Good morning, Bears fans!
I hope everyone had a nice Memorial Day weekend … and that you have less work ahead of you today than the Illinois state senate.
Lawmakers were apparently in Springfield over the holiday, but I still wonder if politicians are capable of getting the Sunday Monday scaries.
— Kevin Kaduk
Summer is here and training camp isn’t far off. You need some fresh t-shirts and hats to wear around the practice fields … and also by the grill, on the boat or at the park.
That’s where Talley Brand comes in. Rob is a Bears fan who makes gear that instantly identifies you as a fan of the beloved, no matter where you wear it. He sent me a nice haul the other week and as a hat guy, I can’t get over how much I love the hats.
In fact, I love them so much that I’m sending one to a Bears By 7 member this week as a way to say thanks for supporting the newsletter.
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01 Bears Offseason
Halas Hall Getting Busy Again
Lake Forest will be the place to be the next few weeks as two voluntary OTA sessions and a mandatory minicamp take place before summer break.
• Tomorrow to Friday: OTAs
• June 2-4: OTAs
• June 9-10: Mandatory minicamp
02 Stadium News
Last-Minute Bid For A Deal?
It might have to be that way. The Illinois senate has until Sunday to work through a number of initiatives, including a revised Megaprojects Bill that works for both the Bears and state taxpayers. Arlington Heights mayor Jim Tinaglia is optimistic for a Hail Mary heave … though Caleb Williams probably isn’t walking through those chamber doors.
03 Off The Field
Bears rookies hit Wrigley
The team’s new crop hit the Friendly Confines on Friday with Ben Johnson. The visit didn’t shake the Cubs’ from their recent slump … their losing streak hit nine games on Sunday afternoon.
1️⃣1️⃣0️⃣ Days Until The Season Opener
🎂 Bears Birthdays: Mark Anderson (43), Brian Urlacher (Monday - 48)
The Kyler Gordon Problem
There are few things more frustrating for a football fan than really liking a player who can’t stay on the field.
But that’s where we currently sit with Kyler Gordon.
The nickel back is again dealing with a soft-tissue injury, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reported on Friday.
When Gordon is healthy, he’s a difference maker. Few Bears defenders can produce the type of excitement Gordon does when he executes a successful nickel blitz and punctuates it with a Spider-Man celebration.
Gordon’s performance over his first three seasons was enough to earn him a three-year, $40 million extension ($31.25 mil guaranteed) in April 2025. The deal, which kicks in this season, made Gordon the highest-paid slot corner in the league.
But Gordon’s lower-body injuries started almost immediately after signing that deal. He missed time in training camp and spent two long stints on the injured reserve with a combination of leg, groin and calf injuries.
Now Gordon is struggling again, despite making it back on the field for the playoffs (and a sack of Matt Stafford in the game against the Rams).
So what to make of last week’s report?
Well, it goes without saying that there’s still plenty of time before Week 1.
But let’s also be honest: You don’t earn the benefit of the doubt when you’re coming off a three-game season due to soft-tissue injuries.
Gordon was among a handful of unreliable players in 2025 that contributed to the defense’s low standing in the league. Given his elevated paycheck, it’s an even bigger problem if it remains an issue in 2026.
The good news is that there’s been plenty of time for the Bears to address the situation.
Texas CB Malik Muhammad might prove to be a steal in the fourth round and could get serious playing time from the start.
Anthony Johnson Jr. was added to the roster last week and the versatile safety combination of Coby Bryant/Dillon Thieneman gives Dennis Allen the ability to be aggressive in a variety of ways.
Still, the ideal situation is that Ryan Poles’ first draft pick (Gordon) recovers and returns to the form that earned him a top-of-the-league deal.
The secondary should be a point of strength with the resources it’s currently sucking up and any missed time from Gordon makes for a unit operating at less than ideal strength.
I wish I had a better feel for the individual, but with him being out as much as he has, I haven’t really gotten to see him on the field and competing to get to know him like I’d like to.”
Does this look like a man worried about the fate of the megaprojects bill?
Caleb Williams isn’t listed among this writer’s top five candidates for the cover of Madden 27. (NFL.com)
Bears QB coach JT Barrett wants Caleb to “do less” this year. (Sun-Times)
Luis Medina wonders why the Bears aren’t on Sunday Night Football more. (Bleacher Nation)
The NFL’s top-two graded rookies when it comes to pass catching? None other than Luther Burden and Colston Loveland (Pro Football Network)
This new officially-licensed Rome Odunze shirt from Breaking T is fantastic. (Breaking T - Affiliate link)
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