Rich Eisen has spent much of his professional career holding a national microphone, not one solely reserved for his beloved New York Jets.
As a member of the wider national media, Eisen spent much of this season as a skeptic of the Chicago Bears, even when they chased down success from the jaws of defeat. Now, Eisen has changed his tune and claims he can see the potential in this Bears team to win the Super Bowl.
"“They could absolutely win the Super Bowl this year, no question about it. Two teams that could win the Super Bowl. That would be an incredible NFC championship game. We’d be talking about that game for years.”"Rich Eisen
Rich Eisen has the Bears fan base excited after his comments
Many NFL media personnel shared Rich's previous skepticism. It's not easy to believe a team has gone from the bottom of the barrel, last place in the league, to Super Bowl contending in less than a season. Many fans echoed the sentiment of "I need to see them win a big game. Week 13 arrived with the Bears waltzing into Philadelphia and spanking the Super Bowl defenders.
It's explicit that many opinions changed around that time as well, especially after the Bears defeated the Packers at home to win the NFC North for the first time since 2018. The road to the Super Bowl is filled to the brim with formidable teams, and the Bears would be wise to understand this. A potential Wild Card tie-breaker with the Packers at Soldier Field could be one of them.
"“You need to have somebody on the sidelines who can look at Kyle Shanahan and say, ‘I’m dialing something up against your defense. You do yours, I’ll do mine.’ The Bears have that.”"Rich Eisen
Eisen spoke very highly of Ben Johnson and of Caleb Williams after Week 17's 49ers-Bears matchup. Johnson has played a significant role in changing the Bears' perception, and he doesn't seem to have any intention of stopping. Johnson is viewed across the league as an offensive guru and a young up-and-coming head coach.
With Johnson leading this team on the play-call, and a much more confident Williams there to execute, this team is in excellent shape to make a push deep into the playoffs. National belief does not guarantee a Super Bowl run, but it does reflect how far this team has come.
Read more: Bears' updated NFC playoff scenarios could see 3 different Wild Card opponents
When skeptics like Eisen stop hedging and start speaking in absolutes, it signals the Bears are no longer a feel-good story. They are a legitimate threat.