May 24, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; The top of Rate Field is seen before a baseball game between the Chicago White Sox and Texas Rangers. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
The White Sox 2025 home slate has come to a close, with Sunday’s 3-2 loss to the Padres marking the final game of the season at Rate Field.
The paid attendance for the game was 24,205. Not bad for a Sunday with the Bears in town, but it means the White Sox fell short of 1.93 million in total ticket sales and paid attendance for the season.
The White Sox finished the season with a total attendance of 1,487,757, which was up from last year’s 1,380,443. But because ticket sales finished below 1.93 million, Jerry Reinsdorf will not have to pay a bonus for the taxpayer-owned stadium.
Under the current agreement with the Illinois Sports Authority, the White Sox must pay a fee on each ticket sold over 1.93 million in paid attendance, a total the White Sox have not reached for 13 consecutive seasons (not counting the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign). To reach that bonus, the White Sox would need to average roughly 24,000 fans per home game. If that bonus was triggered, the White Sox would be on the hook for $3 for every ticket sold over the 1.93 million mark.
The closest the White Sox have come in the last decade was in 2022, after winning the division the year prior. In 2022, the White Sox had just over 2 million tickets sold but only 1.92 million in paid attendance.
The Chicago White Sox are set to extend a 13 season streak of not hitting the level of minimum annual ticket sales (1.925,000 tickets sold basically) that triggers bonus payments to their taxpayer owned stadium authority.
This is not the only team-friendly element of the agreement, which is set to expire in 2028. Under the agreement, the White Sox didn’t have to pay a fee to use the stadium until 2008.
The city of Chicago and the state of Illinois also contribute $5 million annually to help fund the ballpark. The White Sox only pay $1.5 million in annual rent and control revenue from ticket sales, concessions, parking, and merchandise.
In the first ten years of the lease, the club did not have to pay rent if annual attendance fell below 1.5 million. However, the White Sox only fell short of that mark twice from 1991 to 2000.
In 2009, the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority paid roughly $7 million to build ChiSox Bar & Grill, a restaurant attached to the outside of the stadium. The White Sox only chipped in $1 million for the project, according to a previous report from the Chicago Tribune.
Sep 21, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears defensive end Montez Sweat (98) sacks Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) during the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
Everybody on the planet expected the Dallas Cowboys offense to rip through the Chicago Bears defense like a tank through a cornfield. This was a unit that had just allowed 52 points the previous week in Detroit. Dallas had plenty of playmakers and a Pro Bowl quarterback. It almost started that way as the Cowboys ran the ball well on the first drive. However, Tyrique Stevenson stole their momentum when he stripped Javonte Williams of the ball for a big turnover. From there, it felt like the Bears were in control.
While it wasn’t perfect, the defense forced four turnovers and only allowed 14 points on the afternoon. Dak Prescott was under duress a lot. People couldn’t understand where the effort came from. Most credited defensive coordinator Dennis Allen for getting things rolling. In truth, players in the locker room pointed out one of their own. Daniel Hardy and Jaquan Brisker both said it was an impassioned speech by defensive tackle Grady Jarrett that got them all revved up for the game.
Daniel Hardy, who got snaps as a strong-side linebacker and in some fronts with five down linemen, said Jarrett’s speech resonated with the room.
“It was great seeing one of your captains trying to get the troops ready to go,” Hardy said. “It’s like seeing your leader grab the flag and charge into (the fight). Grady is an animated dude. He’s an intense guy. He’s got a lot of passion for the game. It’s Year 11 for him and he’s got more fire, more passion than ever. That’s why we voted him for captain. He did his job.”
Bears safety Jaquan Brisker said that the defensive players came together for a players-only meeting following their loss in Detroit. Defensive tackle Grady Jarrett and Brisker led the meeting. Obviously, the defensive unit responded today vs. the Cowboys.
The Chicago Bears’ signing of Grady Jarrett was important.
It is hard to tell how much gas the former Pro Bowler has left. He hasn’t been overly disruptive through the first three games, though he’s been a strong run defender. However, one of the big reasons the Chicago Bears signed him was his reputation as an outstanding leader. They needed somebody who could provide some emotional inspiration and veteran savvy. Jarrett had both in bunches. Having him in the locker room may have helped save their season. A repeat performance on Sunday in Las Vegas could send the Bears into the bye week 2-2 with a chance to build serious momentum going into October and beyond. It will also give Jarrett, who’s been dealing with a knee injury, time to rest and recover to help the team with more than words.
Sep 21, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson on the sidelines during the first half against the Dallas Cowboys at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
If there is one thing we’ve learned about Ben Johnson since he emerged on the national stage in Detroit, it’s that he has a steel trap for a memory. His infamous “Stumblebum” trick play against the Chicago Bears last year came from seeing a similar play work by accident against the Packers the previous year. Most coaches wouldn’t have remembered something like that, much less had the conniving instincts to craft a trick play out of it. Well, as it turns out, that wouldn’t be the only time Johnson would victimize Matt Eberflus.
Desperate for a win in week three, the Bears head coach spent all week deep-studying Eberflus’ defense. However, he didn’t stop at the games he’s coordinated in Dallas. Johnson also said he used the immense backlog of tape from the former head coach’s time in Chicago. During this process, he and his staff believed they found a weakness in the Cowboys’ coverage. If the right situation arose, a flea flicker could catch them by surprise. As we all saw on Sunday, that is precisely how it played out.
Ben Johnson didn’t stop there.
If this was intentional, it is a level of savagery that you’d never expect from an NFL head coach. The Bears did not use a single timeout in the second half of the game. One of the maddening things about Eberflus’ tenure in Chicago was his horrid usage of timeouts. His biggest moment was, of course, on Thanksgiving last year when he kept a timeout in his pocket in the final minute of the 4th quarter despite clear indications that his offense wasn’t lining up fast enough. It drained the clock until they could run only one more play.
Beating up on Eberflus’ defense while not using a single timeout is diabolical, even if it might not have been intentional.
Ben Johnson didn’t use any timeouts during today’s game against the Cowboys. This was a subtle nod to former Head Coach Matt Eberflus, who was on the other sideline for Dallas 💙🧡🐻⬇️ pic.twitter.com/apqFu3Uwfs
More than anything, it was nice to see Ben Johnson give Bears fans a taste of revenge for once. It always seems like former players or coaches have been getting it at their expense for too long. Eberflus didn’t deserve such a courtesy. Johnson made sure to remind him.
The Chicago Bears defense wasn’t perfect on Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys, but they were good enough. They held a talented offense to just 14 points and harassed Dak Prescott all day. Most of the credit for that deservedly goes to guys like Montez Sweat (6 pressures), Gervon Dexter (6 pressures), Tremaine Edmunds (2 INTs), and Tyrique Stevenson (forced fumble). However, nestled in the middle of all that was Shemar Turner. The Bears’ 2nd round pick hadn’t seen the field for weeks due to an injury setback in training camp. Sunday marked the first time he got to play this season.
He was on the field for 23 snaps. On the stat sheet, Turner doesn’t show up much. However, on the tape, you already see signs of what the Bears drafted. His first play saw him get instant penetration on a run, forcing Javonte Williams to cut back into a wall of waiting defenders. On the third play, he got a good bull rush on the center, squeezing the pocket and forcing Prescott into an incompletion. There were times when he was overwhelmed by more experienced blockers, but he kept fighting and played with the intensity that was his trademark in college. He showed good use of his hands in his pass rush, even beating Pro Bowl guard Tyler Smith a couple of times.
As he gets more comfortable, it’s clear the Bears may have something.
Shemar Turner might’ve been the jolt the Bears needed.
Not necessarily in production, but in juice. His emotion was evident every time he was on the field. It can be taken for granted when you don’t have somebody like that in the huddle with you. Other guys tend to feed off the energy. Shemar Turner was always at his best when playing with an edge. It is why Dennis Allen liked him so much. As good as Sweat and Dexter are, neither come across as emotional leaders. Turner can become that. All he needs is to find the production to pair it with. Getting to play alongside Grady Jarrett is a huge bonus. You can already tell the two-time Pro Bowler is influencing the rookie with how he’s approaching the little details.
Jacksonville Jaguars passing game coordinator Shane Waldron (19) directs quarterbacks during an NFL training camp session at the Miller Electric Center, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
Shane Waldron was hired by the Chicago Bears as offensive coordinator last year to guide Caleb Williams‘s development. Fans were led to believe he was the guiding hand behind Geno Smith’s ascent in Seattle. In reality, he’d been along for the ride. In fact, one of Seattle’s own players tried to warn that the Bears were making a mistake. That was wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He hinted that Waldron might not be the best for what Chicago wanted to do. That warning proved prophetic.
After a promising start to the season, cracks began showing in the foundation as players raised concerns about Waldron’s unwillingness to coach them hard. Coupled with a nonsensical scheme, it eventually led to a downward spiral that bottomed out with games of nine points and three points in back-to-back weeks. Waldron was fired after that, not even making it through his first season.
Eventually, he landed a new position as the Jacksonville Jaguars’ passing game coordinator. By the sound of things, people are already tired of him.
Me trying to see if Shane Waldron said anything negative about Charlie Kirk so I can get him cancelled as Jacksonville’s passing game coordinator.
Far too leveraged with my Brian Thomas Jr shares and my fate rests in the hands of Shane Waldron. A terrible place to be in. pic.twitter.com/ofPw8XLSFw
Shane Waldron seems like a negative influence wherever he goes.
Smith-Njigba had 628 yards as a rookie in 2023. The year after Shane Waldron left, he jumped to 1,130 yards. Rome Odunze had 734 yards as a rookie last year. He is currently on pace for 1,286. What has people up in arms is how bad young Jaguars receiver Brian Thomas Jr. looks. After exploding for 1,282 yards as a rookie, he’s managed just 115 through the first three weeks. Just seven catches on 25 targets with three drops. Prized #2 overall pick Travis Hunter only has 76 yards. While Waldron isn’t calling the plays, many feel he’s playing a role in why these young receivers are struggling. After all, his track record speaks for itself.
All Bears fans can say is they’re glad he’s gone. With Ben Johnson in charge, things finally make sense. Odunze and others are playing up to their potential. Hopefully, Waldron doesn’t ruin those immensely talented receivers the Jaguars have.
Sep 21, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; A general wide view during the ninth inning during a game betweenn the Chicago White Sox and the San Diego Padres at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images
John Schriffen will return as the White Sox play-by-play broadcaster next season, as the organization looks to retain its broadcast team.
White Sox Executive Vice President Brooks Boyer said Friday that the returning broadcast team will include Schriffen, Dan Plesac, Gordon Beckham, Steve Stone, Brooke Fletcher, and Connor McKnight on television, and Len Kasper and Darren Jackson on radio.
The announcement comes after a Chicago Sun-Times column by Jeff Agrest blasted Schriffen and urged the White Sox to part ways with him following three seasons as the team’s play-by-play voice.
Agrest criticized Schriffen as “cringy,” lacking awareness on broadcasts, failing to click with lead analyst Steve Stone, and appearing underprepared on the air. Fans have also faulted him for being overly positive, particularly during a season in which the White Sox won only 41 games.
Still, Schriffen is widely recognized for having a strong television voice and has made efforts to connect with fans, including venturing out to the parking lots to visit tailgates.
“John is enthusiastic. He’s sometimes, and maybe this could be a detriment, he’s in it with the guys. He has created good relationships with the players,” Boyer told MLB.com. “That’s part of what we have to do as an organization. You tell stories about these guys. So, I’m comfortable and confident that moving forward, he’s going to continue to do that. He has worked very hard at connecting with fans. Didn’t connect with fans as well last year as he has this year. That’s always a work in progress. When you look at our broadcast last year compared to this year, it’s a significant difference. I’m pleased with that.”
Stone will be returning for his 19th season in the White Sox booth, but will once again be on a reduced travel schedule. The hope is to have Pleasac and Beckham fill in as temporary replacements.
If you’ve watched Ben Johnson call plays at any point over the past three years, you know one thing. He always has a couple of tricks and gadgets ready. His most famous call, or infamous for Chicago Bears fans, was the fake fumble play last year by Jared Goff. This got the defense to bite, leading to an easy touchdown to Sam LaPorta. The play was called “Stumblebum.” Johnson didn’t have many opportunities to strike the previous two weeks against Minnesota and Detroit, but he was ready when Dallas came to town.
All week, he and his staff worked on Matt Eberflus’ defense. They noticed it had a weakness when attacked deep. So Johnson drew up a classic: a flea flicker. Naturally, it had a code name as well. Adam Jahns of CHGO discovered it.
Johnson called “White House” on first-and-10 from the Bears’ own 35. It was a flea-flicker play. Running back D’Andre Swift pitched the ball back to Williams, who lofted a perfect pass to rookie receiver Luther Burden III for the 65-yard score.
“I’m selling run so the safety comes down,” Burden said. “Coach told us all week: ‘Three count.’ So I was counting to three seconds in my head, 1 … 2 …. 3… go.”
Burden raced past safety Malik Hooker.
Touchdown.
“If everybody doesn’t do their job, the play’s not going to work,” said Burden, who finished with three catches for 101 yards.
This is just speculation, but the origin of the codename is likely a reference to former President Joe Biden, since the play’s target was Luther Burden. Whatever the case, the timing was perfect. That touchdown set the Cowboys’ defense on its heels, and they never really recovered.
The Chicago Bears played one of their best games in a long time.
Remember, this team was reeling from that 52-21 demolition in Detroit. In previous years, they would’ve been shellshocked and unprepared. Not this time. Johnson had them ready. Dallas was coming off a big comeback win against the Giants last week. They had every reason to feel confident they could build on that momentum. The Chicago Bears disabused them of such thoughts. The defense forced four turnovers, including two interceptions of Dak Prescott. Caleb Williams wasn’t sacked and threw four touchdowns. It was a complete team effort, and that flea flicker play was what started the ball rolling.
There is still work to do. Their running game remains problematic. The run defense allowed 6.1 yards per carry. Also, they’re 1-2 and trailing the rest of the division. This victory will be enjoyed for 24 hours and then it’s time to prepare for Las Vegas. No doubt Johnson will be cooking up another surprise for that game too.
Sep 21, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson talks with quarterback Caleb Williams (18) against the Dallas Cowboys during the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
The Chicago Bears didn’t just beat the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3. They stomped them out, 31-14, in a win that screamed: yeah, this team is for real. Soldier Field turned into a showcase of everything Bears fans have been waiting years to see — a franchise quarterback putting on a show, a defense that takes the ball away like it’s personal, and a coach who calls a game with the guts of a street fighter, not a scared coordinator.
This wasn’t a fluke. It was domination. And it happened for three clear reasons.
Let’s not overcomplicate this: Caleb Williams had his breakout game. The rookie delivered 19-of-28 for 298 yards, 4 touchdowns, zero picks, and a 142.6 passer rating. That’s surgical. That’s what you draft a No. 1 overall pick for. The kid wasn’t even sacked — Dallas’s supposedly ferocious pass rush never touched him.
Ben Johnson deserves as much credit here. His first NFL head coaching win came with the kind of offensive creativity Bears fans didn’t know they were allowed to have. He opened the playbook and dropped a 65-yard flea-flicker bomb to Luther Burden III. That wasn’t just a touchdown; it was a statement. Eight different receivers caught passes, and four different guys scored. That’s distribution you usually only see in video games.
The first half was Williams’ coming-out party: 239 yards before the break, and Chicago scored on four of its first five possessions. By halftime, it was 24-14 and the game already felt like Dallas was just hanging on. The offensive line kept Williams clean, Johnson schemed open shots, and the Cowboys’ defense never adjusted. It was as complete as it gets.
Caleb Williams’ Passing Chart vs. Dallas, per NextGenStats.
Reason #2: Defense Made It Count
For all the hype about Caleb, the Bears’ defense might’ve been the nastiest unit on the field. They forced four turnovers and gave up none. Ballgame.
Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds looked like a man possessed: 15 tackles and two fourth-quarter picks, including one in the red zone on fourth-and-goal that killed a 15-play Dallas drive. That’s how you end a game — not just by playing defense, but by ripping out your opponent’s heart.
Tremaine Edmunds Defensive Stats vs. Dallas.
Then there was Tyrique Stevenson. The same guy who’d been roasted in previous weeks? He forced and recovered a fumble on Javonte Williams in the first quarter, setting up Chicago’s first TD. He broke up passes, he tackled, and he basically redeemed himself in one afternoon.
And here’s the kicker: after letting Dallas tie it 14-14 in the second quarter, the Bears’ defense completely shut the Cowboys down. Second half? Dallas gained 17 yards. Total. That’s not a typo. That’s a full-on defensive chokehold from Dennis Allen’s unit.
Oh, and Chicago did this without Jaylon Johnson and T.J. Edwards. Depth, resilience, swagger. Call it whatever you want — the Cowboys had no answers.
Reason #3: Time of Possession, Game Management, & Sustained Drives
The drive of the game wasn’t one of the explosive plays. It was the 19-play, 76-yard drive in the third quarter that chewed up 9:54 of clock and ended in a TD to DJ Moore. That was the longest Bears scoring drive this century, and it broke Dallas’ will. You could see their defense sucking air by the end of it.
Chicago’s third-down offense? 57.1%. Dallas? 27.3%. That stat alone tells the story: the Bears stayed on the field, the Cowboys couldn’t.
Johnson didn’t just call plays to protect a lead — he went for the throat. Fourth-and-goal late in the third, instead of a field goal, he had Williams fire it to Moore. Boom, 31-14. Ballsy. That’s the kind of call that tells your team: I believe in you more than I fear them.
Meanwhile, Dallas’ defense, now run by ex-Bears coach Matt Eberflus, looked completely lost. They gave up five plays of 25+ yards, their secondary got burned repeatedly, and with Kenny Clark getting injured and no longer having Micah Parsons, the pass rush evaporated. The Bears took advantage of every crack and widened it into a canyon.
Final Verdict
This was no smoke-and-mirrors win. This was a franchise quarterback, an aggressive coach, and a hungry defense putting it all together in front of a home crowd that hasn’t seen football this competent in years. Williams finally looked like the guy. Johnson showed why he was the hottest coaching hire of the offseason. The defense reminded everyone what Monsters of the Midway football is supposed to look like.
Chicago’s now 1-2, with a chance to climb to .500 against Vegas before the bye. But if this is the version of the Bears we’re going to see more often? They’re not just playoff contenders. They’re the team no one wants to play come December.
Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) sacks Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) during the second half of an NFL football game at Huntington Bank Field, Sept. 21, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio.
While the Chicago Bears got their revenge on Matt Eberflus in their 31-14 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, things were considerably worse for that team up north. The Green Bay Packers have been cruising through the season’s first two weeks. Riding a great defense, they thumped the Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders. Everybody was booking their Super Bowl plans. Jordan Love was playing really good football, too, extending a streak of regular season games without an interception to nine. All expected him and the team to crush a struggling Cleveland Browns team in week three.
What followed was one of the ugliest collapses in recent memory. Green Bay struggled all game against Cleveland’s tough defense. Still, they built a 10-0 lead in the 3rd quarter and were on track to get out with an ugly win. Then, with 3:45 left in the game, the Browns kicked a field goal to make it a one-score deficit. All Love had to do was get a couple of first downs to burn the clock. What came next will live in the nightmares of Packer fans for weeks.
Love throws a horrendous pass into double coverage and is picked off
Cleveland scores two plays later to tie the game
Packers drive into field goal range on next series. The kick is blocked.
Cleveland gets into Green Bay territory and boots a 55-yard field goal to win as time expires.
The meltdown from Packer fans was predictably epic, and their ire was mostly directed at Love.
Jordan Love is a game manager. Hopefully he gets better. But he's really not that good. He's overrated and over payed. Just my opinion. pic.twitter.com/oO1oQqU3vP
Jordan Love will decide whether this team can win a Super Bowl.
That is what terrifies Green Bay more than anything. They’re starting to realize that while he isn’t a bad quarterback, Jordan Love is not elite. He’s not in the same tier as Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers. He is a competent player capable of really strong performances, but is also capable of absolute clunkers. Worst of all, he delivers some awful turnovers at the worst possible times. For all the celebrating of that streak of games without an interception, people conveniently forgot that he threw three in the playoff loss to Philadelphia in January. He’s thrown five in his last two playoff games.
The Packers will likely get back to winning in the coming weeks. That is what they do. However, this loss to Cleveland was a major red flag. It is an uncomfortable reminder that their weakest link might be the quarterback, which is unfamiliar territory.
