Football Season’s Over (for the Bears)
There was another miraculous finish in regulation time for the Bears on Sunday, but in overtime, a wonderful season ended.
Caleb Williams, the iceman, ran backwards to unleash an amazing pass to Cole Kmet in the back of the end zone to create overtime against the frozen Rams.
But as an improbable victory appeared in the Bears’ grasp, a Williams pass was picked off. (Where was D.J. Moore?) The irresistible offense of the Rams drove to field goal range, and the “Thicker Kicker” put the winner through the uprights.
What happened? Williams had three interceptions, the last being the most consequential. But as he had all season, the Iceman (apologies to George Gervin) was responsible for plays that kept the Bears breathing, including a scramble for a crucial first down near the end of the game.
If you ask me, the Bears big problem was the inability to run the ball in short-yardage situations. Third and one, fourth and one. They should be gimmes.
But with left tackle Ozzy Trapilo out, the Bears decided to scramble their stalwart offensive line. They moved all-pro guard Joe Thuney to tackle and started No. 74 Jordan McFadden.
The upside: With Thuney protecting him, Caleb didn’t have to avoid the usual quick pressure from the blind side.
The downside: The line lost its cohesion, and the Bears predictably ran right and got stuffed in the process.
We watched the game at home with a screaming friend. It was that kind of game. Many plays could have been the turning point, but the Bears fell short.
The theme of most of the follow up coverage of the game I’ve heard was that it was a disappointing end to the season but the Bears have a promising future. After a disastrous season in which they fired their coach and seemed in disarray in 2024, in 2025 they found a coach in Ben Johnson and their quarterback proved to be a winner, something not seen in Chicago for decades.
In football, future success is promised to no one. That said, when does training camp open?
DOES BRADY EAT PEPPERONI?
Doing my day job, I got ahold of statistics about how much money is going to athletes for doing commercials.
According to XR, a company that manages payments for commercial productions, the paid guaranteed money going to athletes, actors, musicians and other personalities for appear in TV ads was more than $1 billion in 2025. That’s up 47% since 2019.
The biggest chunk of that is going to athletes, almost $250 million. Payments to athletes are rising quickly, up 106% since 2019.
Pay for NBA players was up 200% and for NFL players saw a 145% increase.
Once upon a time, athletes used to get paid for doing cigarette ads. And if you’re my age, you might remember Joe Namath doing ads for Noxzema and pantyhose, or Mean Joe Greene pitching Pepsi.
With their dynasty, the Chiefs got a lot of endorsement opportunities, especially QB Pat Mahomes, coach Andy Reid and TE Travis Kelce, aka Mr. Taylor Swift. Kelce’s retired brother Jason also appears in an endless stream of ads.
This season it seems like Buffalo Bill Josh Allen is Madison Avenue’s new darling. He’s in ads for Pepsi, Snickers, Gillette, Wonderful Pistachios, Buffalo Wild Wings, Frito-Lay’s and Paramount Plus.
To me the oddest ad is Tom Brady appearing in ads for Pizza Hut. The concept is amusing–Brady barking out pizza HUT!, as if he’s calling signals. Brady’s got more money than he knows what to do with. Why is he doing Pizza Hut ads? And isn’t he supposed to be a health nut and influencer? I can’t see him eating a whole slice with pepperoni. Can you?
MONEYBALL
Kyle Tucker, who played for the Cubs last season, signed with the Dodgers. Already the team with the biggest payroll, Tucker’s deal calls for him to get $240 million over four years with a $64 million signing bonus, according to published reports.
That deal brings the Dodgers payroll for next season to about $414 million. Does it ensure winning a third-straight World Series? Not necessarily. But the disparity between what the Dodgers are spending for stars like Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddy Freeman et al and what other teams are paying is striking.
Check out this chart from Sportico if you don’t believe me:
