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George McCaskey Savagely Burned Eagles Fan On Flight To Philadelphia

By
Erik Lambert
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george mccaskey
Bears chairman George McCaskey celebrates after the team pulls off a comeback victory in Cincinnati

Chicago Bears fans know George McCaskey well by this point. He is now the principal owner of the franchise following the death of his mother, Virginia. His reputation is that of a well-meaning family man who tries to do right by the franchise but has a tendency to make poor decisions. The past decade provides a wealth of evidence to support this. Chicago has endure four head coach and three GM changes since he took over in 2011. The Bears just achieved their third winning record in that span on Friday.

Fans have a complicated relationship with McCaskey. Still, he’s never come across as anything but determined to make the fan experience great. That approach has made it easy to overlook the somewhat cheekier side. McCaskey isn’t known for outlandish quotes, but it appears he finds a way to let fans of opposing teams have it when the situation arises. Apparently, the Bears’ owner got into a bit of a debate on a flight to Philadelphia with an Eagles fan and her husband.

McCaskey gave her a souvenir.

George McCaskey is a master of the subtle burns.

Calling somebody delusional or stupid is all fine and good. For some reason, little digs like that sting even more. If nothing else, you have to love George McCaskey being a good sport about it. Most owners wouldn’t even bother riding in the same plane with fans. They’d just have their own private plane. McCaskey is a man of the people. No owner is more involved with folks on the ground than he is. He regularly walks through tailgates, greeting fans and speaking to them. His charity work is highly-regarded. Say what you want about his football decisions, you can’t say he’s not committed.

This was a rare moment for him to have some fun. The Bears have been bad for a long time. Now that they’re good, he was able to puff out his chest a little bit. It didn’t look like a bad move either, as his team went on to crush the Eagles 24-15 later that day.

Cubs Free Agent Target Signs 2-Year Deal

By
Aldo Soto
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Aug 1, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets relief pitcher Ryan Helsley (56) pitches against the San Francisco Giants during the ninth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Chicago Cubs free agent target Ryan Helsley has reportedly signed a two-year deal with the Baltimore Orioles. There was brief speculation that the hard-throwing reliever was receiving interest from some teams as a potential starting pitcher, but the former NL saves leader and two-time All-Star appears to be the new closer for the Orioles.

This seems like the price range the Cubs could have been willing to go to as Helsley agreed to a shorter term contract that does include a player option. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Orioles have given the right-handed reliever the opportunity to opt out after the first year of the contract.

Jon Heyman reports that Helsley can earn up to $28 million guaranteed over two years.

So, you can now cross off Helsley from the Cubs’ wishlist. Other names that have been linked to the Cubs so far this offseason include Devin Williams, Pete Fairbanks and Evan Phillips.

(Previous Update)

Actions ultimately speak louder than words, but if you want to feel even more optimistic about the Cubs’ offseason following the signing of Phil Maton, then these rumored free agent targets should be encouraging. We have already seen the Cubs linked to free agent closers Pete Fairbanks and Devin Williams, while rehabbing reliever Evan Phillips also appears to be on the team’s radar, and now you can add Ryan Helsley to the Cubs’ wishlist.

In the midst of revisiting last year’s trade for Kyle Tucker, The Athletic’s Patrick Mooney dropped a bit of juicy free agent buzz on Tuesday as he officially connected Helsley to the Cubs.

Via The Athletic.

The Cubs are also among the teams showing interest in free agent Ryan Helsley, according to a league source. Helsley, a two-time All-Star reliever, notched 105 saves over his career with the St. Louis Cardinals, though he has also intrigued clubs as a starter.

Helsley was a stud with the St. Louis Cardinals and before he was traded to the New York Mets last summer he recorded 70 saves in 79 opportunities in 1.5 seasons with the Cubs’ division rival. The hard-throwing reliever was first called up by St. Louis in 2019, worked in middle relief before he was trusted in high-leverage spots. Then, Helsley took off in 2022, when he had a 1.25 ERA with 94 strikeouts in 64.2 innings.

From 2022-25, Helsley posted a 2.49 ERA, saved 103 games and recorded a 31.9 K% in 223.2 innings.

Dominant stuff from Helsley, who is one of the hardest-throwing relievers in MLB. His 99.3mph fastball ranked fifth among all qualified relievers during the 2025 season and he also averaged 88.8mph on his slider. The Cubs finally had someone in the bullpen with firepower this past season with Daniel Palencia, but the more the merrier.

However, there’s that whole Mets disaster that happened after the trade deadline. Helsley was having another strong season with the Cardinals before he was dealt at the trade deadline. In his last 22 appearances of the season Helsley had a 7.20 ERA in 20 innings as he also saw his strikeout rate decline and his walk rate inflate, while also getting crushed.

I mean, this wasn’t Helsley running into bad luck with the Mets. Opposing batters had a slash line of .301/.379/.554, against Helsley, who had previously held hitters to a .199 batting average while he pitched for the Cardinals. However, it sounds like those struggles with the Mets were caused by the Mets.

Helsley was tipping his pitches and that happened after the Mets suggested an adjustment with his set up on the mound.

Via The Athletic.

Helsley’s tell came from his hand position as he was becoming set. Throughout his career, Helsley would come set with his hands high. The Mets suggested changing his positioning and keeping his hands closer to his chest. But making an in-season adjustment — especially in the big leagues — does not always come easy, especially when the results aren’t following.

So, that’s certainly a valid explanation for his struggles and considering his long track of success I wouldn’t be all too concerned about his stint with the Mets.

It won’t be easy for the Cubs to sign Helsley because he’s been one of the most popular free agent relievers on the market. Katie Woo reported that about half the league has expressed interest in the two-time All-Star and 2024 NL Reliever of the Year.

Plus, there are some teams that are reportedly interested in converting Helsley into a starting pitcher, which would increase his price for other potential suitors in free agency.

It’s still relatively early in free agency and signings probably won’t pick up until the Winter Meetings in December, but for the first time under Jed Hoyer’s leadership the Cubs are seemingly targeting several high-end relief pitchers. Maybe it isn’t all too surprising, considering the Cubs did go after Tanner Scott last offseason before he ended up with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

So, we’ll see how serious the Cubs are with these pursuits, but they reportedly have a pretty good list of free agent relievers on their radar this offseason.

The Chicago Bulls Have Reached A New Level Of Historically Bad

By
Ryan Dauterive
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Nov 24, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (3) on a time out against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Last night, the Chicago Bulls were eliminated from NBA Cup contention. The Hornets improved to 5-14 on the season and ended a seven-game losing streak with a home victory. This is the third time in seven outings that Chicago has fallen to an opponent with six or fewer wins on the year, and their second in a row after being throttled by the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night. After a stellar start to the 2025-26 campaign that turned heads leaguewide, the Bulls have flipped 180 degrees and have become the laughing stock of the NBA.

Historically Bad Defense

To begin the year, the Bulls were inside the top ten in points allowed, field goal percentage surrendered, and defensive rating. Starting with November 7th’s loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, this took a significant turn for the worse. Since then, they’ve been the worst defensive team in the NBA, with a 3-8 record over the last 11 games. They suddenly forgot how to limit teams to under 120 points, to depths more extreme than any team in NBA history.

The interesting part of Chicago’s downfall is that the addition of one player triggered the decline. While Coby White has been amazing offensively and one of the best and most consistent offensive weapons, the defense as a unit has taken a steep fall since his arrival. With his rightfully earned minutes, it’s forced Ayo Dosunmu, Isaac Okoro, Tre Jones, and Dalen Terry to see the floor for fewer minutes, and this has converted into a drastically worsened defensive product. The biggest issue defensively remains the rim-protection, which boils down to Nikola Vucevic being one of the least effective and dynamic defenders leaguewide.

Vucevic Needs To Go

The Bulls have made an effort to get smaller, more athletic, and faster as a group. In doing so, they’ve sacrificed size, strength, and an inside presence. With Matas Buzelis and Patrick Williams occupying the four spot, most matchups are bigger, stronger, and overpower Chicago’s smaller wingmen. Accompanying an undersized power forward with one of the league’s slowest, least athletic, and worst defending centers in the game has been a recipe for disaster.

Chicago ranks third-worst in the NBA in points allowed at 124.2 per night. They’re allowing a higher field goal and three-point percentage than the league average, and they surrender the most points in the paint, courtesy of Vucevic and their undersized power forwards.

After excitement was building through the first dozen games of the season, things have gone from bad to worse this week in Chicago. Can Billy Donovan identify and rectify the horrendous defensive efforts, or will the Bulls drag their way to a lottery selection in the 2026 NBA Draft?

White Sox Need To Sign Ace Poised For A Bounce Back Year

By
Craig Rowland
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Sep 20, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen (23) pitches against the Philadelphia Phillies during the third inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

The White Sox had a significant improvement from 2024-2025, as they won 19 more games this past season. This was solid progress, as they looked like a much more competent baseball team. This improvement was due to a lot of factors, but most importantly, contributions from their top prospects.

This sets the White Sox up for continued improvement throughout the organization in 2026, as they will have another top draft pick and room to add players from outside the organization. Despite the White Sox being one step closer to contention, they should not stop adding low-risk, high-reward players, as it is likely they won’t be in the hunt for the playoffs this season. These acquisitions could come in the form of former top-100 prospects who haven’t gotten much playing time with their current organization or have bounced around a few teams.

There has already been one move like that this offseason, as the White Sox acquired former top-100 prospect Everson Pereira from the Tampa Bay Rays. This is a high-upside move, as the White Sox could tap into the talent that made Pereira a top-100 prospect and into a valuable middle of the order bat.

When looking at the free agent market, there are a few players that stand out as potential fits for the White Sox this season. One of those players is former Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zac Gallen.

Gallen has had a very good career to this point. Since coming up in 2019, Gallen has been top-10 in Cy Young voting three times and has been to one all-star game. He also lead the league in WHIP and hits per nine innings in 2022.

Overall, Gallen has a 3.58 ERA over 1,000 innings in the major leagues. He has a career 1.1 WHIP, a 9.5 K/9 ratio, and a 2.9 BB/9 ratio. These are very good numbers and he is heading into his age 30 season. There should be plenty left in the tank.

Gallen appeared to be headed to a huge payday heading into the this offseason, but he had a very uncharacteristic 2025 season. In 192 innings, Gallen had a 4.83 ERA with a 1.260 WHIP. This was not a typical season for Gallen, as he was getting hit around a lot more.

This performance could make teams hesitant to give him a long term deal, as his 2024 season was solid but not as good as his best years in the years prior. Gallen could look to rebound his value with another team, and the White Sox could be the perfect fit.

The White Sox need a veteran starting pitcher and Gallen could slide right in the rotation, giving the team close to 200 innings. Gallen may not want a long term deal based on his current value, so the White Sox could give him some value on a one year deal with an option, similar to what they did with Martin Perez.

Gallen has proven to be an ace, he is simply coming off a random down year. The White Sox won’t likely be pushing for the playoffs, so Gallen can go out there every five days and not have the extra stress that a team pushing for the World Series would have. If Gallen has a good year, he could be traded at the deadline, or cash in after the 2026 season while he is just 31 years old.

I expect the White Sox to add a veteran starting pitcher and Gallen could be the perfect buy-low option. At the very least he will eat up innings and has frontline starter potential, as seen by his 2020-2023 seasons. We will see how much Gallen ends up getting, but I don’t see him getting 100 million plus at this point, so the White Sox should be kicking the tires on Gallen.

We Finally Got Darnell Wright Vs. Jalen Carter. It Went Poorly For Carter

By
Erik Lambert
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darnell wright

It was one of the biggest draft debates Chicago Bears fans have endured in years. Jalen Carter was considered one of the elite prospects in the 2023 draft. He was that ultra-rare interior pass rusher teams dream about: big, strong, and explosive. When he was revved up, he was unblockable. There was one problem. Serious concerns persisted about his maturity and whether he could stay out of trouble, given his multiple incidents in college. He’d be such a great fit for the Bears’ defense, but also a huge risk. Besides, GM Ryan Poles knew his team’s offensive line was in a bad state. They needed help. Ultimately, he zeroed in on giant Tennessee right tackle Darnell Wright.

Chicago swapped spots with the Philadelphia Eagles, who took Carter.

Since then, the debate has raged for three years about who got the better end of the deal. Carter staked his case in 2024, collecting 4.5 sacks and 16 QB hits as the Eagles won the Super Bowl. However, Wright steadily developed into one of the best right tackles in football. At last, on Friday night in Philadelphia, the two met for the first time. It didn’t go well for Carter.

Wright stole his lunch money all night.

Darnell Wright was unimpressed with Carter.

The defensive lineman had no answers against the Bears tackle in pass rush situations and was an outright liability in run defense. Chicago ran at him all night and kept finding open lanes. Darnell Wright finished allowing only two pressures on the quarterback in 40 snaps and a 73 run-blocking grade, which was the highest on the team. Carter had a sack, but had little impact outside of that. At least for one game, the Bears proved to everybody they made the right decision over two years ago.

Wright is the anchor for one of the best offensive lines in the NFL. He’s on course for his first potential Pro Bowl nod. Carter has regressed from his great season last year, even getting suspended for spitting on somebody, which brings back those maturity issues. Both players are on course for good careers, but one thing can be put to bed. The Bears do not regret their choice.

Eagles Head Coach Admits Shocking Truth About the Bears

By
Dave
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Nov 28, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni speaks with Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson after the game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

The Bears walked into one of the toughest environments in football and took the Eagles soul on Sunday. From the first drive to the last whistle, Chicago imposed its physical brand of football, controlling the tempo, dominating the trenches, and showcasing a run game that has become downright terrifying. Philly knew the Bears were good. But they didn’t know they were this good.

@dave_bfr

Bears have the BEST run game in the NFL. #chicagobears #nfl #benjohnson #foryoupage #calebwilliams

♬ original sound – Dave

Chicago’s rushing attack has evolved into a full-blown identity. Kyle Monangai, D’Andre Swift, and Caleb Williams each contributed to a ground game that Philly simply couldn’t stop. When a team known for toughness gets bullied on its own field, it means something—and Sirianni’s postgame admission proved the Eagles felt every bit of it.

“They out coached us, they out played us.”

This performance didn’t come out of nowhere. Head coach Ben Johnson has repeatedly promised that the Bears would play their best football starting in December. But after going 5-0 in November, it looks like Chicago is ahead of schedule. The Eagles reaction—especially Sirianni acknowledging how badly they were beaten—indirectly validated just how dangerous the Bears have become.

The Bears didn’t just beat Philadelphia. They earned their respect. And now the rest of the NFL has officially been put on notice: Chicago is arriving early.

The Chicago Bears Just Proved They’re Contenders

5 Wild Stats That Show the Bears Just Punked the Eagles

By
Ficky
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Nov 28, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) and running back Kyle Monangai (25) celebrate after scoring a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during the fourth quarter of the game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Don’t let the final score fool you — the Chicago Bears didn’t just beat the defending NFC champs on Black Friday, they snatched their soul, stomped on it at midfield, and waved to the crowd while doing it. This 24-15 win over Philly wasn’t your run-of-the-mill upset. It was a declaration of dominance — with receipts.

Let’s break down the 5 craziest stats from a game that felt like the Bears sent a message with brass knuckles.

1. Swift and Monangai Pulled a Walter Payton Throwback

You’ve gotta go all the way back to the damn Super Bowl XX season to find the last time two Bears backs went over 100 yards in the same game. That’s 1985 — when Walter Payton and Matt Suhey were trucking dudes into submission. Fast forward to Week 13, and it’s D’Andre Swift (125 yards, 1 TD) and Kyle Monangai (130 yards, 1 TD) clowning the Eagles’ so-called front seven.

The Bears racked up 281 rushing yards on 47 carries — that’s 6.0 yards per tote. In the NFL, that’s not a run game — that’s a full-blown mugging.

This wasn’t fluky. It was a systematic demolition that Philly never adjusted to. And doing it on a short week, on national TV? Chef’s kiss.

2. The Tush Push Got Pushed Back

Since 2022, the Eagles’ Tush Push had been more inevitable than death and taxes. Not anymore.

Nahshon Wright saw that play coming and straight-up snatched Jalen Hurts’ soul. Wright ripped the ball out on a 4th-and-short at the Bears’ 12, flipping momentum harder than a kick return in Madden.

He’s only the second player in NFL history to force a turnover on that play. Think about that. The league has tried to stop this thing for years. Nahshon Wright said, “Nah. Not today.”

Ben Johnson called it the turning point of the game. He’s not wrong — Philly was about to take the lead. Instead, Chicago took their will.

3. Eagles Got Steamrolled Like It Was 2005

Philly hadn’t let a single running back top 100 yards all season. Enter Swift. Exit pride.

D’Andre Swift became the first RB all year to eclipse 100 yards on this Eagles defense. Oh, and Monangai did it too.

That makes the Bears just the second team in the Super Bowl era to drop two 100-yard rushers on Philly in the same game. The last? The 2005 Broncos. That’s two decades of “nope” — shattered on a cold afternoon by Chicago’s new thunder and lightning combo.

4. Nahshon Wright > Entire Defenses

Eight. Takeaways.

That’s Nahshon Wright’s 2025 stat line after his fumble recovery against Hurts. Five picks, three fumble recovers. For a guy who started the year as a backup? That’s bonkers.

To put that in perspective: Wright has more takeaways than the ENTIRE DEFENSES of the Giants, Commanders, and Jets. Individually. That’s not even counting Kevin Byard, who leads the league in picks with six.

Together, they’ve turned the Bears into turnover tycoons — leading the NFL with 26 takeaways. And this is a team people thought would finish third in the North.

5. Kyle Monangai Is Walter Payton Rookie Rare

Four straight games. Four straight rushing TDs.

That puts Kyle Monangai in a very exclusive Bears rookie club: just him, Jeremy Langford, and Walter Payton. Not bad company for a seventh-round pick from Rutgers.

And it’s not just the scoring — the kid has zero career fumbles across 669 college and NFL carries. He’s the kind of back who gives you clock control, red zone punch, and no damn turnovers. Exactly what this team needed to take control of the NFC North.

Final Verdict

These aren’t just numbers. They’re evidence of a team that bullied Philly for four quarters. Ben Johnson’s offense has won 9 of its last 10 and looks like a playoff nightmare no one wants to deal with.

Next up? Green Bay. In Lambeau. For the NFC North crown.

Let’s f***ing go.

White Sox Should Bet On This High Upside Arm In Free Agency

By
Craig Rowland
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Sep 3, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Dustin May (85) reacts after a fly out left field to end the bottom of the seventh inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images

The White Sox had a significant improvement from 2024-2025, as they won 19 more games this past season. This was solid progress, as they looked like a much more competent baseball team. This improvement was due to a lot of factors, but most importantly, contributions from their top prospects.

This sets the White Sox up for continued improvement throughout the organization in 2026, as they will have another top draft pick and room to add players from outside the organization. Despite the White Sox being one step closer to contention, they should not stop adding low-risk, high-reward players, as it is likely they won’t be in the hunt for the playoffs this season. These acquisitions could come in the form of former top-100 prospects who haven’t gotten much playing time with their current organization or have bounced around a few teams.

There has already been one move like that this offseason, as the White Sox acquired former top-100 prospect Everson Pereira from the Tampa Bay Rays. This is a high-upside move, as the White Sox could tap into the talent that made Pereira a top-100 prospect and into a valuable middle of the order bat.

When looking at the free agent market, there are a few players that stand out as potential fits for the White Sox this season. One of those players is former Los Angeles Dodger and Boston Red Sox starting pitcher, Dustin May.

May has had a very interesting major league career to this point. Prior to making his debut, he was a consensus top prospect across most baseball media outlets. May did not disappoint, as in 2019, when he made his major league debut, he threw 34 innings of 3.63 ERA baseball.

After 2019, May had a very good shortened 2020 season, as he came in 5th place in the Rookie of the Year voting. He posted a 2.57 ERA over 56 innings, with a very good 1.089 WHIP and 44 strikeouts to just 16 walks. This was a great start to his MLB career, as you couldn’t have asked for much more.

Unfortunately for May, the injury bug has hit him hard. Prior to the 2025 campaign, he has not thrown more than 48 innings in a season, while completely missing the 2024 season. This has been a tough break for May, but he stayed mostly healthy in 2025.

After missing a significant amount of time, it was expected that 2025 would be a bit rougher than most of his other seasons. May was able to throw 104 innings with the Dodgers prior to the trade deadline, pitching to a 4.85 ERA with a 1.3 WHIP. He struck out 97 batters while walking 46. The Dodgers then traded him to the Red Sox at the deadline.

May didn’t fare much better with the Red Sox, as he had a 5.40 ERA in 28 innings. Now May is a free agent and is able to sign with any baseball team. Looking forward, he could be the perfect addition to the White Sox pitching staff.

According to Spotrac, May’s market value is sitting at just under four million dollars. This is right in the price range for the White Sox, as May will likely want to sign a short term deal to build his value back up.

May is just 28 years old so he is still pretty young. He has been a very successful MLB pitcher for most of his career when he is on the field. The main problem for him has just been staying healthy and on the field. The White Sox and May could be a good fit, as May could eat a ton of low stress innings while rebuilding his value.

If May could stay healthy for the White Sox, he could earn himself a big payday in 2027. Additionally, if he has a strong first half, the White Sox could flip him at the deadline to a contender. The White Sox could use a veteran in their rotation and May could fit that role perfectly. There will be very few pitchers with May’s upside that won’t cost the White Sox a ton of money in free agency. Signing May could be a huge win-win for both parties.

Detroit Fans Are Spiraling After Watching Ben Johnson Crush The Eagles

By
Erik Lambert
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ben johnson
Nov 28, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni speaks with Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson after the game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

On November 16th, the Detroit Lions went into Lincoln Financial Field against the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles. They had reasons to feel confident. They’d won six of their last eight games and crushed Washington 44-22 the previous week. A win against the champs would put them in the driver’s seat for the top NFC playoff seed. Instead, their offense faltered, managing just 74 rushing yards and nine points. What stood out was the inability to adjust to the Eagles’ defensive tactics. This had not been a problem in years past. For the first time, dread started to creep in. Maybe Ben Johnson was more important than they realized.

Everything felt great after Detroit crushed the Chicago Bears 52-21 in September. The offense clicked. Johnson was humbled. They had the talent. Coaching was secondary. So try to imagine what went through the heads of Lions fans when the Bears went into Philadelphia and stunned the Eagles 24-15, capped by 281 rushing yards. It was a straight ass-kicking.

Don’t bother. Detroit fans made their feelings crystal clear all over Twitter (X) after the game. To say they’re spiraling would be a gross understatement.

Ben Johnson is merely the latest in a familiar NFL lesson.

When you have great success in this league, it will come with a price. That price is watching great assistant coaches get poached by other teams. It happens everywhere. Either you learn to handle it, or it will ruin what you’ve built. Detroit always knew it was on borrowed time with Ben Johnson. They had a decision to make. They either prepare for his inevitable departure or they fire head coach Dan Campbell and put Johnson in his place. The latter was not something they could do without a massive firestorm of criticism. Firing a guy who got you to an NFC championship and the best record in franchise history? Impossible.

Unfortunately, they didn’t go with the former either. It never felt like Detroit groomed a suitable replacement or had a proven option they wanted to pursue. They went with John Morton, who didn’t have the greatest background calling plays. Now they’re paying for that lack of foresight.

CJ Gardner-Johnson Trashed Eagles Not Once But Twice After Bears Win

By
Erik Lambert
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cj gardner-johnson

It was only a matter of time. CJ Gardner-Johnson came in with a reputation for trash talk. People had seen it develop into a lethal weapon during his time with the New Orleans Saints and persist through his stops with other teams, such as Detroit and Philadelphia. One had to imagine he was looking forward to Friday’s game against the Eagles. After all, he’d grabbed six interceptions for them last year, helping secure a Super Bowl title. They then turned around and traded him to Houston in the offseason.

You can imagine he wasn’t happy about that. Normally, you should be rewarded for outstanding play. It’s almost like he was punished. Needless to say, Gardner-Johnson was eager to get a shot at his former team. He played well, notching three tackles and a QB hit while the defense allowed just 15 points. When the Bears secured their 24-15 upset, the defensive back couldn’t hold it any longer. He started talking. It started on the walk back to the locker room.

Video shows him declaring to cameras that he said before the game he knew the Eagles would fold.

Gardner-Johnson wasn’t done.

Jaylon Johnson was speaking to former players Emmanuel Acho and LeSean McCoy on their Speakeasy show. The cornerback then put Gardner-Johnson on screen. McCoy immediately said he’d told everybody the Eagles never should’ve traded him. Then the former running back asked if Philadelphia’s was easy to predict. The response said it all.

CJ Gardner-Johnson got the last laugh.

The Eagles thought they were getting rid of a nuisance. In truth, they were unloading one of their most vocal defensive leaders. CJ Gardner-Johnson might be a pest at times, but nobody can deny his passion for the game and desire to win. It’s probably not a coincidence that every team he’s played for has been successful. Philadelphia assumed they could trade him and have no issue replacing his production. They didn’t stop to think that they were losing more than that.

Gardner-Johnson was one of the few players on that defense who was willing to openly challenge teammates, pushing them to be better. He brought a swagger and confidence that was infectious. You don’t replace that easily. Philadelphia went to the Super Bowl in 2022 with him. After letting him walk in 2023, they stumbled to a first round playoff exit. Last year, they brought him back and won the Super Bowl. Now, after ditching him again, they’re showing signs of crumbling.

Meanwhile, the Bears are undefeated since he joined the team.

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