The Chicago Bears really went from being at the bottom of the barrel to one of the top teams in the NFC, and all it took was a single offseason. Soak it in, Bears fans, because we deserve this.
We all know just how bad it was, and for so many years. You know who else recognizes how bad it was?
Former NFL player and current ESPN host, Pat McAfee, knows just how bad it used to be. He didn't mince any words when describing the quick turnaround. Just a couple of days after the Bears came back to beat the Green Bay Packers in overtime, McAfee had this to say on the air:
“Culture was ass. Team was shit. Now they're gonna win the NFC North and maybe the whole damn thing?!”
Well, yeah ... um, spot the lie. Go ahead, tell me he's wrong.
He's not.
Pat McAfee shed light on the abysmal past Bears fans dealt with for way too long
Just think back, for a moment. Those of you who were around during the Dick Jauron years, and then got to experience Lovie Smith and the greatness during that era, you know.
You know just how bad it got.
To go from Lovie Smith to Marc Trestman was maybe the most laughable coaching transition in the history of this franchise. It was abysmal. This organization really went out and hired a CFL coach, thinking he would take them to the promised land.
We don't even need to dive into the likes of John Fox, Matt Nagy or Matt Eberflus.
Somehow, some way, the Bears lucked out and finally got themselves the right head coach in Ben Johnson. And on top of that, this team has its franchise quarterback, Caleb Williams, paired with that head coach.
It feels too good to be true, but it has been a very long time coming.
This team and organization were exactly what McAfee said they were, and for so long. It had been pure incompetence for year after year, season after season.
Read more: Former Packers All-Pro says quiet part out loud about Ben Johnson's cardinal sin
It feels great to know that those days are behind us, though. Finally, the national media is starting to pay attention more. The Bears are getting positive, legitimate attention, and it's a nice change.