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White Sox Non-Tender Tauchman, Two Others In Suprise Move

By
Mitchell Kaminski
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May 31, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Chicago White Sox outfielder Mike Tauchman (18) looks on before a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

Despite a solid 2025 campaign, the White Sox non-tendered outfielder Mike Tauchman. 

Tauchman was one of three players to be non-tendered by the White Sox, joining left-handed reliever Cam Booser and first baseman Tim Elko. Instead, the team agreed to terms on a one-year contract with outfielder Derek Hill for $900,000. 

The White Sox claimed Hill off waivers from the Marlins in September. The 29-year-old has appeared in 218 games across six MLB seasons, owning a career .229/.277/.347 slash line.  

The decision to non-tender Tauchman was a curious one for several reasons. White Sox general manager Chris Getz said that adding corner outfield help was a priority this offseason, and Tauchman was coming off a season that saw him post the second-highest WRC+ of his career with a 115 mark, 15% better than league average at the plate. 

The White Sox signed the 34-year-old outfielder to a one-year deal worth $1.95 million last offseason and got their money’s worth after the Palatine native slashed .263/.356/.400 with eight homers and 39 RBIs across 93 games. 

Tauchman also brought significant value to a young White Sox roster. He has proven himself as a reliable role player on contending teams, consistently works quality at-bats, and provides steady outfield defense. Off the field, he was nominated for the Roberto Clemente Award in recognition of his community involvement, philanthropy, and exemplary character.

However, there were injury concerns with the Bradley alumni that may have factored into the decision. 

Despite spending much of the season in a platoon role, Tauchman was hampered by injuries. On March 27th, he landed on the 10-day IL with a right hamstring strain. In April, he reinjured the same hamstring in a 3-2 loss at Cleveland, pulling up lame while attempting to score the tying run before being tagged out at the plate. That resulted in another lengthy IL stint that kept him out of the lineup until late May. 

After the season, he underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee, but was not expected to have any significant setbacks this offseason. The move could signal that Getz would like to give his new trade acquisition, Everson Pereira more of an extended look in right field. 

As for Booser and Elko, the moves did not come as much of a surprise. 

Elko’s future with the White Sox was in jeopardy when he underwent surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right knee, the same knee he injured during his college career at Ole Miss in 2021.

Since getting drafted, Elko has performed well in the minor leagues, hitting .289 with 77 homers and 265 RBIs across four seasons. The 26-year-old finally made his MLB debut on March 10th. But despite the White Sox having a hole at first base, Elko struggled to stick in the major leagues. 

He appeared in just 23 games, slashing .134/.194/.328 with four homers and eight RBIs during the limited sample size. After the surgery, he was looking at an eight-month recovery time. 

Booser posted a 5.52 ERA in 31 innings this past season. He appeared in 39 games for the White Sox but also pitched in 16 games in Triple-A Charlotte, where he owned a 7.36 ERA in 14.2 innings of work.

The Chicago Bears Latest Nightmare Scenario Just Became Official

By
Erik Lambert
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chicago bears
Chicago Bears linebackers T.J. Edwards (53) and Tremaine Edmunds (49) celebrate an interception of a pass intended for Detroit Lions receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones during the first half at Ford Field, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023.

There is no longer a question that the Chicago Bears are enduring one of the worst and most unusual injury plagues in recent franchise history. Rather than spread across most of the roster, it seems to have centered around the entire defense. Yet that isn’t the craziest part. It is that the waves of losses seem to take out entire position groups at a time. First, it was cornerbacks, with Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon, and Tyrique Stevenson all missing the same game at least once. Now it’s the linebackers.

T.J. Edwards has missed much of the season with various ailments, particularly a hamstring problem. This week, he was joined by fellow starters Tremaine Edmunds and Noah Sewell. It was quietly hoped that at least one of them might be able to give it a go against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Friday’s update dashed those wishes. All three players are out, meaning the Bears will be trotting a full slate of backups against Aaron Rodgers at Soldier Field. The injustice of it all seems painfully familiar.

The Chicago Bears defense needs a minor miracle.

Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen has worked wonders with this patchwork unit all year, generating the most takeaways in the NFL. Unfortunately, the last time he saw an entire section of his starting unit removed was in Baltimore, where the Chicago Bears gave up 30 points in a loss. That was against backup Tyler Huntley. Even at his advanced age, Rodgers is still more dangerous. Pittsburgh is almost certain to attack the middle of the field in this game, capitalizing on the linebacker crisis. D’Marco Jackson and Ruben Hyppolite don’t instill fear in anybody.

Jackson at least has knowledge of the defense, having played under Allen in New Orleans for two years. Yet this is a challenge he’s never faced before. Pittsburgh will likely look to run the ball a lot and feature their tight ends. Allen must try to counter by utilizing his mostly healthy secondary to create some exotic looks. If he can keep the Steelers to around 24 points, the Bears offense should be able to capitalize.

D’Andre Swift Resurgence Apparently Has Experts Stunned

By
Erik Lambert
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d'andre swift
Oct 26, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift (4) rushes during the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

People were really upset when the Chicago Bears concluded their offseason without a significant addition at running back. Only Kyle Monangai, a 7th round pick, was added. That meant D’Andre Swift would be the starter for another season, barring an unexpected move. It made no sense. The running back had averaged 3.8 yards per carry in 2024. Everybody knew about his limitations, particularly regarding his size (5’8 “, 204 lbs) and vision. Head coach Ben Johnson had already signed off on trading him a few years back in Detroit. Why choose to stay the course now?

Those concerns seemed well-founded through the first month of the season. Swift averaged just 3.3 yards per carry, on track for the worst of his career. Then a miracle happened. The Bears’ running game emerged from the bye week completely different, and Swift was at the forefront. He is now averaging 5.7 yards per carry in the past five games, leaving experts baffled. Nate Tice of Yahoo Sports summed it up perfectly. What Johnson and his staff are doing is nothing short of a coaching masterclass.

It’s the most efficient run game in the NFL right now, and arguably the best Bears offense of this millennium, if not longer, that can also generate big gains with regularity. And they’re doing it with D’Andre Swift — a running back with what I’ll call “iffy” vision as a runner — and a seventh-round rookie in Kyle Monangai.

Not only are Johnson and offensive line coach Dan Roushar molding their offense to fit their blockers, they’re running plays that fit their rushers, too. Swift is a good athlete who can struggle to read plays between the tackles, so the Bears started to work more runs to the outside with toss zone plays and windback concepts.

D’Andre Swift serves as an important reminder about the NFL.

A player struggling doesn’t always mean he’s worthless. Many times in this league, it is often the case that the coaches do not use him correctly. We saw that after Leonard Floyd left Chicago to join the Rams, where he immediately became a productive pass rusher. That has become the case for D’Andre Swift. Johnson recognized what they were asking the running back to do wasn’t working. So they spent the bye week pinpointing what plays worked best for him and redesigned the offense around that.

This is what having a competent head coach is like. Previous Bears coaches never would’ve done something like that. They would’ve just kept asking Swift to stick with the plan or benched him for somebody else. Not Johnson. He had no intention of wasting a valuable resource. Adjusting the scheme was far easier. Now the Bears keep benefitting.

There’s A New Trendy Pick for Cubs to Sign in Free Agency

By
Aldo Soto
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Oct 1, 2024; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres pitcher Michael King (34) walks off the field after the sixth inning against the Atlanta Braves in game one of the Wildcard round for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

Now that Shōta Imanaga has accepted the qualifying offer from the Chicago Cubs and is returning for the 2026 season with a guaranteed $22.05 million salary fans are speculating how the team will act in free agency as the Cubs search for more pitching help. As always, money seems to be a factor for the Cubs and while there have been more reports of increased aggressiveness from the front office this winter there’s also no denying that Imanaga’s decision will have some effect on the team’s offseason activity.

With or without Imanaga in the rotation the Cubs still need to add another quality starting pitcher. The trade market may be slow to develop during the next few months, while this year’s free agent class is filled with several pitchers who can upgrade the Cubs’ pitching staff.

Dylan Cease was a popular free agent who was being talked about early on in the offseason as a potential target and while the hard-throwing righty is still a possibility there’s a new, trendy pick in free agency that has seen his name pop up more heavily this week in Cubs’ circles.

Top free agent target for the Cubs, Michael King?

Cubs reporters seem to think so or at least that’s the name they’ve been talking about the most this week as teams have been actively re-shaping their rosters following the Rule 5 draft protections and non-tender deadlines. The Cubs now have clarity with Imanaga back in the fold and with his salary commitment beat reporters are now focusing in on free agent Michael King as the big pitching upgrade.

First, The Athletic’s Cubs beat writers Sahadev Sharma and Patrick Mooney wrote the following as the pair of reports discussed the team’s options this offseason to improve the pitching staff.

Via The Athletic.

Michael King is another pitcher the Cubs have on their radar, viewing him as a starter with big upside when healthy. His work ethic, intelligence and feel for pitching are attributes that the Cubs previously targeted with free agents such as Jameson Taillon and Matthew Boyd.

Earlier in November at the GM Meetings in Las Vegas, Jed Hoyer had a meeting with Kyle Tucker’s agent and that’s relevant because the free agent outfielder is represented by Excel Sports Management that also happens to work for King.

Maybe there’s already been some groundwork laid out between Hoyer and King’s camp this offseason.

Via The Athletic.

“Our conversations are long,” Hoyer said. “We’ve got a lot of (Excel’s) guys. We’ve had a lot of their guys. We think really highly of (Tucker), and we’ll keep talking with Casey. Nothing’s coming together here in Las Vegas. We’ll just keep talking to them about a bunch of their guys.”

Then, MLB Network’s Jon Morosi joined the conversation a few days ago as he also connected the Cubs to King.

Meanwhile, Mooney joined the Cubs Weekly Podcast with Marquee Sports Network analyst Lance Brozdowski this week and explained how a pursuit of King this offseason would follow a similar pattern by the team. No, King isn’t necessarily one of the top pitchers available, but he can be a great value signing.

Via Marque Sports Network.

“I think King is certainly a name that we’ve had circled,” Mooney said. “If you look at what the Cubs have done in the last few free agent cycles, they’ve done a good job of identifying Shota, Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon – they have a type and King sort of fits it in terms of pitchability, intelligence, athleticism, some untapped upside.”

The obvious concern is whether or not King will be healthy and how long will he remain on the mound because despite strong numbers throughout his career that includes a 3.35 ERA and 26.4 K% in 64 starts, the right-hander was limited to 15 starts in 2025 because of a shoulder injury and missed time in 2022 because of an elbow issue.

But we’ve seen his star potential. In 2024, King had a 2.95 ERA in 173.2 innings and finished seventh in Cy Young voting.

Michael King Contract Projections

MLB Trade Rumors: 4 years, $80 million
FanGraphs (Crowdsource): 4 years, $88 million
The Athletic (Tim Britton): 3 years, $75 million
ESPN (Kiley McDaniel): 3 years, $75 million

So, what do you think Cubs fans, does Michael King excite you? He’s certainly been on the Cubs’ radar for a while as they were in trade talks with the San Diego Padres last offseason.

Previous Trade Interest

The San Diego Padres have made several players available through trade this offseason and according to the latest rumor that includes right-handed starting pitcher Michael King. Meanwhile, the Chicago Cubs have been trying to add to their pitching staff this winter and although they just traded for veteran Ryan Pressly the Cubs are now also exploring a blockbuster trade with the Padres.

According to Matthew Trueblood, the Cubs are not only kicking the tires on a potential trade for King, but they’ve also tossed around the idea of dealing for King and current San Diego closer Robert Suarez.

Via North Side Baseball.

One version of a deal the Cubs and Padres have explored could send King and Suarez to Chicago, with multiple young, controllable pieces going back to San Diego. Javier Assad, Ben Brown, and Kevin Alcántara are potential pieces in a return. One way or another, the deal would probably include players with MLB experience and/or those very close to the majors, like those three, as opposed to far-off prospects. 

King, who will be a free agent following the 2025 season, was great for the Padres last season. The right-handed pitcher recorded a 2.95 ERA with a 27.7 K% in 173.2 innings. Although King only has one full season as a starter, he’s been one of the best pitchers in baseball since the beginning of the 2021 season. Since then, King’s 2.91 ERA in 392.2 innings ranks seventh best among qualified pitchers.

As for Suarez, the 33-year-old reliever is in year three of a five-year, $46 million contract. However, the righty can opt-out following this season. In 2024, Suarez made 65 appearances and recorded 36 saves with a 2.77 ERA in 65 innings of work. Since making his MLB debut with the Padres in 2022, Suarez has a 2.89 ERA in 136 relief outings.

So, the main issue here is that the Cubs would be giving up some good, inexpensive players for potentially two rentals. However, Trueblood notes that if the Cubs do indeed acquire King, then they would likely try to lock up the pitcher longterm as soon as possible.

If the Cubs do land King, look for them to broach a long-term extension with him in spring training. That’s still several twists of the drama from now, but the team has liked King for years, dating back to his time with the Yankees. Because he’s bloomed late and dealt with injury issues after being a late-round pick with a small initial signing bonus, King (unlike Tucker, or Cease, for that matter) is a good candidate for an extension even a year out from free agency. 

They might be willing to pay more for him than they would for Cease, not only because he’d cost them less in 2025 monetarily, but because they would view King as a possible long-term piece.

The 29-year-old pitcher and the Padres did not agree on a salary as King asked for $8.8 million while San Diego filed at $7.325 million.

The article also mentioned a potential three-team trade involving the Minnesota Twins and Padres in which the Cubs would end up with Suarez.

Fall League Standouts: Trio of White Sox Prospects Make a Statement

By
Mitchell Kaminski
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Nov 9, 2025; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chicago White Sox outfielder Braden Montgomery during the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The Arizona Fall League season has come and gone, but a trio of White Sox prospects left a lasting impression. 

Sam Antonacci, the organization’s No. 11 prospect, emerged as one of the league’s biggest standouts.  The 22-year-old infielder led all players in both hits and stolen bases.

Across 19 games, Antonacci collected 28 hits, including three home runs, while driving in 14 runs and swiping 11 bases. He finished with a .378 average and a robust 1.046 OPS over 93 plate appearances, boosted by an impressive 15 walks against just 11 strikeouts.

The three home runs were particularly noteworthy for a player who hit just five during the regular season. Antonacci also logged 98 innings at second base, 26.2 at shortstop, and seven at third without committing an error.

The White Sox top-ranked prospect, Braden Montgomery, also turned in a strong Fall League season, reminding everyone why he’s considered a Top-40 talent in baseball.

Montgomery missed the start of the AFL season after an errant pitch fractured his right foot in September. The injury cut short an impressive first professional campaign in which the 22-year-old hit .270 with an .804 OPS across 121 games between Low-A Kannapolis, High-A Winston-Salem, and Double-A Birmingham.

But he returned to the lineup with a bang, reaching base three times in his first five plate appearances, with a single, a pair of walks and two stolen bases. By the end of the Fall League season, he had hit .366 with a 1.161 OPS in 12 games. 

His hot stretch included eight extra base hits, 11 RBIs, and 13 walks against 11 strikeouts. Despite missing the start of the AFL season, Montgomery still managed to rank third in the league in on-base percentage (.527), fifth in doubles (6), sixth in slugging percentage (.634), and seventh in batting average. 

Caden Connor, who does not appear among the White Sox top 30 prospects, quietly put together one of the more impressive under-the-radar performances this fall. Connor slashed .359/.494/.391, collecting 23 hits, scoring 15 runs, and stealing eight bases across 19 games. He also showed excellent plate discipline, drawing 18 walks against just nine strikeouts in 83 plate appearances.

It’s an encouraging step forward for Connor, who has been rapidly climbing the organizational ladder. He opened the year in High-A Winston-Salem and finished it in Triple-A Charlotte, continuing to trend upward as a potential sleeper prospect in the system.

Haunting Mistake Is Putting Arturas Karnisovas’s Job At Risk

By
Ryan Dauterive
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arturas karnisovas
Nov 15, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls executive Vice President of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas looks on before a basketball game between the Chicago Bulls and Orlando Magic at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

In April of 2020, the Chicago Bulls hired Arturas Karnisovas as the vice president of basketball operations. His impressive work with the Denver Nuggets to build a championship-winning roster was the main selling point for the Bulls, who hoped he’d use a similar approach to return them to relevance and contention. With his first draft selection as the leader in the front office, he chose Patrick Williams. Most Bulls fans can agree that he has been the organization’s most significant draft bust of this decade and one of the most disappointing top-five picks in their history. During Karnisovas’s time in Chicago, they’ve made the playoffs once, a first-round exit, and have failed to make significant improvements since his hiring. Each year, blossoming stars come out of the draft, and many of them are selected after Chicago has passed them up. This season, another rookie is proving Karnisovas wrong in the early going.

Derik Queen Should Be A Chicago Bull

Many pre-draft predictions and mock selection lists had the Bulls vying for Derik Queen from the University of Maryland. In college, he was named to the First-Team All-Big Ten and received the Big Ten Freshman of the Year award. He posted 16.5 points and 9.0 rebounds per game in his 36 collegiate outings. Coming into the draft, he was one of the most skilled and offensively refined big men. With Nikola Vucevic‘s contract expiring and no actual power forward on the roster, the Bulls were a commonly named landing spot for his talents.

This will be added to a growing list of players who have outperformed their draft positioning after Chicago has passed on them. This one is among the most painful, not only because of the apparent need in the position and the pre-draft prediction that Queen would be gone by their selection at 12th overall, but also because Noa Essengue has not played a single minute this season.

Pressure Is On For Noa Essengue

Derik Queen’s early heroics only put more pressure on Chicago’s draft selection. Picked one spot ahead of Queen, Essengue feels miles behind. Not only has he not put up the video game numbers that the Maryland big man has, but he hasn’t earned a spot in the rotation yet this season. This is a tough one to explain from Karnisovas and his group, especially in the rapid rebuild that the Bulls are undergoing. Any players with an immediate impact are sorely needed, especially at the center or power forward positions.

It’s far too early to say with certainty if Karnisovas made a massive mistake with his draft choice, but the odds are not in his favor. Essengue still needs to be given a fair evaluation, and he has made major splashes in his limited action in the NBA Summer League and the G League. Regardless, he’s not dropping 30-point games at the NBA level yet, so he’s already behind pace from his fellow draftee.

Will Essengue be the final straw for the Karnisovas leadership group? Allowing yet another elite talent to slip away while opting for a G League developmental project instead is a damning mistake. How quickly does Chicago’s rookie make it to the professional stage, and can he validate Karnisovas’s decision before it’s too late?

Two More Cubs Players Could Become Free Agents Today

By
Aldo Soto
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Apr 9, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Eli Morgan (33) reacts to a play during the eigth inning against the Texas Rangers at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images

The non-tender deadline is right around the corner and although the Chicago Cubs only have to make decisions on four arbitration eligible players on Friday night there are two who are candidates to become free agents.

Back in October MLB Trade Rumors released its annual list of projected arbitration salaries for the 2026 season. The Cubs have four players that they either have to agree on a salary for next season, go to an arbitration hearing if they can’t agree on a figure or if the Cubs don’t want them back they can non-tender them, making those players free agents.

2026 Cubs arbitration players

Justin Steele: projected $6.55 million salary
Javier Assad: projected $1.9 million salary
Reese McGuire: projected $1.9 million salary
Eli Morgan: projected $1.1 million salary

Justin Steele, who went down in April with a season-ending elbow surgery, is expected to return to the rotation in 2026. No clear time table has been established for Steele’s comeback, but he didn’t have Tommy John surgery, so it’s possible to believe he can recover within the year and potentially be available by April. The Cubs will probably not rush him back though, so maybe Steele gets back to the mound in May.

Regardless, Steele will return to the Cubs in 2026. The left-handed pitcher is still under team control through the 2027 season.

Javier Assad suffered an oblique injury this past season and then had a setback that delayed the pitcher’s debut until August. The righty made eight appearances for the Cubs and turned in similar results as he’s done since making his MLB debut in 2022. For an estimated salary of about $2 million the Cubs will surely bring back Assad for 2026. Assad will once again be a depth starter and potential longer reliever out of the bullpen.

Assad also has minor league options, which is great to have for roster flexibility throughout the regular season. The right-hander is under team control through 2028.

Then, the two guys who may be free agents after Friday night.

Right-handed reliever Eli Morgan was a huge disappointment in 2025, after the Cubs traded for him from the Cleveland Guardians. He only pitched in seven games, recorded a 12.27 ERA in 7.1 innings, suffered an injury and never pitched for the Cubs again after mid-April. Morgan had an elbow impingement that pretty much wiped away most of his season as Morgan was activated until September and was optioned to Triple-A, where he finished out his year.

There’s a chance that the Cubs non-tender Morgan and bring him back on a minor league deal.

The same could be said for backup catcher Reese McGuire. He actually had a solid year for the Cubs, filling in for Miguel Amaya from May onward. McGuire hit nine home runs in 44 games, posted a .688 OPS and an 86 wRC+ in 140 plate appearances. The defense was solid and in a perfect world he would be a decent backup, but the Cubs already have Amaya and Carson Kelly, so they would most likely prefer to have Reese or a similar type of catcher sticking around at Triple-A without paying them as much.

We’ll find out what the Cubs do with these guys later on today.

Ben Johnson Really, REALLY Wants To Beat Pittsburgh. Wait Until You Hear Why

By
Erik Lambert
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ben johnson
Oct 19, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson against the New Orleans Saints during the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images

The Chicago Bears want to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers. You always want to win every game on your schedule. However, the importance of this particular game is up for debate. The Steelers are an AFC team. They won’t be battling the Bears for a potential playoff spot. A loss to them would be unfortunate, but far less crippling than a loss to an NFC team or a divisional opponent. Just don’t tell that to head coach Ben Johnson. It appears he is more focused than ever on winning Sunday, but maybe not for the reasons you think.

Sure, Johnson wants to win every game. He’s obsessed with it. Yet this one carries more significance. Adam Hoge and Adam Jahns of CHGO revealed why in their latest column. It all centers on Aaron Rodgers. The future Hall of Fame quarterback has tortured the Bears for his entire career, having only lost to them five times between 2008 and 2022. Johnson has made it part of his mission to right past wrongs for this franchise and its fans. He crushed Matt Eberflus in the matchup with Dallas. He avenged the Hail Mary in Washington. Even that collapse against the Vikings in the opener was redeemed with a last-second escape in Minnesota.

Slaying the Rodgers dragon is next.

Adam Hoge: I’ll be honest. I wasn’t very confident Rodgers would make it to Week 12 to face the Bears. And maybe he didn’t. We’ll find out more about his status as the week goes on. But I agree that it would be poetic to get that win over Rodgers at Soldier Field before he retires, and doing so with Caleb Williams – who looked up to Rodgers growing up – would be fitting, too. 

Jahns: I don’t think we’re making too much out of the potential significance of this, either. Johnson wasn’t a part of the Bears’ many losses against Rodgers, but he has seemingly embraced righting some of the wrongs of the past. His recent comments about how the Bears have found ways to win this season after failing to do so in the past stood out. Beating Rodgers would be an extension of that. Beating the supervillain would go a long way.

Ben Johnson has his own beef to settle with Rodgers.

He was in Detroit during the dark years when the Green Bay Packers still owned them just as much as they owned the Bears. He helped the Lions flip that script in 2022, ruining Rodgers’ last season with his former team. There would be no greater feeling for Ben Johnson than to send the 40-year-old into retirement with a lasting image of the Bears beating him. The fact that it would also hurt the quarterback’s chances of making the playoffs would be a nice bonus.

It won’t be easy. Chicago might be down all three of their starting linebackers on Sunday. It may come down to whether Johnson’s offense can score enough points. We know for a fact he’ll be up for that challenge. Pittsburgh’s defense has struggled against the pass all season. It would be the perfect time to get Caleb Williams going.

Seeing a Bears head coach embrace team history like this is so refreshing and a sign of how much Johnson cares.

Are the 7-3 Bears About to Get Exposed?

By
Ficky
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Nov 16, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) reacts after defeating the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Look, I’m not here to blow smoke. The Chicago Bears are 7-3, sitting atop the NFC North, and on paper, that sounds damn impressive. But anyone who’s watched this team every Sunday with a whiskey in hand and a scream stuck in their throat knows: this season has been one big, beautiful surprise. Week 12? That surprise runs straight into a wall called Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Steelers Coming to Town – With or Without Rodgers, It’s Gonna Hurt

Aaron Rodgers might be playing with a busted wrist. Might not be playing at all. Doesn’t really matter — because the man is 24-5 against the Bears. If he’s upright and breathing, he’s a problem. If he sits? Mason Rudolph takes over, and while the name screams “mediocre backup,” don’t get cute. The guy has quietly posted a 139.85 passer rating in his last four meaningful games. And you better believe he knows exactly how to manage a game if the defense and special teams show up.

The Steelers don’t do sexy football. Historically they win with grit, discipline, and the kind of defense that makes quarterbacks see ghosts.

Bears: 7-3 Never Looked So Shaky

Yeah, we’re winning. But let’s not kid ourselves — five of those wins came in miracle fashion. Down late, defense bails us out, Cairo Santos saves the day. It’s not sustainable. We’re 25th in overall DVOA. Our special teams (outside of Santos’ leg) are trash. Defense is Swiss cheese. And every win has been against a team with a losing record.

This is the NFL’s version of a sugar high. The crash is coming.

Offense: The Good, the Ugly, and the Caleb Williams Conundrum

Ben Johnson’s offense is cooking — until it isn’t. We’re 2nd in rushing, 13th in passing. That’s solid. Caleb Williams thrives in play-action and under-center looks, and Swift is quietly having a Pro Bowl-caliber season.

But Williams sometimes still can’t hit the broad side of a barn under pressure. Last week as an example, completing under 60% of your passes in today’s NFL is unacceptable unless you’re running for 100 yards a game — and he isn’t.

Rome Odunze has been that guy. DJ Moore’s been criminally underused. Loveland looks like a future stud. But red zone? We’re 20th. Too many field goals, not enough kill shots.

Caleb Williams’ week-by-week performance throughout the 2025 season, highlighting his passing yards and completion percentage trends with notable peaks in Weeks 3 and 8

Defense: Opportunistic or Just Lucky?

We lead the league in takeaways. Cool. We also give up 26.4 points per game and have the pass rush of a high school JV team. No sacks against Minnesota. None. Zero.

Byard, Wright, and Edmunds are picking off passes like it’s a part-time job, but if we’re not getting pressure, that won’t last. Teams with actual quarterbacks will expose this.

The Matchups That Matter

  • Bears O-Line vs. Steelers Blitz – Our line has been stellar, 4th-ranked per PFF. But Pittsburgh blitzes like they’re trying to collect souls. T.J. Watt’s not himself, but Herbig is quietly dangerous.
  • Caleb Williams vs. The Blitz – This is the nightmare matchup. The Steelers blitz at the third-highest rate in the league, and while Caleb’s been a modern-day Houdini avoiding sacks, that magic has limits. If he gets dropped three times, history tells the story — he’s 3-13 in games when that happens. Pressure breaks rhythm, and when Williams gets rattled, the whole offense sputters.
  • Turnovers – Both teams live off takeaways. Whoever blinks first might be screwed.
  • Third Downs – Bears are decent. Steelers are meh. But in a slugfest, those conversions are golden.
NFL rankings comparison showing Bears’ offensive strengths (especially rushing at 2nd) and defensive weaknesses, versus Steelers’ defensive prowess and offensive struggles

Final Verdict

I want to believe. Nah, F*CK THAT – I still believe. Let’s watch Caleb ball out, Swift carries us, and us finally beat a good team. Even if that’s not the most likely script.

Rodgers or no Rodgers, Pittsburgh’s defense is going to bring the heat, but our offense is ready for that kind of pressure. THANK YOU BRIAN FLORES.

But hey — this doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy. Again, we’re still building something. We’ve got the pieces. We’re ahead of schedule. And Sunday? Sunday’s is going to show the world that the Bears aren’t f*ckin around. 

Final Score: Bears 20, Steelers 17.

Blackhawks Reveal First Look At Comeback Of Iconic Black Alternates

By
Isaac Nielsen
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Jan 15, 2006; Chicago, IL, USA; New Jersey Devils right wing Brian Gionta (14) trips while defending Chicago Blackhawks left wing Kyle Calder (19) as defenseman Anton Babchuk (8) looks on during the third period at the United Center in Chicago, IL. The New Jersey Devils defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2 in an overtime shootout. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports Copyright © Jerry Lai

When you think about the most iconic jerseys in all of sports, the Blackhawks’ sweaters are usually at or near the top of any list. The timeless design has been largely unchanged since 1955, echoing the history and status of the Original Six franchise.

But while the red home jerseys and white road jerseys are certainly staples, Chicago has even been among the best when they try to branch out. In 1996, they debuted a sleek black jersey, which was their alternate look until 2009. It was worn by legends like Chris Chelios, Denis Savard, and countless others, becoming as visually iconic as the standard home and road kits. Many thought of it as a way of bridging the gap between the storied past of the Blackhawks and the new era, an era that would see three Stanley Cups come to Chicago (after the black sweaters were phased out).

On Friday morning, the Blackhawks broke the internet with one of the best announcements of the year, paying tribute to not just the franchise, but to Chicago sports as a whole:

If there was ever a season for the Blackhawks to make it happen, it’s during their ongoing centennial campaign.

“The long-awaited black alternate jersey returns this season as we celebrate 100 years of Blackhawks hockey, giving a nod to some of the greatest players to ever wear the sweater. Originally worn by Tony Amonte, Chris Chelios, Eric Daze and Denis Savard in the 1990s-2000s, these jerseys defined an era and became a symbol of the grit, strength, commitment and legacy that still holds true to today’s era of Blackhawks hockey.”

— Danny Wirtz, Blackhawks Chairman and CEO

Chicago will debut the new jerseys on Black Friday next week against the Predators. But this isn’t just a one-time thing for Black Friday like they did a few years back. They’ll be worn seven times this season (in six home games)—next Friday’s game against Nashville, Sunday, Nov. 30 against the Ducks, Jan. 9 against the Capitals, Jan. 23 against the Lightning, Jan. 30 against the Blue Jackets, March 14 at Las Vegas, and March 20 against the Avalanche. They’re also keeping the black jerseys in rotation for the next three seasons (through 2027-28).

The jersey is available for purchase now in the Blackhawks Store on Michigan Avenue and the Madhouse Team Store located at the United Center, or online at CBHShop.com (sold out for now). The Blackhawks are planning “blackout games” on Nov. 28 and Nov. 30.

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