exaggerating, almost inventing hate out of thin air to use for motivation.

Williams was on the Prime postgame show following Thursday night’s win, and he had another viral moment, this time involving Richard Sherman.

“That time off just added a little bit more to me. You know, and I’m gonna keep using, I’m gonna keep bringing that energy, that fire in my eyes. You know, I’m gonna release it to, you know, to my teammates, and hopefully, to the fans; they feel my energy. And hopefully we can get in your top five.”

Williams, smiling ear to ear, looked right at Sherman when he made that comment about getting into your top five. The Super Bowl champion and five-time pro bowler joked that Williams watches his podcast.

It’s no joke for Williams, though, because he won’t back down from anyone. He sees it all.

Funny thing is, before Thursday night’s game at Soldier Field, Sherman ranked his top five NFL teams, and the Bears were on his list, as he also predicted a Chicago win over New England.

Huh, who else would exaggerate or invent slights to stoke their own fire?

You can call it petty all you want. Maybe you think Caleb Williams is too worried about what people say, or that he spends too much time on social media, but if that’s what he needs to get motivated, then more power to him.

We finally have a star quarterback. A guy who has been preparing to become an NFL quarterback since he was 10-years-old. He has the ultimate hyper-competitive gene that all the greats have. He hates losing as much as he enjoys winning. He welcomes the hate. He wants the shit-talking. He wants to be the greatest of all time.

Caleb Williams isn’t a moody teenager. He’s following in the footsteps of Chicago’s greatest athlete.

At 5-2, it feels almost like a foregone conclusion at this point that the Chicago Bears will be active at the trade deadline. They have a good team that is ready to compete. It feels like they just need one more push at a key position to prepare themselves for a dogfight in the NFC playoffs. The trade deadline arrives on November 10th this year. General manager Ryan Poles has never been afraid to make deals. It always comes down to who is available and what the team is looking for. Will the market yield a big swing, or will the Bears play it cheap?

Bill Barnwell of ESPN isn’t convinced Poles is prepared to go all in. While it would certainly create tons of excitement, the Bears aren’t really in a position to do that. Their cap space is limited, and they don’t have extra draft picks to spare. If they do make a move, it will likely be for a quality depth piece rather than a front-line starter. Barnwell believes the name to watch in that regard is veteran Anthony Nelson, currently with the struggling Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Chicago Bears get: Edge Anthony Nelson, 2027 seventh-round pick.

Buccaneers get: 2027 sixth-round pick

Nelson represents reasonable depth behind Odeyingbo, Sweat and Austin Booker, who leads the Bears with four sacks. Nelson has been a rotational player for most of his time with Tampa Bay, but the signing of Al-Quadin Muhammad, the selection of Rueben Bain Jr. in the first round of this year’s draft and the surprising emergence of second-year pro David Walker has kept Nelson off the field. The 29-year-old has played just 12 of 139 possible defensive snaps over the past two weeks for the 1-5 Bucs.

In addition, Nelson will make about $2.7 million over the rest of the season, which isn’t going to be very appealing to the Bucs if he’s taking most of his snaps on special teams. A competitive Bears team could integrate Nelson into the roster as the fourth edge rusher on game days.

The Chicago Bears would at least be getting a gritty player.

Nelson is your classic blue-collar NFL story. He arrived as a 4th-round pick in 2019 and has been a steady, dependable presence over the past 8 years. It hasn’t been through electric production. Nelson has never had more than 5.5 sacks in a season. That isn’t his game. He’s a power rusher who also serves as a solid run defender on the edge. At 6’7″ and 270 lbs, he certainly has the size and length that Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen prefers. Allen also knows Nelson from going against him for years when he was with the New Orleans Saints.

Is this the move Chicago Bears fans are hoping for? No. Not even close. Nelson is a decent player who can fill the role of a fourth edge defender perfectly well. The problem is that it won’t move the needle for this defense. It feels more like a move just to say you made a move. That is not good business practice. The entire point of the trade deadline is taking a swing to get better at the top, not on the margins. Nelson doesn’t offer anything the Bears don’t already have. He’d be just another body.

If the Bears won’t take a swing, it’s better to stand pat.

They have a good team that looks capable of competing in the playoffs. It’s not like they’re desperate for help. There is no rule that they have to make a move at the deadline. It is merely felt that one more piece could give them that decisive edge in a stretch of games that are always decided by razor-thin margins. Don’t forget the Bears are in the NFL’s toughest division. Every team has a winning record. Minnesota and Green Bay already beat them once. Some reinforcements might be needed for the rematches.

Poles hasn’t taken a big swing since 2023 when he got Montez Sweat from Washington for a 2nd round pick. Every trade made since then has been in the minor category, going for no more than a 4th round pick. Fans are giving him a green light to do it this time. Go for the home run. Settling for someone like Nelson won’t give this team any sort of added advantage.