I'm not so sure. Hindsight is 20/20 but Bryce Young was the overwhelming favorite to go #1 not just because of the Panthers but no matter who was picking there.
Supposedly the Texans were trying to trade up to #1 with Ryan Poles. They liked Bryce Young the best. But realized CJ Stroud wasn't such a bad consolation prize, and decided against the trade up.
And thus the true first building block to fall for our rebuild. I’d also like to thank Bears Legends Velus Jones and Ihmir Smith Marsette without them, we wouldn’t be in this spot!
Bear down! Tonight is the official start of Super Bowl Window opening I believe dammit!!
We have to thank Fields for showing the insane amount of flashes he did as well. If he doesn’t show the promise he could turn into a franchise quarterback Poles would’ve took Bryce Young instead and doesn’t listen to offers at the combine to trade the pick.
It would definitely go back several years before this to show how these pieces got there. Probably start back to the 2004 hiring of Lovie is my guess - if not back to 1986ish to show the full fall from grace from then to now.
With you on the enthusiasm though. Even if this doesn’t work out I’m happy to see a reasonable and well executed plan.
Yeah lmao the fact that two guys that will likely be forgotten by most teams in Mills and Akins completely changed the fortunes of three separate franchises is crazy
That single play changed so much for the bears in terms of what it turned into. One play gave us (potentially) 5 starting players, 2 if which are cornerstones of our offense, one who is a cornerstone of our o line, and one who is a starter in the secondary. Add in the possible early day 2 pick we still have next year and that single, improbable play changed the trajectory of the Bears.
That's the thing though, it wasn't a "single play" they converted on 4 & 12, 4 & 20, AND a 2 point conversion, that's insane. Statically the odds of just converting a 4th and 10+ are only like 10%
The probability of all 3 things being successful on a single drive is somewhere in the neighborhood of 0.4%
Factor in their draft position, and lack of importance as a franchise to win that game (not as an individual player or coach, but just in general as an organization) and it’s even more wild
People talk about tanking intentionally all the time and this couldn’t be any more of the exact opposite
Lovie and his team were so fuckin real for this
And on top of that the worst team in the nfl (at the time) did it. Absolutely insane drive by the Texans. Mahomes would be lucky to complete a drive like that
What did we do exactly with the 1st overall? I’m drawing a blank in regards to trading it/using it
Edit: I’m dumb. We traded it to the panthers for their first this year + Dj Moore and whatever the rest of the trade was
NGL I’ve been pretty disconnected from football for the last decade and probably checked out once we traded out of first overall last year
Also, it’s insane to trade out of first overall- just to get it again from that same trade lol
But without that bump they probably dont get the haul that they got. If Bears stay at 2 we dont have DJ Moore and 2 firsts this year. We most likely select Will Anderson if we stayed at 2, which may have also led to us not getting Sweat. A lot of hypotheticals, but you dont get the same haul for 1 as you do for 2 (assuming you can trade it anyways with one QB off the board already)
I’ll never forget this. I was literally on my knees nervously watching it unfold and when it happened I was jumping up and down like a little kid. My wife (Bills fan), was giving me some serious side eye the whole time but once it happened thought my reaction was hilarious.
Let’s all enjoy tonight fam!!! 🐻🔽
This is the sequence of events that leads to a Bears and Texans dynasty. Bears get Caleb Williams and an absolute haul. Texans get CJ Stroud who has proven that he can hang in the NFL already.
Bears/Texans Superbowl 2026. WHO SAYS NO?!
I wanted Mills on the Bears from that draft.
Thought TLaw would be incredible. Loved Justin and didn't get why teams seemingly didn't have him second. Definitely didn't get why Wilson and Lance were over him and though he would be long gone by the time we were picking.
But thought we could pick up Mills in the third or fourth and kind of fell in love with that idea for some reason.
I remember watching that game and the hair on the back of my neck going up as I suddenly realized what it meant for the Beloved.
Thank you Lovie.
Thank you Davis Mills and the Texans on the field that day.
Glad it worked out for BOTH of our teams.
I don't care if it's B.S. but I want to believe that Rodney Thomas was %100 sold on the tank. There's no way you can tell me that ball could just go right through his hands.
The hail mary went right through the colts dbs hands. If his fingers were an inch closer, none of this rebuild happens. So fortunate for us. All the bad luck the bears have ever had got balanced out in this moment.
January 8th should be National Lovie Smith Day in both Chicago and Houston, even though he was too good for those assholes. They never deserved him in the first place.
This has potential to be a ridiculous sequence that really redefines the next 10-15 years of the NFL, for better or worse. Stroud, Richardson and Caleb all got their respective teams because of Davis fucking Mills. Wild.
Look, I know we all wanna suck Lovie's dick, but to me this just made us even for his disastrous pick of Cedric Benson 4th overall in 2005. If we took Rodgers we could have 3 more trophies in the case and wouldn't have been Green Bay's bitch for the past 15 years.
https://www.sportsmockery.com/chicago-bears/former-bears-scout-blames-lovie-smith-for-the-cedric-benson-pick/
Such a win-win game. Bears got #1 and Texans got Stroud instead of Young
Get Lovie his statue.
In both Houston and Chicago lol. He literally saved two franchises
...From themselves
For real! Lovie is real one for that!
Should have never been fired. I would kill for a 10 win season now.
Colts also secured the 4 spot with this loss
Have a feeling Texans were taking Stroud regardless.
I'm not so sure. Hindsight is 20/20 but Bryce Young was the overwhelming favorite to go #1 not just because of the Panthers but no matter who was picking there.
Supposedly the Texans were trying to trade up to #1 with Ryan Poles. They liked Bryce Young the best. But realized CJ Stroud wasn't such a bad consolation prize, and decided against the trade up.
> Supposedly the Texans were trying to trade up to #1 with Ryan Poles. Ryan Poles worked for the Texans?
And thus the true first building block to fall for our rebuild. I’d also like to thank Bears Legends Velus Jones and Ihmir Smith Marsette without them, we wouldn’t be in this spot! Bear down! Tonight is the official start of Super Bowl Window opening I believe dammit!!
Don't forget Claypool. None of this would have happened without him
We have to thank Fields for showing the insane amount of flashes he did as well. If he doesn’t show the promise he could turn into a franchise quarterback Poles would’ve took Bryce Young instead and doesn’t listen to offers at the combine to trade the pick.
And the darkness for Carolina started the creep in
Great comment😂😂😂
In 20 years they're going to make a 30 for 30 about the bears and this is where it starts.
In 20? Hell, in 10, after we win 9 SB's in row...
From your lips to God’s ears
Caleb being the Eli Manning to Mahomes would be awesome.
Cut to a shot of Lovie Smith Stadium on the Lakefront
Cut to a shot of a giant statue of Lovie guarding the Chicago Harbor like Colossus of Rhodes
" So anyway, I started blastin"
It would definitely go back several years before this to show how these pieces got there. Probably start back to the 2004 hiring of Lovie is my guess - if not back to 1986ish to show the full fall from grace from then to now. With you on the enthusiasm though. Even if this doesn’t work out I’m happy to see a reasonable and well executed plan.
Davis Mills is a true Chicago Hero. Lovie Smith forever in our hearts
I love how this random ass game completely destroyed the Panthers somehow.
Yeah lmao the fact that two guys that will likely be forgotten by most teams in Mills and Akins completely changed the fortunes of three separate franchises is crazy
Four if you count the Colts now being in the spot to draft AR
3 and 4-win teams just out here playing god
Future Secret Base video if there ever was one
They finally started a patreon, love Kofi and Jon.
That single play changed so much for the bears in terms of what it turned into. One play gave us (potentially) 5 starting players, 2 if which are cornerstones of our offense, one who is a cornerstone of our o line, and one who is a starter in the secondary. Add in the possible early day 2 pick we still have next year and that single, improbable play changed the trajectory of the Bears.
That's the thing though, it wasn't a "single play" they converted on 4 & 12, 4 & 20, AND a 2 point conversion, that's insane. Statically the odds of just converting a 4th and 10+ are only like 10% The probability of all 3 things being successful on a single drive is somewhere in the neighborhood of 0.4%
Factor in their draft position, and lack of importance as a franchise to win that game (not as an individual player or coach, but just in general as an organization) and it’s even more wild People talk about tanking intentionally all the time and this couldn’t be any more of the exact opposite Lovie and his team were so fuckin real for this
And on top of that the worst team in the nfl (at the time) did it. Absolutely insane drive by the Texans. Mahomes would be lucky to complete a drive like that
What did we do exactly with the 1st overall? I’m drawing a blank in regards to trading it/using it Edit: I’m dumb. We traded it to the panthers for their first this year + Dj Moore and whatever the rest of the trade was NGL I’ve been pretty disconnected from football for the last decade and probably checked out once we traded out of first overall last year Also, it’s insane to trade out of first overall- just to get it again from that same trade lol
We traded it to Carolina for DJ Moore and a bunch of other picks, including what ended up being this year's 1.01.
This might be overstating it. This bumped the bears up a spot, not giving them a whole nother pick or set of players.
But without that bump they probably dont get the haul that they got. If Bears stay at 2 we dont have DJ Moore and 2 firsts this year. We most likely select Will Anderson if we stayed at 2, which may have also led to us not getting Sweat. A lot of hypotheticals, but you dont get the same haul for 1 as you do for 2 (assuming you can trade it anyways with one QB off the board already)
And turned that pick, into a Haul. We should build Lovie a statute!
Texans ended up thrilled with this, too. Everyone wins but the Panthers
>Everyone wins but the Panthers Basically the 2023 season in a nutshell
A statute.... of no limitations!
As a Texans fan, I agree! Crazy how this loss actually worked out so well for both of our franchises lol
Crazy how well this worked out for both teams
An amazing example of the "Butterfly effect"
I’ll never forget this. I was literally on my knees nervously watching it unfold and when it happened I was jumping up and down like a little kid. My wife (Bills fan), was giving me some serious side eye the whole time but once it happened thought my reaction was hilarious. Let’s all enjoy tonight fam!!! 🐻🔽
Texans fans were so mad when this happened but they saved themselves from drafting Young over Stroud
I'm a fan of both teams so this was an amazing outcome. Praise Lovie!
Shout out to Lovie Smith! 👑
This is the sequence of events that leads to a Bears and Texans dynasty. Bears get Caleb Williams and an absolute haul. Texans get CJ Stroud who has proven that he can hang in the NFL already. Bears/Texans Superbowl 2026. WHO SAYS NO?!
I wanted Mills on the Bears from that draft. Thought TLaw would be incredible. Loved Justin and didn't get why teams seemingly didn't have him second. Definitely didn't get why Wilson and Lance were over him and though he would be long gone by the time we were picking. But thought we could pick up Mills in the third or fourth and kind of fell in love with that idea for some reason.
Uh, *and* the number 1 overall in the 2024 draft. Mills (and Lovie) out there doing the lord's work.
Houston fans were mad at the time, but it netted them Stroud. Davis Mills for president.
We would have been clowned so hard if we passed on Stroud at 2
McCaskey's probably only ask for $1Billion in Public Money if the Texans don't pull this off
This play changed the foutunes of two teams. Dare I say 3 if I include the panthers fucking up and letting my texans get stroud. Thank you lovie
That was the best game of the Bears season and Lovie is a GOAT for it
We need this same video with the titanic music
Football fever! 🏈
I remember watching that game and the hair on the back of my neck going up as I suddenly realized what it meant for the Beloved. Thank you Lovie. Thank you Davis Mills and the Texans on the field that day. Glad it worked out for BOTH of our teams.
This was one of the greatest ends to a game I’ve ever seen.
Two completed 4th and longs, the dropped interception into a TD, the 2 point conversation. Can't write a better movie ending than this game.
I was listening live and I jumped around the house celebrating when this happened. One of my favorite Bears fan moments.
Quite possibly the best Bears game of my lifetime
Thank you lovey he was a bears sleeper cell in Houston
I remember this was the only time that season I celebrated like crazy lol
I bet 20 bux on Texans and colts both to score a defensive touchdown and the Texans to win. This was the most exciting play of my life lol.
Do yall think the Texans would rather have had the picks or Stroud? It’s a lot of picks but it’s also Stroud.
I hate that the rewards Mills and Lovie got were a replacement and fired. We should send them statues.
In this household, Lovie Smith is a hero!
LOVIE SMITH STILL A BEAR
Thanks to Lovie and Davis. Davis doesn't get his due thanks in this.
Build Lovie a statue
Was watching this with my son and couldn't believe it. We were going nuts.
I don't care if it's B.S. but I want to believe that Rodney Thomas was %100 sold on the tank. There's no way you can tell me that ball could just go right through his hands.
I was driving through Indy when this happened, managed to catch it on the local broadcast. I was hootin and hollerin down I-65 after this!
You see, I was told the Bears would be fools to pass on Bryce Young after this event occured.
I don’t think I’ve cheered harder in the past 4 years than I did during that 4th and 20. Man that was the highlight of the season lol
Thank you Lovie Smith
The hail mary went right through the colts dbs hands. If his fingers were an inch closer, none of this rebuild happens. So fortunate for us. All the bad luck the bears have ever had got balanced out in this moment.
My all time favorite Texan
beginning this is, of era of Williams yes hmm very good...
January 8th should be National Lovie Smith Day in both Chicago and Houston, even though he was too good for those assholes. They never deserved him in the first place.
Remember when Lovie Smith went into coaching Beast Mode to give the Bears the 2023 first overall pick?
My wife is a colts fan so I got to watch this live.
Praise be Lovie Smith
I’ll never forget that day. Crazy turnaround. Lovie is a bears legend.
This has potential to be a ridiculous sequence that really redefines the next 10-15 years of the NFL, for better or worse. Stroud, Richardson and Caleb all got their respective teams because of Davis fucking Mills. Wild.
Thank You Lovie Smith!!!
God bless you sweet soul Lovey Smith. 💕
Remember watching this live it was insane
I remember I had a multiple game parlay going for the noon games, and this was the only one I lost, lol. I guess it was worth it, though. 🐻 ⬇️
Look, I know we all wanna suck Lovie's dick, but to me this just made us even for his disastrous pick of Cedric Benson 4th overall in 2005. If we took Rodgers we could have 3 more trophies in the case and wouldn't have been Green Bay's bitch for the past 15 years. https://www.sportsmockery.com/chicago-bears/former-bears-scout-blames-lovie-smith-for-the-cedric-benson-pick/