Bears 2025

[Coach Nowlin]

2 hours ago, Boilernation said:

Sounds like Fraley has decent shot at OC in Seattle. I've never been to the 31st Street Lot. Is that a hike to walk to the stadium from? I think that's the area Warren is now eyeing to build a stadium IF they don't build in Arlington Heights. Supposedly, the chances of them getting taxpayer funds for a stadium are more likely if they build in the area of 31st Street.

oh I don't think that is the area you thinking of, 31st lot is just SOUTH of the McCormick Center, its like $40-$50 to park there, then you can either take the shuttle or walk about 15 mins or so.... got to go thru the long McCormick Place tunnel to then get to the Waldran Deck Lot, cross street, under Lake Shore Dr, then enter towards the stadium.....

The longest, saddest walk I had was thanks to Chris Conte.......  @Irishman will remember it well.    sigh......

 

[Coach Nowlin]

There was talk about building a dome in the SOUTH LOT, that is just south of the Waldren Deck.... the nicer $100 a spot for season ticket/ corp holders......I do not mess with that ....too expensive.....thats the lot George typically walks around.    

Lakeshore area is such a driving nightmare.  my good friends who live in the city with tickets, they literally have to walk to like Michigan Ave to catch an UBER to get back to Logan Square like 4 miles away.....horrendous 

Arlington makes SO MUCH SENSE ...... lets see 

[Boilernation]

24 minutes ago, Coach Nowlin said:

There was talk about building a dome in the SOUTH LOT, that is just south of the Waldren Deck.... the nicer $100 a spot for season ticket/ corp holders......I do not mess with that ....too expensive.....thats the lot George typically walks around.    

Lakeshore area is such a driving nightmare.  my good friends who live in the city with tickets, they literally have to walk to like Michigan Ave to catch an UBER to get back to Logan Square like 4 miles away.....horrendous 

Arlington makes SO MUCH SENSE ...... lets see 

My dad grew up in Logan Square. I can still remember riding my bike around the neighborhood as a kid when visiting my grandparents. I think it's gentrified into a hipster neighborhood. 

Somewhere around 31st Street is the area of the old Michael Reese Hospital and that has turned into a potential landing spot for a "lakefront" stadium since the South Lot is looking like a no go. 

IDK. I listened to Kevin Warren on ESPN Chicago yesterday and they really pressed him about Arlington Heights. He definately made it clear Arlington Heights is still in play. Like you said Makes so much sense. Own your own stadium and build an entertainment district around it. Plus, good commuter access with a Metra Line that runs through the property and a highway to the west. I've only been to 1 Bears game at Soldier Field and was fortunate enough to have a parking pass in the underground Museum Campus lot which had an elevator that went up to our Suite level. I've heard horror stories of how hard it is to walk to Soldier if you're not a lot right next to the stadium. I hear walking over from the South Loop is also hurrendous due to having to navigate to one of the bridgest that crosses over the CTA lines.

Edited January 23, 2025 by Boilernation

[Coach Nowlin]

3 minutes ago, Boilernation said:

My dad grew up in Logan Square. I can still remember riding my bike around the neighborhood as a kid when visiting my grandparents. I think it's gentrified into a hipster neighborhood. 

Somewhere around 31st Street is the area of the old Michael Reese Hospital and that has turned into a potential landing spot for a "lakefront" stadium since the South Lot is looking like a no go. 

IDK. I listened to Kevin Warren on ESPN Chicago yesterday and they really pressed him about Arlington Heights. He definately made it clear Arlington Heights is still in play. Like you said Makes so much sense. Own your own stadium and build an entertainment district around it. Plus, good commuter access with a Metra Line that runs through the property and a highway to the west. I've only been to 1 Bears game at Soldier Field and was fortunate enough to have a parking pass in the underground Museum Campus lot which had an elevator that went up to our Suite level. I've heard horror stories of how hard it is to walk to Soldier if you're not a lot right next to the stadium. I hear walking over from the South Loop is also hurrendous due to having to navigate to one of the bridgest that crosses over the CTA lines.

Nice, my good friend, former college roommate flipped an old local car dealership/repair shop right on Fullerton, into a "Vintage Sports Club".   6000 sq ft outdoor patio, so much fun.... I play bocce ball there every Wednesday night in my winter off season between coaching football and golf.    Easy 1 hour in and out.   So much fun.   

parkandfieldchicago.com 

if ever up that way,...... summer/spring outside when nice, unbelievable scene 

 

 

[Irishman]

2 hours ago, Coach Nowlin said:

 

The longest, saddest walk I had was thanks to Chris Conte.......  @Irishman will remember it well.    sigh......

 

You don't mean his missed pick when Quarless caught the pass to keep the drive alive to pull within 1 do you? 🙂 That 2013 game to end the season very well may be THE best Packers Bears game in my life. There have been bigger wins for Green Bay, but that was 2 solid teams trading haymakers for 4 quarters. The Packers had something like 4 or 5 4th down conversions on that drive, including the go ahead score. 

Forte may have been the last great RB for the Bears, right? 

[Coach Nowlin]

Concur on Forte......  THis would be the one...... Trestman's first year afte rthey fired Lovie 10-6, then go 8-8 , beat Packers at home and win division..........Then that happened.......    2011 was real bad but not as close....NFC champsionshp game

 

[Coach Nowlin]

Hitting the You Tubes last night before bed time, the media ciruit went on

My favorite was Breakfast Ball .......that was a good one 

Didn't know much about the personality of Coach Johnson and all that, been very impressed with his tone and his answers during the media circus last 2 days.    

 

[Sparty]

With Slowik being fired in Houston, would that be a good hire for Johnson as the Bears OC?  I know BJ will likely call the plays (maybe he’s already addressed this), but Slowik was a HUGE name in last season’s HC circles.  

[Boilernation]

9 minutes ago, Sparty said:

With Slowik being fired in Houston, would that be a good hire for Johnson as the Bears OC?  I know BJ will likely call the plays (maybe he’s already addressed this), but Slowik was a HUGE name in last season’s HC circles.  

Johnson is calling the plays. I'm not sure how good of an OC you can get if the HC is calling plays. Seems like it would be a good roll for a younger guy who wants to be mentored by Johnson. Or someone like Nagy in Kansas City who may never get another HC job. 

Edited January 24, 2025 by Boilernation

[Boilernation]

2 hours ago, Coach Nowlin said:

Hitting the You Tubes last night before bed time, the media ciruit went on

My favorite was Breakfast Ball .......that was a good one 

Didn't know much about the personality of Coach Johnson and all that, been very impressed with his tone and his answers during the media circus last 2 days.    

 

His interview with Carmen and Jurko was pretty good. Jurko brought up the fact the Bears went very light in Camp and thought that was a bad idea by Flus. Johnson believes in going live in Camp so the guys are ready to be hit. He firmly believed Detroit had good offensive YAC because of allowing physicality in their practices. Of course, being an analytics guy he said they would rely on sports science data to determine when to go live in Camp. 

2 hours ago, Coach Nowlin said:

Hitting the You Tubes last night before bed time, the media ciruit went on

My favorite was Breakfast Ball .......that was a good one 

Didn't know much about the personality of Coach Johnson and all that, been very impressed with his tone and his answers during the media circus last 2 days.    

 

You can tell he's an extremely intelligent guy. I believe he majored in mathematics at UNC. His brother is an MIT grad. 

[Boilernation]

23 hours ago, Coach Nowlin said:

Nice, my good friend, former college roommate flipped an old local car dealership/repair shop right on Fullerton, into a "Vintage Sports Club".   6000 sq ft outdoor patio, so much fun.... I play bocce ball there every Wednesday night in my winter off season between coaching football and golf.    Easy 1 hour in and out.   So much fun.   

parkandfieldchicago.com 

if ever up that way,...... summer/spring outside when nice, unbelievable scene 

 

 

That place looks awesome. I'll have to check it out this summer. 

[Sparty]

1 hour ago, Boilernation said:

Johnson is calling the plays. I'm not sure how good of an OC you can get if the HC is calling plays. Seems like it would be a good roll for a younger guy who wants to be mentored by Johnson. Or someone like Nagy in Kansas City who may never get another HC job. 

My thought is like how Qb’s move into a new coach/scheme, learn and come out much better.  Kind of like Darnold this year.  Polish up a bit. Learn some new things.  Back out for a TRUE OC job next cycle.  

[Coach Nowlin]

1 hour ago, Boilernation said:

That place looks awesome. I'll have to check it out this summer. 

Tell him nugg sent you....... 

 

It is really cool concept.  But yes , hipster sure.  It's a 25-35 crowd.....dogs ...kids ....all good. 

52 minutes ago, Sparty said:

My thought is like how Qb’s move into a new coach/scheme, learn and come out much better.  Kind of like Darnold this year.  Polish up a bit. Learn some new things.  Back out for a TRUE OC job next cycle.  

Yeah for sure.   

He Said he's going to look for somebody in his tree that he's been with at some point first for coaching positions guys he knows and trusts.  

One thing that stuck out was he learned earlier in his OC career to let his assistants coach and as he was a little bit more of a micromanager early in his coordinator days and then learned to let go of those rains and let those guys work the way they need to work because that's what they've been hired to do.  

From all accounts that I have seen and articles media clips.   Lot of the beat guys who've been falling to Bears for sometimes decades. All have been talked about the impact that Warren has had made on the McCaskeys and making them understand what modern NFL looks like and this is how they landed, who they landed and how they landed him.  

Now go get Arlington built.  

[Sparty]

12 minutes ago, Coach Nowlin said:

Tell him nugg sent you....... 

 

It is really cool concept.  But yes , hipster sure.  It's a 25-35 crowd.....dogs ...kids ....all good. 

Yeah for sure.   

He Said he's going to look for somebody in his tree that he's been with at some point first for coaching positions guys he knows and trusts.  

One thing that stuck out was he learned earlier in his OC career to let his assistants coach and as he was a little bit more of a micromanager early in his coordinator days and then learned to let go of those rains and let those guys work the way they need to work because that's what they've been hired to do.  

From all accounts that I have seen and articles media clips.   Lot of the beat guys who've been falling to Bears for sometimes decades. All have been talked about the impact that Warren has had made on the McCaskeys and making them understand what modern NFL looks like and this is how they landed, who they landed and how they landed him.  

Now go get Arlington built.  

Antwan to Chicago is what I just read.  lol.  

[Coach Nowlin]

Explain lol ?

[Sparty]

3 hours ago, Coach Nowlin said:

Explain lol ?

Your 1st paragraph 

[Coach Nowlin]

🙂 

I dominate the Indiana Promotional role for my guy !!!  

 

[Coach Nowlin]

J.T. Barrett elevated to QB coach coming from Detroit. 

Al Harris rumored as well, 

Like getting former players on staff in roles like this.  Especially when previous staff was soft 

Bring Back Hitting in SPRING TIME and at CAMP !!!!
 

[Sparty]

I was in the right track.  Bears working deal to bring Antwan Randle El to Chicago as WR coach and Assistant HC

[Coach Nowlin]

 

Like I have said before. The fact Trace Armstrong was fired and Rick Smith hired.  That's when the new era of Bears football began 

 

https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2025/1/24/24351399/call-the-chicago-bears-and-get-a-deal-done-eye-opening-interview-with-ben-johnsons-agent-rick-smith

[Boilernation]

 

On 1/25/2025 at 9:39 AM, Sparty said:

I was in the right track.  Bears working deal to bring Antwan Randle El to Chicago as WR coach and Assistant HC

Bringing the South Sider back to Chicago. He and Tai Streets played together on a very good Thornton Township team in Harvey. 

[Coach Nowlin]

 

 

Don't know much about this fella. I'm going to have to do some digging

[Sparty]

46 minutes ago, Coach Nowlin said:

 

 

Don't know much about this fella. I'm going to have to do some digging

Seems like he will fit in well with his fellow Irish in ChiCAWgo

[Coach Nowlin]

Anyone from the Sean Payton tree is a great tree for Offensive teams.  THat much I do know 

[Sparty]

3 minutes ago, Coach Nowlin said:

Anyone from the Sean Payton tree is a great tree for Offensive teams.  THat much I do know 

Speaking of which, whatever happened to Pete Carmichael?   He was the long time “OC” in Nawlins with Sean Payton.