This year’s Piccolo Award winners:
T.J. Edwards
Colston Loveland

Edwards is the first three-time winner since Olin Kreutz.

The award is “voted annually by Bears players to recognize teammates who best exemplify the courage, loyalty, teamwork and dedication that defined Brian Piccolo’s legacy.”

How did Chicago Bears GM Ryan Poles’ first draft turn out? Grading the 2022 class Four years after Poles' first draft as an NFL GM, there's plenty to unpack on the full evaluation of that class.

Ahead of Ryan Poles’ fifth draft as Bears GM, @danwiederer.bsky.social and I begin what will be an annual project: grading draft classes after four seasons.

Here’s our analysis of the 2022 draft

Caleb Williams: "One of the first things (Ben Johnson and I) talked about when we met two days after the (Rams) game is it's going to be more. More difficult. 'I'm going to push you more.' And my answer is, 'Yes sir, let's do it.' It's I have a goal, he has a goal and they align with each other."

Anonymous NFL Draft intel: Fernando Mendoza better prospect than Cam Ward, Drake Maye? In what was once expected to be a great quarterback draft, most of the 2026 NFL Draft feels average, except for safeties and edges.

Bears fans will definitely want to check out @brucefeldmancfb.bsky.social's NFL Draft intel. Outstanding info, especially on the top defensive prospects

Cole Kmet has seen the highlight of his touchdown against the Rams often, but he said, "I have to remind people we lost the freaking game."

As for playing in two playoff games at Solder Field: "Experiences I'll never forget." Said it's added motivation to go after home-field advantage.

Players reported to Halas Hall today. We're talking to a few.

TE Cole Kmet was asked about a change in outside expectations leading into this season: "Our expectations in the building never change, it's to go win the Super Bowl. ... Quite frankly, those are the only expectations that we look at."

Chicago Bears mock draft 2026: First-round pick, sleeper targets and day 3 steals In our final Bears mock draft, we look at the best ways for GM Ryan Poles to address areas of need, like the D-line and safety.

One final 7-round Bears mock to kick off Draft Week (with @danwiederer.bsky.social).

I went LT-DE-WR-S-C/G-DT-C

Well, the Bears couldn’t compete with the No. 10 pick (that is, if they were in the mix).

Did Steve Kerr just start his Warriors goodbye? He sounds ready for anything The coach who presided over one of the great NBA dynasties doesn't have a contract for next season. And he sounds free, no matter what.

Steve Kerr and the potential goodbye

www.nytimes.com/athletic/720...

“Nothing replaces experience. And because of the technology of the iPhone now, you can sit in the stands at basically any ballpark and basically do play by play.” — Len Kasper

Bears NFL Draft big board: Options for GM Ryan Poles on all 3 days (Gift Article) The Bears have four of the first 90 picks. To sustain success, they have to hit. Here are players to consider for draft weekend.

Bears Big Board 3.0…
• 15 players to consider at No. 25
• 19 options for 57 and 60
• 3 centers (and 6 others) for No. 89
• And 25 prospects to keep in mind for Day 3
Have at it (free to read)

Blackhawks sign GM Kyle Davidson to multiyear contract extension Blackhawks chairman and CEO Danny Wirtz expressed his utmost confidence in Davidson for the foreseeable future.

Kyle Davidson's won-loss record as GM isn't pretty, but he's built arguably the best prospect pool in the league. That was enough for Danny Wirtz to give Davidson a contract extension. Here's @scottpowers.bsky.social's initial story:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/720...

I still can’t believe DePaul landed one of the best bigs in the portal. Over Kentucky! Gwath is an elite rim protector with the mobility to give you some coverage versatility. He even started ripping threes last year (despite still being a bad FT shooter). Chris Holtmann is cookin’ baby

damn it. eventful*

Bears GM Ryan Poles seeks NFL Draft exclamation point after eventful March A surprise retirement. A headline-grabbing trade. High-profile exits. Poles' challenging spring will continue with next week's NFL Draft.

At the owners meetings, colleague @danwiederer.bsky.social sat with Bears GM Ryan Poles, who reflected on an eventual start to the league year. Story

Kasper also has some fun stories about interning for the Milwaukee Bucks in the early 90's. Links to listen/download...

Apple
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...

Spotify
open.spotify.com/episode/4CHU...

Overcast overcast.fm/+ABOeBE5oOVU

Pocket casts pca.st/episode/056d...

Episode 54: Len Kasper, Chicago White Sox play-by-play broadcaster YouTube video by Breaking In With Kevin Fishbain

"Breaking In with Kevin Fishbain" episode 54

Guest: Len Kasper

How did the White Sox radio voice get his start in sports broadcasting? As a sports talk radio host in Milwaukee, Kasper needed some generosity from the Beloit Snappers announcer to start getting reps. Here's his origin story

Full 2026 NFL mock draft: Dane Brugler predicts all 7 rounds and 257 picks How will this year's NFL Draft play out? Our expert takes his best shot at predicting every pick.

In his 7-round mock, @danebrugler.bsky.social goes edge-DT-S-C-CB-G/C-DT for the Bears

Bears new numbers, for those of you keeping score at home...
Coby Bryant 2
Jahdae Walker 9
Devin Bush 12
Kalif Raymond 14
Cam Lewis 21
Nephi Sewell 45
Jack Sanborn 57
Garrett Bradbury 67
Jedrick Wills Jr. 71
Neville Gallimore 90
Kentavius Street 93
James Lynch 97

Former Arizona Cardinals head coach Dave McGinnis dies at 74 (Gift Article) A longtime NFL assistant coach, McGinnis nearly became the Bears' head coach in 1999, but the team botched the hiring and he walked away.

Dave McGinnis wanted nothing more than to be the head coach of the Bears. But the team botched his hiring in 1999.

He went on to become head coach of the Cardinals and later worked on Titans radio.

@danpompei.bsky.social with the obit, free to read:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/719...

Last year belonged to the world. This year belongs to Rory and the McIlroys

Rory McIlroy’s first Masters win was so big, and so cathartic, and so history-bending, that it had to be a shared experience.

This one? It was in the family.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/719...

Podcast for your weekend: Learn how Pat Hughes got his start in sports broadcasting.

Apple
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...

Spotify
open.spotify.com/episode/2rmH...

Overcast overcast.fm/+ABOeBH8vgzE

Pocket casts pca.st/episode/e8eb...

Chicago Bears and ‘The Beast’: What we can learn about potential draft targets Knowing the Bears' positional needs and what they prefer from players, what can Dane Brugler's scouting reports tell us?

Been flipping through “The Beast” by @danebrugler.bsky.social with a Bears lens. Here are a few takeaways on players who might fit

“If you go to the ballpark and you don’t have fun and laugh out loud several times every day, you’re missing the point.” — Pat Hughes

“Breaking in with Kevin Fishbain” episode 53

Guest: Pat Hughes

Our conversation begins with the time Pat had 16 assists in a basketball game and ends with his advice to aspiring broadcasters.

🍎 podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...

🟢 open.spotify.com/episode/2rmH...

📺 youtu.be/qWt_ICaZvfM?...

NFL Draft 2026 ‘The Beast’ Guide: Dane Brugler’s definitive scouting reports and player rankings Dane Brugler’s in-depth scouting reports and rankings for more than 2,700 prospects. Quarterbacks, wide receivers, edge rushers, the top 100 overall and more — all in one place.

Draft fans, it’s Christmas morning. “The Beast” by @danebrugler.bsky.social is here. More than 2,700 prospects ranked, 300 in-depth scouting reports. Have at it

Thank you!! Much appreciated.

Tomorrow on the pod 👀

Bears roster tiers: Colston Loveland, Luther Burden join team’s long-term core In the sixth annual Bears roster tiers, the players are organized into tiers reflecting their long-term viability in Chicago.

I'm back, and so are the Bears Roster Tiers, sixth annual edition.

- Who are the team's foundational players?
- Which recent draft picks could move into that tier with a breakout season?
- How much depth has Ryan Poles added?
- What do the 2027 cap hits tell us about the roster makeup?

Connor Bedard reflects on the Blackhawks season that was, not what might have been Despite a shoulder injury and missing out on the Olympics, Bedard is proud of where he and the Blackhawks are at to end the season.

Would Connor Bedard and the Blackhawks have had a similar season to Macklin Celebrini and the Sharks had Bedard not gotten hurt in December? It was trending that way.

But Bedard is looking forward, not back: "I’m going to get better every year.”

Story:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/717...