It has become widespread knowledge that the Chicago Bears have placed all of their focus on getting their new stadium built in Arlington Heights. They exhausted every avenue trying to stay downtown. In the end, the state government wasn’t willing to cooperate. The only thing left to do is pass some legislation in Springfield that paves the way for them to start building. Unfortunately, their timing was off. The spring sessions ended before the Bears could get their ducks in a row. There is hope that something can get done during a brief session in October, but experts are skeptical that it will happen.

That means waiting until the next spring session. Until then, it is believed the team would roll out more of their plans. It appears we may have gotten a leak courtesy of MANICA, a prominent architectural firm. They revealed that they are leading the charge in designing the Bears’ new stadium. It comes with a rendered image of what the complex could look like. This is the same firm that did projects like Allegiant Stadium (Raiders), NRG Stadium (Texans), the Toyota Center (Rockets), and Chase Center (Golden State).

“MANICA is leading the design of the new home of the Chicago Bears. The new world-class home of the Chicago Bears will feature a greater degree of enjoyment on game day for fans, with a layout to reduce crowding on concourses, increased fan-to-restroom ratios, and improved food options with state-of-the-art technology to reduce check-out times throughout the stadium. Before fans even enter the building, the dedicated tailgating spots, parking spots walkable to the entrances, and an on-site Metra stop will bring fans into the entertainment district, dramatically enhancing the experience before kickoff even happens.”

The Chicago Bears picked good people for the job.

Since its completion, Allegiant Stadium has consistently been ranked among the top five in the NFL. The same goes for the Chase Center in the NBA. These people are experienced and knowledgeable about putting together a state-of-the-art complex and enhancing fan enjoyment. Based on this image, they seem to have an elaborate layout for the Churchill Downs property. It’s fed both by the train tracks and the surrounding roads. Parking will be interesting as they seem to want a massive tailgating area in the center of the complex. Then, fans can walk straight to the stadium. Obviously, the full details aren’t hashed out. This feels like a preview of what they’re going for. The fun stuff will come soon.

Things went wrong for Caleb Williams last year in plenty of ways. While his numbers weren’t bad, the game tape showed a young player trying to do way too much. When things didn’t go well, he began leaning on his ability to scramble and make plays outside the pocket. It was apparent how uncomfortable he was standing inside it. All anybody had to do was watch his feet. They were all over the place, rarely matching where his eyes and body were going. That led to persistent accuracy issues.

When Ben Johnson arrived in January, he knew fixing that was at the top of his to-do list. If Williams were going to run his system, with all its pro-style layers, he’d have to understand the vital importance of footwork. It wasn’t pretty at first. Williams struggled to master the intricacies, especially working from under center. There were plenty of miscues in training camp and the preseason. However, over the past couple of weeks, Johnson believes there has been a breakthrough for his QB.

“I see him playing the game with his feet much more so than what we had in the spring or during training camp. He’s trying to tie in No. 1 in the progression with the first hitch, No. 2 with the second hitch and we’re trying to throw on time a lot more often than maybe we were initially. I see it coming along.”

Caleb Williams is showing that he’s bought in.

Plenty of quarterbacks say they’re ready to embrace what a coach preaches, but many of them tend to fall back on bad habits when things get difficult. Caleb Williams has shown the past two weeks that he is committed to doing things the right way. Johnson is teaching him that while mobility and improvisation are great assets, they can’t be the main part of his game. All the best quarterbacks in the league are able to play with the pocket, using their feet to evade pressure and deliver pinpoint passes.

Last Sunday was the first true indication of Williams getting it. Three of his four touchdown passes were made without a scramble. His feet looked calm and synced up with his eyes. If this progress continues, the Bears might be seeing the evolution of something special.

The Chicago Bears got their first victory of the season last Sunday, crushing the Dallas Cowboys 31-14. Nobody celebrated harder than head coach Ben Johnson. His passion and fire were both on display in the locker room, taking the team through everything they did right, and telling them a poem about the need to always strive for excellence. It was another reminder of how dialed in this coach is. There are stories about his obsession with success and how it drives him. Tyson Bagent may have one of the best.

The backup quarterback appeared on safety Kevin Byard’s YouTube show, Intercepted, to discuss the victory and all the things that went into it. What stood out the most to them was how laser-focused Johnson was. Even during the highest points of the game, like the flea flicker to Luther Burden or the 19-play drive to put the game away, the coach’s expression never changed.

Bagent loves that about him. It was then that he told a story of how Johnson told players after the preseason to get away from Halas Hall, be with their families, and get rested up for the opener. When the quarterback asked whether Johnson would do the same, the coach’s answer said it all.

That was the day Tyson Bagent knew his coach was a maniac.

Keep in mind that this mentality is not normal. Plenty of head coaches do normal things, like going home after the workday is over. Sure, they’ll put in extra hours, but they always go home. However, a select few were notorious for always seeming to be at the facility day and night, constantly watching film and looking for weaknesses in the opponent. Bill Belichick did it. Joe Gibbs did it. Jimmy Johnson and Jon Gruden did it. It likely isn’t a coincidence that you see such coaches have sustained success. Their obsession with winning is insatiable. That is how Johnson is wired. Tyson Bagent can already see it. So can other players in the locker room. As the team starts adapting a similar mentality, the wins start coming. We saw an example of that on Sunday.

The Chicago Bears‘ defense did enough to help the team get its first victory of the year against Dallas. They sacked Dak Prescott twice, intercepted him twice, and held a potent offense to 14 points. What made it sweeter was the fact that they did it without three of their best players. Jaylon Johnson is on IR with a bad groin injury. T.J. Edwards has been sidelined with a hamstring issue, as has Kyler Gordon. Not having those three key guys has exposed the defense in many situations, as Detroit proved the week prior.

Thankfully, it appears the winds of fortune might be shifting in the Bears’ direction. Gordon posted a photograph on his Instagram page. It’s him on Soldier Field with a full loading bar in the bottom right corner. That seems like a clear indication he is ready to return. While it’s great news, this puts the Bears in a tricky spot. They play the Las Vegas Raiders this weekend. After that, Chicago has their bye week. Many believe it might be wiser to hold Gordon out for one more game to ensure his hamstring issue has more than enough time to heal.

Then again, the Bears are 1-2 and can’t afford to be cautious at times like this. It is a tough decision.

Smart money says Kyler Gordon will play.

In a perfect world, the Bears would err on the side of caution. They’d let the player rest for a few extra weeks, but sadly, they aren’t in a position to do that. A loss on Sunday would sink any remaining hope they have of digging out of the hole they started in. Las Vegas has a capable quarterback in Geno Smith. Having Kyler Gordon on the field would make life much easier for the defense. He is best equipped to handle Tre Tucker, the Raiders’ productive slot receiver. This is a risk they must take. Any edge they can get to improve the odds of victory. Nothing is ever easy against a Pete Carroll-coached team. It figures to be a tough, sloppy battle. Gordon should make a big difference.

The Bears sit at 1-2 as they prepare to face the Las Vegas Raiders. On Wednesday afternoon, Ben Johnson met with the media and offered plenty of updates/insight. He praised Raiders star Maxx Crosby, calling him a top-five player and a true game wrecker, and also discussed how the Bears run game needs improvement across all phases.

But the most notable comments centered on quarterback Caleb Williams. Johnson shared that Williams is processing and retaining information at a fast pace. He explained that the playbook and weekly game plans continue to expand because of Williams unique ability to absorb details, learn from mistakes, and immediately apply it. Johnson said he can tell Williams something one day, and the very next day, Williams executes it on the field.

Former Bears QB Chase Daniel recently echoed that sentiment, noting that Williams football IQ doesn’t get enough credit. Johnson also revealed that the team’s game plan in Week 3 looked different from Week 1—a sign of real growth.

For the Bears, this marks a significant change. Previous quarterbacks like Mitch Trubisky and Justin Fields often struggled with processing information at the same level. With Williams, Chicago finally appears to have a quarterback who can handle the mental demands of the position. Johnson is maximizing his young passer’s strengths, which is exactly why the Bears hired him.

Fans haven’t been silent about the Chicago Bears‘ needs since August. It was evident to them and even some in the media that the team has serious question marks with the pass rush. Montez Sweat was coming off a down year and nobody was certain if he’d rebound. Dayo Odeyingbo was a decent addition, but wouldn’t be confused for a sack machine. The real worry was with the depth. None of their options had any track record of sustained success in the NFL. Matters would be made even worse if injuries struck. Yet for whatever reason, GM Ryan Poles refused to make any moves to supplement the group.

Meanwhile, potential options like Za’Darius Smith and Jadeveon Clowney have signed with other teams, leaving the market all but empty. Now, we’ve learned the motivation behind such passivity. A source told SM that Poles’ approach is motivated by a desire to leave the door open for Austin Booker. The team was reportedly very happy with the second-year defensive end’s progress in the summer, which showed in his outstanding preseason. It’s feared that bringing in a veteran would limit Booker’s opportunities to develop this season.

Ryan Poles, for better or worse, remains committed to developing guys.

Just look at Dominique Robinson. Most teams probably would’ve cut bait with the former 5th round pick by now. Yet he’s stuck around and had his first sack in two years against Dallas on Sunday. Booker showed tons of progress as a rusher last month. The only thing left to do was show it in actual games. He is set to return after the bye week next month. Ryan Poles would certainly look great if Booker comes out hot and delivers some juice to the pass rusher.

If he doesn’t? It could leave the Bears vulnerable for the rest of the season. We’ve already seen how hot and cold this defensive front runs from week to week. The true hope is that Booker carries over what you saw in the summer. Having him as a young, cheap rusher for the next three years would make life much easier for this team as they reconfigure the roster.

Beating the Dallas Cowboys was a major relief for the Chicago Bears. It saved their season, at least for a week. Now, they have a chance to build some momentum. If they can go into Las Vegas and take down the Raiders, they will reach the bye at 2-2 with time to regroup. The win also kept the door open in other ways. According to a source, the Bears have kept their ears to the ground for possible help on the trade market. Word is head coach Ben Johnson is not happy with the state of the running game. D’Andre Swift isn’t providing the answers he wants. It is hoped the Bears might be able to find a solution.

Based on the information available, there are three names they are keeping tabs on:

• Alvin Kamara (Saints)
• Devon Achane (Dolphins)
• Breece Hall (Jets)

None of these is a surprise. All three play for teams that are currently winless through three weeks. Kamara is 30 years old and costs $10 million this season, but remains a versatile and dangerous presence. Achane is one of the fastest running backs in the NFL and is still only 24. Miami wants to get rookie Ollie Gordon more involved, so trading Achane would make sense. Hall is in the last year of his rookie deal. New York probably doesn’t want to pay him. A trade is their best way to avoid losing him for nothing in free agency next spring.

There are some disagreements among the Chicago Bears brass.

People in the front office are urging GM Ryan Poles to delay any decisions. They caution that moving now could cost the Chicago Bears opportunities at other players who might become available closer to the deadline at the end of October. Dallas, Atlanta, Carolina, and Houston are all 1-2. If any of them continue stumbling over the next two or three weeks, they could make some capable players available. Much depends on Coach Johnson. He is the primary decision-maker now. If he is dead set on getting help at running back, Poles is duty-bound to go get it. Smart money says the Bears will at least wait until after the results of the game in Vegas. If they lose and drop to 1-3, trading for help might not make as much sense. A win, on the other hand, might be all the incentive they need to pull the trigger.