👋 Good morning!

Schedule Release Day is one of those truly fascinating days on the NFL calendar.

Not only does each release video from every franchise have the same production value as a Hollywood blockbuster, but we also get to see full record predictions in May.

There’s nothing like it. And I wouldn’t want it any other way.

…9-8. Lock it in.

– Patrick Norton

The schedule is officially here.

The Bears are slated to play five exclusive-window games in 2025, including at least three in traditional primetime:

My takeaways on the Bears’ schedule:

QUESTIONABLE QBS: If you have two, three, four, or even five quarterbacks, do you have one?

Not only will the Bears have the luxury of facing these four situations, they’ll do it from the comfort of Soldier Field each time.

It balances out, though, as the Bears will have to visit Jayden Daniels, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Jalen Hurts, and Brock Purdy on the road.

NO THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL: This is the first time in franchise history that the Bears will play on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday in the same season.

It’s also the first time they won’t appear on Thursday Night Football since 2021, and it’s the first time since 2011 that they won’t play on a Thursday at all.

The Bears will still appear on Prime Video in an exclusive window, but that'll come in Week 13 in Philadelphia against the Eagles on Black Friday.

Their last showcase on Thursday Night Football didn’t go very well last December, when Caleb Williams and the Bears failed to reach the endzone in an excruciating 6-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

Why is this unusual? A rule change in 2023 ended a short-lived policy that required teams to appear in a Thursday game at least once per season. In the last three seasons, the Bears had appeared on Thursday five times.

GO DEEPER: My full thoughts on the Bears’ 2025 schedule, including opportunities for revenge.

P.S. Thanks to everybody who tuned into last night’s schedule reveal breakdown!

SERIES CLOSERS: The Cubs are 4-11 this season when closing out a series. That odd trend continued last night, as the bats just wouldn’t come alive for the Cubs against the Marlins in a 3-1 loss. To quote Meat Loaf, two out of three ain’t bad.

ABOVE .500: The White Sox will have an opportunity to sweep the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati later today. With last night’s 4-2 victory, the club is 7-6 in the month of May and playing solid baseball heading into a weekend series on the North Side against the Cubs.

In two games in this series, Davis Martin and Jonathan Cannon have combined for 12.2 IP while allowing just one earned run. On the bump for the Sox today is Bryse Wilson, who is still looking for his first win with the club.

⚾️ White Sox @ Reds
11:40 on CHSN

📺 CHGO Bears
12:00 on YouTube

📺 CHGO Blackhawks
2:00 on YouTube

📺 CHGO White Sox
POSTGAME on YouTube

📺 CHGO Bulls
4:00 on YouTube

📺 CHGO Cubs Related
8:00 on CHGO Cubs YT