Kevin Burkhardt, well-known NFL announcer and the man who called the Chicago Bears' overtime win over the Packers in week 16, recently joined Jeff Joniak on his podcast, where he shared his perspective from the press booth. Burkhardt didn't just praise the franchise; he offered a national perspective from someone who has seen every football stadium.
Burkhardt and Tom Brady have been partners on Fox for two seasons now, where they regularly broadcast the NFL "Game of the Week". This time slot is usually chosen because it features a hot matchup between two competitive teams. This season, the duo called three separate Bears games.
“I just felt like, for the first time in a long time, the Bears are back. That’s what it felt like to me, an outsider, a national guy who gets to be at all these different places. It was loud and just… the best way I would describe it is joyous."
The Bears are back, according to Kevin Burkhardt
It's no secret that the Bears have dealt with many hardships in recent memory. A fundamental part of being a Chicago sports fan is the endurance required. The Bears have earned their place on that podium of shame. 2025 brought immense success to a very deserving city, and anyone could feel it from watching Bears football this past season.
Burkhardt's sentiment reflects the energy felt at Soldier Field in 2025. Multiple NFL media personnel and former players claimed they'd never felt that sort of intensity there before. The atmosphere surrounding Ben Johnson's team was palpable and evident league-wide.
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When a national broadcaster who sees every contender, every stadium, and every fan base speaks about a franchise like that, it carries weight. Burkhardt was not selling hope; he was recognizing it. The 2025 Bears brought a lot of hope for fans, and momentum could carry them far. And when someone like Kevin Burkhardt says the Bears are back, that momentum suddenly feels a lot more real.