Sep 13, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Chicago White Sox right fielder Mike Tauchman (18) breaks his bat on a ground out against the Cleveland Guardians during the sixth inning beat Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Mike Tauchman has emerged as one of Chris Getz’s most valuable acquisitions of the offseason, for his work on the field. However, the 34-year-old’s influence extends beyond the diamond, as the MLB has recognized him for his significant contributions off the field.
On Monday, Tauchman was nominated as the White Sox representative for the Roberto Clemente Award. The honor is given annually to a player who best represents the game through outstanding community involvement, philanthropy, and strong character on and off the field.
Tauchman spearheaded a cause that hit home for his family. His daughter, Remi, was born with a cleft palate, which required her to be hooked up to an NG tube for the first three months of her life.
At the end of June, Tauchman spearheaded an initiative to assemble care packages in collaboration with his teammates, White Sox staff, and family partners. These packages were designed to support families dealing with hospital stays for cleft and other craniofacial conditions. Each care package included a variety of comforting items, such as stuffed animals, blankets, and a $20 Dunkin’ Donuts gift card. Additionally, they contained essential post-surgery items like baby books, lip balm, and wipes, all aimed at providing comfort and assistance during challenging times
Tauchman’s family also launched a fundraising campaign at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago in July to help bring awareness to National Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month. A total of $21,000 was raised through the campaign, surpassing his initial goal of $18,000. The money helped cover transportation and meals for families dealing with extended hospital stays.
Tauchamn has also proven to be a leader on the field for a young White Sox team, slashing .264/.351/.398 with eight homers and 39 RBIs. He was signed in large part for his plate discipline, and has delivered, posting an 11.2% walk rate which ranks in the MLB’s 80th percentile while also owning a 24.1% chase rate that ranks in the top 26 percent of all MLB hitters.
He has also led by example with his professionalism and effort throughout the season.
The Bradley alumni hit a walk-off in extra innings on July 11th to help the White Sox beat the Guardians, then robbed Giancarlo Stanton of a two-run homer on August 31st, which turned out to be a pivot play in the White Sox eventual 3-2 victory.
On July 11th, the Bradley alumnus delivered a dramatic walk-off hit in extra innings, securing a thrilling 5-4 victory for the White Sox over the Guardians. Later, on August 31st, he made a stunning defensive play by robbing Giancarlo Stanton of a two-run homer, a pivotal moment in the White Sox’s eventual 3-2 win.One player for each team is nominated for the Roberto Clemente Award. Fans can vote for Tauchman on MLB.com, with voting ending on September 28th.
Oct 27, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (17) runs with the ball past Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson (1) during the third quarter at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
The Chicago Bears didn’t have Jaylon Johnson in week one against Minnesota and it was pretty clear in the 4th quarter. He managed to return last weekend for the big matchup against Detroit. Things looked fine in the first half. Then Johnson exited the game and didn’t return. That raised major red flags about whether the cornerback reaggravated the groin injury that knocked him out of training camp. Sure enough, Adam Schefter provided the update everybody feared. Johnson is out indefinitely, and it doesn’t look like he’ll return anytime soon.
Bears Pro-Bowl cornerback Jaylon Johnson is out indefinitely with a groin injury, sources tell me and @CourtneyRCronin. The team still is evaluating the full extent of the injury, whether surgery is necessary, and how long Johnson will be sidelined.
This is the worst-case scenario for the Bears’ defense. People saw how bad things got after Johnson left the field. Detroit threw on them at will. It doesn’t figure to get much better next week against Dallas. Injuries decimate the entire cornerback room. Kyler Gordon still hasn’t returned from a hamstring issue. Terell Smith is on IR already. Rookie Zah Frazier never even debuted because of an undisclosed issue. Tyrique Stevenson is their only healthy body, and he hasn’t exactly played well. Throw in their nearly toothless pass rush, and you have a recipe for disaster.
Jaylon Johnson pretty much set the tone for this season.
Things felt off with this team from the moment news came out that he wouldn’t practice when training camp began. He later revealed he’d torn the abductor muscle off his pelvic bone. Such injuries can take a long time to heal. If he re-injured it, we’re likely looking at a month or longer of missed time. That means he is going on Injured Reserve. The only thing left to do is make it official. Chicago is certain to shake up their cornerback room with roster moves in the coming week, trying to find solutions. Given how Dennis Allen prefers to call defense, it feels like the Bears are destined for more ugly performances like Sunday in Detroit. We’re talking 2013-2014 levels of bad.
Sep 8, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) makes a pass against Chicago Bears during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025.
Okay, let’s rip the Band-Aid off. This Bears team got its brakes beaten off by the Lions. No sugarcoating it — that was a straight-up bully session from Detroit. Ben Johnson’s so-called revenge game? It looked more like a public shaming. The defense got shredded, the offense got embarrassed, and it was no bueno.
But — and this is a big BUT — that game doesn’t define the season. Bears fans deserve more than doom-scrolling after 0-2. There are real reasons to believe this season is far from lost. Here’s why hope is alive, even if things aren’t rock solid yet.
The Loss Was Brutal, But Context Matters
Week 2’s 52‑21 beatdown by Detroit hurt — it exposed holes, showed breakdowns in discipline, deficiencies in depth, and got Chicago’s defense looking shaky.
But let’s not pretend Detroit is an average opponent. The Lions were among the league’s most explosive units last year under the offense Ben Johnson helped build. Facing them early, having to defend every trick they know by heart … that’s a hard test for a team in transition.
Even in the loss there were glimmers: Rome Odunze hauled in two touchdowns and 128 yards. Caleb Williams showed flashes — and honestly, he looked significantly better than he did in Week 1. The game may have spiraled, but his pocket presence, decision-making, and timing all looked sharper. He’s still raw, but the step forward was real in my eyes. Those don’t erase the problems, but they are real signs of upside.
The Odds: Steep, But Not Fatal
Let’s talk playoff odds. Since 1970, teams that start 0-2 make the playoffs just 10-12% of the time. That’s the raw data. But it doesn’t tell the whole story.
In the expanded 14-team playoff era? Three teams made the postseason after 0-2 starts just last year alone: the Ravens, Rams, and Broncos. And those weren’t fluky back-door clinches either — they found rhythm, rode talent, and fought through adversity. It can be done. It has been done.
Even more encouraging? Three teams have gone from 0-2 to Super Bowl champions — the ’93 Cowboys, ’01 Patriots, and ’07 Giants. All legendary teams. No one’s saying the Bears are about to turn into Brady’s Patriots, but let’s not act like they’re dead after two games.
Vegas hasn’t completely given up either. As of now, most sportsbooks still give the Bears roughly +500 to +600 odds to make the playoffs — not great, but not zero. In betting language, that’s a live underdog, not a lost cause.
0-2 Teams Playoff Success from 2018-2024
What Supports Optimism
These are the things that suggest the Bears have a legitimate path forward — not baseless hope.
1. New Coaching Direction & Offensive System
Ben Johnson is more than just a new face. He comes with a track record — as Lions OC he helped build a top‐offense. But let’s zoom in on that.
People forget what Johnson inherited in Detroit. In 2022, the Lions started 1-6. That’s right. The same team that now looks like a well-oiled machine started the season in total disarray. But what did they do? They finished 8-2 down the stretch. Then in 2023, they looked like a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
That turnaround didn’t happen because they got lucky. It happened because Johnson implemented a system that works — one rooted in rhythm, play-action, motion, and spacing. It took time to click. But when it did? It exploded. That exact same framework is now being installed in Chicago.
His system is demanding, detailed, and likely to take time for everything to gel. Mistakes early don’t shock when you’re breaking in a young QB into this kind of offense. Fans often expect instant results; the more realistic expectation is incremental growth.
2. Roster Has Talent — It’s Just Not Clicking Yet
The Bears didn’t sit idle this offseason. They made additions, especially up front and in support of the offense. Better protection should mean fewer sacks, more clean pockets for Williams, more time for routes to develop.
And look — this roster is still good. It’s deep, it’s talented, and it’s built for modern football. Of course, in only-the-Bears fashion, these guys are underperforming out of the gate. But it’s still so, so early. We’re talking about two games of data. A 0-2 hole feels awful, but there are fifteen games left on the schedule. Like Caleb himself said postgame: “We still have 15 games to play.”
There are weapons: Rome Odunze shows big play ability. DJ Moore is still there. Tight ends, other pass catchers — the potential for variety in the offense exists. And unlike last season, the play-calling will actually scheme guys open.
3. Expectations Were Reasonable — And Still Reachable
Vegas and most analysts expected the Bears to be somewhere in that 8-9 win range heading into the season. Not 12 wins. Not a Super Bowl run. But right there in the middle of the pack with upside. That’s a real, tangible step forward from the disaster years. And here’s the kicker — that win total is still very attainable.
Plenty of teams have started 0-2 and clawed their way to 9 wins. It’s been done repeatedly in NFL history, especially in a league where half the teams look mediocre every year. This team wins nine games? That’s a damn solid season in my book for a first-year head coach, a sophomore quarterback, and a locker room still learning how to win together. Context matters. And this context says don’t hit the panic button yet.
Teams that have started 0-2: NFL Playoff Success Rates
What Needs Fixing — Why It Ain’t Over, But It’s Not Easy
Hope isn’t blind. There are clear areas that must improve for the turnaround to be real.
Defense Depth & Discipline: The Lions exposed the secondary, penalties killed momentum, and the pass rush lacked consistency. If those things don’t get better, the Bears will lose shootouts.
Self Inflected Plays: The Bears’ offense has been plagued by drive-killing penalties in the first two weeks: holding calls, false starts, you name it. These mistakes don’t just stall drives — they destroy momentum and set the offense back behind the sticks. That’s coaching, focus, and execution. Cleaning that up is non-negotiable moving forward.
Mentality & Situational Execution: Third downs, red zone offense/defense, turnovers — tight moments. These make or break seasons. Johnson’s type of coaching tends to emphasize these, but habits take time to build.
The team has to stop beating itself before it can start beating others. That’s the real first step.
Pathways to a “Good Enough” Season
Here’s what a realistic, but meaningful, season could look like if things go right:
Win a few toss‑ups early: Take advantage of some winnable games like Dallas or Las Vegas to build confidence. Because once belief kicks in, momentum matters.
Show steady progress in offensive metrics: more yards per game, fewer sacks allowed, better third‑down conversion. Not perfect, but trends pointing upward.
Let Williams grow: Not as a finished product, but someone visibly more comfortable and making fewer mistakes. Big throws aren’t enough; consistency is.
Defense holds: Serve enough in non‑blowouts, keeps games within reach. Even if not elite, being “not get blown out every time” is progress.
Finish around .500: 8‑9 or 9‑8 could put them in the playoff conversation — especially with NFC North being chaotic.
And let’s not forget: in-division chaos can benefit Chicago. If the Lions, Vikings, and Packers beat each other up, a 9-8 Bears team could sneak into a wild card without needing miracles.
Final Verdict
Look, I’m not going to tell you how to fan. I’ve been a die-hard for this team for 30+ years, so I’ve seen enough shitty football to piss me off. But there’s always a lot of context in the details — and it’s telling me that this season isn’t over yet.
Because this is different. New coach. Offensive system built for playmakers. A young star QB whose floor is low but whose ceiling is high. Roster upgrades that seem thoughtful. And perhaps most critically — the fanbase and media see this as a reset, not just another lost year.
Yes, the odds of starting 0‑2 and making the playoffs are historically grim. But lately, we’ve seen more teams pull it off than you’d expect. Hope isn’t just blind optimism — it’s reasoned.
So, will Chicago make playoffs? Maybe. It’s not likely yet. But will they be better, more competitive, less embarrassing, more enjoyable to watch? That’s very doable. And sometimes, that kind of year is what you need before you win.
And when that win finally comes? You’ll know you stuck through the ugly part to see it.
Stop if you’ve heard this before. A young man played college football but never played in the NFL. Rather than look for work elsewhere, he decided to give scouting a try. He finds quick success, winning a Super Bowl around a decade into his career. That helps catapult him up the ladder to where he becomes a GM before his 40th birthday. That describes Ryan Poles, right? Well, it also describes former Jacksonville Jaguars general manager Dave Caldwell. That is not a name Chicago Bears fans should want to hear.
Yet evidence keeps growing that Poles has become this team’s version of Caldwell. The former GM rode a Super Bowl win in Indianapolis and a franchise turnaround in Atlanta to the Jaguars job. From there, he put together one of the most underwhelming runs of roster-building in memory. His first three drafts featured lots of high picks but no big hits.
He didn’t land a star until his fourth draft with Jalen Ramsey, yet that didn’t change the team’s fortunes. Through his first four seasons, Caldwell went 15-49. His obvious lack of leadership and poor choice of head coach in Gus Bradley kept Jacksonville in a perpetual state of awful.
Sound familiar?
Ryan Poles is just another version of Caldwell.
He also lacks leadership skills and somehow got a contract extension and the ability to hire a second coach despite clear evidence that he didn’t deserve it. Caldwell managed to survive thanks to a surprise playoff run in 2017, which enabled him to stick around through 2020 before he was fired. In many ways, Jacksonville still hasn’t fully recovered from that experience. That is the position the Bears have put themselves in. This team looks nothing like a winner. The roster is still deeply flawed, with no clear solutions to fix it.
Hiring Ben Johnson was only part of the solution. They need a serious infusion of talent, and Ryan Poles hasn’t shown any capacity to find it. His first three drafts have yet to yield a single Pro Bowler. He is 15-38 so far in his tenure, including 3-17 against the division. They have zero stars. Getting hammered in Detroit on Sunday was a reminder of how wide the gap remains between this team and legitimate success.
Unless the Bears are willing to admit they made a mistake with Poles, this nightmare won’t end anytime soon.
Sep 14, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson looks on during warmups prior to the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
Losing 52-21 raised all sorts of questions about the direction of your team. Ben Johnson has been on the job for two weeks and already has people questioning his validity. Make no mistake. He isn’t going anywhere. The Chicago Bears hired him to right the ship and you don’t change course after two games. The franchise needs to give him time. The issue is that nobody knows what the direction of this team is. GM Ryan Poles was just extended despite growing evidence that his roster is poorly constructed. Even if the team spirals, it feels like the McCaskeys won’t consider firing him.
That said, it may not matter. Evidence has been growing that Poles may no longer call the shots on roster construction. Multiple insiders have suggested that power has passed to Johnson. The direction of the 2025 offseason offered evidence that, with a heavy focus on offense and targeting players Poles would’ve avoided in previous years. Benjamin Allbright of KOA Colorado chimed in on the situation. He reiterated that Johnson isn’t going anywhere, and he may have plans to make serious changes going into next year.
the Bears were always going to be a project for Johnson, the idea that you would want to fire a Coach after two weeks is laughable you commit to the guy for a three season run
Ben Johnson will use 2025 as an evaluation period.
It is similar to what Dan Campbell did in his first year with the Detroit Lions. That first season in 2021 was brutal, finishing 3-13-1. Going into 2022, significant changes were made. Matthew Stafford was traded to Los Angeles. T.J. Hockenson followed a few months later. Other starters like Trey Flowers, Jaylen Reeves-Maybin, and Nick Williams were shown the door. The team took advantage of some high draft choices to add staples like Aidan Hutchinson and Penei Sewell. After a long struggle, they finally started seeing results halfway through 2022. That is likely how Ben Johnson sees things. He is in the early 2021 Lions phase, evaluating everybody on the roster and pinpointing what changes will be needed.
It is a difficult and sometimes demoralizing process. The hard part is trusting Johnson to know what he’s doing. Bears fans might do well to hunker down and put their mouthguards in. This could get worse before it gets better.
Sep 14, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) scrambles with the ball defended by Chicago Bears defensive end Montez Sweat (98) during the second half of the game at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
It is one thing if your team doesn’t have enough depth at certain positions. It is another when your high-priced players aren’t earning their money. For the Chicago Bears, those crosshairs fall squarely on Montez Sweat. Since week 13 of last season, the veteran defensive end has one sack. That means one sack in eight games after again getting blanked by the Detroit Lions on Sunday. He’s making $25 million this year. The Bears paid him to be their primary rusher, and he has looked nothing like that for the equivalent of half a season.
People have tried making excuses, stating he doesn’t have much help around him. That feels like a weaker excuse than ever. Gervon Dexter is a good player, and Dayo Odeyingbo had a strong first game. He’s not nobody. The truth is, Sweat has just lost his juice. There is no other explanation except maybe healthy, but he hasn’t popped up on the injury report once since this year began. If this trend continues, the Bears will have to make some hard decisions about what to do with him.
Montez Sweat can’t be cut next year, but could be traded.
If the Bears were to deal the defensive end elsewhere, they would secure $16.9 million in cap space. Finding a team willing to take on the contract will be the tricky part. He has two years left at $25 million a pop. It would probably have to be a team with considerable cap space. The Chargers, Raiders, Titans, and, ironically, the Commanders all have the wiggle room to make something happen. Montez Sweat felt like a great investment after his 2023 season. He was dominant for large stretches and looked like a difference-maker. It feels like all the air got sucked out of him after last Thanksgiving. He hasn’t found his footing ever since. The Bears can’t wait on him forever. Their pass rush is a wreck right now, and he is crucial to getting it going. It might be time for a change if this trend doesn’t reverse in the next few months.
Sep 13, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Davis Martin (65) throws a pitch against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Smith only managed to make it through the sixth inning four times in his first 15 starts, with the team managing his workload midway through the season, while Martin suffered a forearm injury that landed him on the IL for over a month.
Now in the final month of the season, both pitchers have surpassed 130 innings, with Martin holding a slight edge at 132.3 innings compared to Smith’s 131.
Martin was tagged for a loss on Saturday, after the offense managed to push across one run on eight hits. However, he still showcased his durability after the injury scare early in the year.
The 28-year-old right-hander allowed just two runs in five innings with three strikeouts and a walk, and could have gone even deeper in the game if not for a dropped third strike in the first inning that forced him to throw an extra 14 pitches.
He has now thrown at least five innings in all but one start since returning from the IL in late July and has not allowed more than three earned runs in a game since August 5th.
While Martin hasn’t generated many whiffs, he has produced a ground ball rate of 45% which has helped him keep opposing hitters at bay. His new kick change has also emerged as the best weapon of his arsenal, with nearly 33 inches of vertical drop.
Had Martin not missed time, he would likely be over 150 innings this season. As things currently stand, he has a career high in innings.
Meanwhile, Smith is coming off an impressive performance against Tampa Bay on September 11, tossing 5.2 scoreless innings, striking out four batters, and allowing only four hits.
Following that start White Sox rookie Chase Meidroth heaped praise on the team’s lone All-Star representative.
“He throws a lot of strikes. Every time he’s on the mound, we should win,” Meidroth told reporters. “ He’s a No. 1 in this league. He’s really good.”
Since August 1, Smith has allowed 14 earned runs across 44.1 innings, while punching out 41 hitters and giving up just 16 free passes. His last start against the Rays also marked the 17th time this season he has allowed four hits or fewer.
Of his 26 starts this season, seven have been scoreless.
The Rule 5 pick out of Milwaukee has emerged as the ace of the rotation and has carved out a role as a potential cornerstone of the rotation. He has posted a 3.78 ERA during his first year as a starter while also throwing more innings than he ever has in his professional career.
Even with several arms waiting in the wings, both Martin and Smith have proven to be arms the White Sox can trust.
Putting a quarterback and head coach together isn’t as easy as having a genius play caller combined with an elite talent. Plenty of pairings that looked great on paper wouldn’t have bombed if that were the case. There must be a similarity of mentality between the two. They don’t necessarily have to like each other. However, they must have the same mindset when it comes to winning. That is where the Chicago Bears might be in trouble. Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams sounded like a fun pairing at first, but two games into the regular season, there are signs the two might not be as compatible as people hoped.
First is Williams’ playing style. He still operates with that backyard style of improvisation. It can be a great weapon at times. However, relying on it can often throw off an offense’s timing. Johnson was known for being meticulous in Detroit. He wants plays run a certain way. That usually doesn’t mesh well with a quarterback who likes to make things up on the fly.
Then there is the personality clash. Quarterback expert Tim Jenkins recently said Williams and Johnson remind him a lot of Russell Wilson and Sean Payton. Everybody remembers how that duo fell apart after one season in Denver. New video footage showed an example of why Williams may not be somebody Johnson likes as the season progresses.
This is what I’m worried about. There’s a difference in mindset between the QB and HC. pic.twitter.com/4ojla3MKUz
Caleb Williams doesn’t seem to take things seriously enough.
That was a major point of contention in some recent news columns. For all his obvious talent, the quarterback didn’t seem to have that laser-focused work ethic you see in great ones. Sure, he puts in work, but doesn’t come across as obsessed with his craft. Look at guys like Brady, Brees, Mahomes, Burrow, and Allen. They’re all built that way. Johnson is also built that way as a coach. He is a perfectionist and a workaholic. Nobody puts in more hours trying to find an edge in everything he does. Try to imagine what it feels like to have a quarterback who sometimes doesn’t seem to care. Smiling on the sideline while you’re down by 17 is not a great look.
Maybe this is an overreaction. Maybe Williams and Johnson will find common ground as the season goes on. Then again, losing has a way of driving wedges between people. It happened to Wilson and Payton. The Bears’ schedule doesn’t get any easier moving forward. They have four more NFC North games and full swings against the NFC East and AFC North. It could get really bad. Nobody should be surprised if things get frosty between those two.
Bears general manager Ryan Poles takes in a game against Detroit as he studies the team's performance
The quarterback was changed. The coaching staff was changed. GM Ryan Poles did everything possible to change the fortunes of the Chicago Bears. Now, through the first two games of 2025, his team is 0-2 and just got crushed 52-21. These humiliations have become all too familiar in Poles’ tenure. Most people put up with them because they knew he was trying to rebuild from scratch. However, it’s now year four. This is when the team should start winning. Instead, the Bears look worse than ever. It is time to say the quiet part out loud.
This roster is still a problem.
Chicago remains far too weak in the trenches, particularly on defense. Their pass rush was non-existent. Do that against good teams and you’re going to pay. Poles never seemed to grasp that reality. Now the Bears are once again hurtling towards a losing season. In normal circumstances, it’s an easy guess to think he’d be fired after so much losing. Unfortunately, the Bears signed him to a contract extension that lined him up with Ben Johnson. There is no way the team would reverse course after just one season, right?
It’s not unprecedented.
The #Bears are now 3-17 vs. the NFCN in the Ryan Poles’ era.
Ryan Poles wouldn’t be the first GM to face this reality.
Jon Robinson signed an extension with the Tennessee Titans in March of 2022. Ten months later, in December, he was fired. Tennessee was in the middle of what became a seven-game losing streak to finish 7-10. Steve Keim is another example. He got extended in March of 2022 but was fired the following January after the Arizona Cardinals finished 4-13. Firing Ryan Poles right after extending him wouldn’t be untrodden ground. Besides, the money wouldn’t be a problem. General managers at most make around $8 million a year. That is chump change compared to some of the player contracts teams eat all the time.
This comes down to the McCaskeys. They’ve been firm supporters of Poles ever since he was hired three years ago. It seems unlikely they would dump him right after locking him up. Then again, nobody thought they’d fire Eberflus midseason either. If this season spirals out of control, which it’s threatening to do, then it might be something they must do.
