Thanksgiving is a great time to reflect on the year that's nearly complete. And for the first time in what feels like forever, Chicago Bears fans have much to be thankful for. More on that in a bit.
Before I get too Bearsy, I want to take a second to thank you, the Bears fan who's come along for the ride on Bears Talk since our soft launch during the 2022 NFL Draft. It's been an incredible seven months. I took a leap of faith and left the comfortable confines of writing for well-known media outlets to launch this digital product. The growth of Bears Talk has been beyond my wildest expectations; it's a testament to the passion of the Bears fan.
I can't wait for the months ahead. The offseason has traditionally been 'our' season as Bears fans, and while this year will feel a little different because of QB1, it'll still be a blast. We're going to cover free agency and the 2023 NFL Draft from every angle here on Bears Talk, and I'm confident we'll have the best Bears-specific NFL Draft content on the web.
I decided to launch a premium product here on Bears Talk. Premium content will be added daily at a fraction of the cost of other Bears/Chicago fan sites. I hope you consider a subscription, especially during NFL Draft season. I'll leverage my contacts inside NFL organizations and player agencies to get you the best and most reliable intel available. These annoying ads disappear for premium members, too.
Now, back to the Bears.
What a year it's been. Sure, the record is brutal at 3-8, but unlike previous seasons when a record like that would mean the QB-next watch is in overdrive, the Bears don't have that problem anymore. Instead, Chicago has Justin Fields, who may just be the most exciting and naturally gifted player in the NFL.
Let that settle in, Bears fans. Chicago's quarterback may just be the best damn player in the league.
I've been covering the Bears for nearly a decade. My passion and fandom for the team span several decades beyond that. I've never felt this optimistic about the Bears, even during the Lovie Smith era, one headlined by a dominant defense and a Super Bowl berth in 2006. That was a team that won in spite of QB Rex Grossman. This is a team that will win because of Justin Fields.
Fields is the kind of quarterback who could realistically unseat players like Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen as the QB1 in the NFL. Sure, he still needs development as a passer before non-Bears fans buy in. I'm confident he'll get there.
And that's why this year is just so different. It's that confidence in the quarterback that has me -- and I'm sure you -- so thankful for what I've watched over the first 11 games of 2022. More importantly, I'm thankful that this team has given me hope and optimism for the future. When was the last time you felt this kind of hope for the Bears?
Bears fans usually only feel this emotion after the first round of the NFL Draft, when a highly-picked first-rounder joins the roster as the savior who will pull the team from the depths of the season before. And, usually, he fails.
Finally, Bears fans are getting that hope from a quarterback. From a player who's incredible on the field, an incredible leader off the field, and pound-for-pound, one of the toughest dudes in the league.
The rest of the roster needs work. I know this, and so do you. But NFL teams can't compete for a Super Bowl without that quarterback. The Bears will be a Super Bowl contender for the first time in the modern era because they have their QB1. Raise a glass to that!
Enjoy your Thanksgiving, Bears fans. In this bubble of Bears fandom, there's a lot to be thankful for.