0:00

Right justin middle of the field forty fifteen

0:03

bring Russ in front of a leading.

0:04

Lions in his way.

0:06

I am Jeff joniha whitz.

0:07

Is on dot us.

0:12

What was like playing for Coche boddom Ah.

0:14

I don't want to answer any questions like that. Sixty

0:16

one yards? What's Sunday stroll

0:18

for?

0:19

Justin field?

0:25

Bears et Cetera brought to you by Miller

0:28

Lte with the voices of the Bears, Jeff Joniac

0:30

and Tom Thayer.

0:32

Super Bowl Week has arrived. In it's episode

0:34

fifty four of the Bears et Cetera podcast with

0:37

Super Bowl winning Bears guard Tom Thayer. I'm Jeff

0:39

Joniak. This podcast also featuring

0:41

Hall of Fame finalist Devin Hester, an

0:43

interview I did with him back in Orlando before

0:45

the Bears Tampa Bay game. I think that was week

0:48

three or three or two, something like

0:50

that. I spent a couple of hours with him with

0:52

the Bears broadcast department,

0:54

really deep interview about a lot of things,

0:56

including his bid to get in the Hall of

0:58

Fame for a third time. Out Thursday night, if

1:01

he'll be ensrying this summer in Canton, Ohio, and

1:03

same goes for Bears legend Steve McMichael.

1:06

We are brought to you, as always by

1:08

Miller Lte, the title sponsor of

1:10

the Bears et Cetera Podcast. First

1:13

of all, Tom, Hello, how we doing? And

1:16

you'll be able to talk a lot about Steve. But we

1:18

have a special guest taking time

1:20

out of his very very busy business schedule

1:22

and life, the one and only Israeli Donaje.

1:25

First time. How you feeling big,

1:27

Jeff, I'm feeling good.

1:28

I can't believe you can't remember Week two down

1:30

in Tampa because that lingered

1:33

the concerns of the heat of that game,

1:36

which always kind of challenged

1:38

me because we played him twice a year that during

1:40

my time with the Bears. And so, yeah,

1:43

that Devin Hester interview goes back

1:45

a little ways, but it makes it no less any

1:47

more important.

1:48

Yes, so we'll hear from him and Jess a little bit, but we

1:50

welcome Israel to Donaja. How you

1:52

doing my friend and a very close friend of Devin

1:54

Hester. But my first question out of

1:56

the box, were you on the kick

1:59

return it at the Super

2:01

Bowl when he returned it for a touchdown?

2:03

I was there, I was I was there.

2:05

It was I mean one of the

2:07

most exhilarating, you know moments

2:10

in sports. You know, all week Dungee and

2:12

the Colts has been saying they weren't going to kick us the

2:14

ball and we weren't expecting

2:16

them to. And I guess in their meeting room the night before,

2:18

as a part of like hyping his guys up.

2:21

You know, he ended with, you know, and

2:24

you know, we're going to kick the first kickoff to Devin

2:26

Hester, you know, for kicking. And sure

2:28

enough they kicked it. He got it.

2:30

It was just incredible. Every

2:32

Bear fan across the world just

2:35

erupted. The ground was

2:37

shaking. It was one of those moments that

2:39

you pause and just take it in. It was.

2:41

It was pretty special to be a part

2:43

of that moment, and really his career.

2:45

Do you remember who you blocked?

2:47

No, I don't. I don't remember, but I did.

2:49

I think I I Although it wasn't

2:51

a great block, I barely got it.

2:53

I did just enough that

2:56

he didn't make the play.

2:58

And Tommy, sometimes, as you knew, you played on

3:00

those units. Just enough. It was good enough

3:02

for a guy that has probably

3:05

earned more nicknames of any

3:07

player other than Dean Sanders in his career.

3:10

From my mouth and others anytime

3:13

as an ode to Dion and

3:15

also the windy City flowering

3:17

us of course ridiculous.

3:18

Well, I kind of have a connected question to

3:20

that. As Jeff was saying, is he I was on

3:23

kickoff return my whole career from my first

3:25

game to my last game, and I

3:27

blocked for Willie Galt, who was world

3:30

class type of speed, and we

3:32

had designed returns

3:35

set up that we would call the return

3:38

because most of the time back in that generation,

3:40

they kicked it to the center of the field and

3:43

the returner returned it if it was in a catchable

3:45

position. When you go back and

3:47

you look at your returns for Devin

3:50

Hester, were they specifically

3:52

designed or was

3:54

it kind of a little bit flying by the

3:56

seat or pants because he was such

3:58

a dynamic sear of

4:00

the field.

4:03

No, they were specifically designed.

4:06

Theyve Tod did a great job of gauging

4:09

or studying, you know, the kicker, where

4:12

was he going to place his best kicks the

4:14

wind? And then we'd call wedge

4:16

right, wedge left up the middle. And

4:20

I mean kudos to Devin. You'll get

4:22

guys with all that talent that don't stick to the planet,

4:24

and often Devin did a great job of setting

4:27

it up and really finding the lane

4:29

between the wedge and the other.

4:30

Guys that were blocked on the field.

4:31

But yeah, all our returns were

4:34

designed and meaningfully

4:37

you know crafted. Obviously

4:39

he's the magic, right he was kind of the secret

4:42

sauce. But you know a

4:44

few things we did is you know, we used

4:46

to set the wedge at like ten feet from

4:48

the returner, so.

4:49

I was the wedgseetter.

4:50

As he the ball was about to be caught, I

4:52

gauged the distance I'd.

4:54

Set the wedge. When we got Devin, we were

4:56

setting.

4:56

The wedge fifteen feet away from the returner

4:59

because you know, ten feet we

5:01

weren't even at our blocks yet he was passing us, right,

5:03

He's just so quick and dynamic. But

5:05

it was it was It was great to be

5:08

able to really create

5:10

a special moment you know in NFL

5:13

history, you know, with that guy, you know running

5:15

the balls on all those kicks.

5:17

You know, the anticipation of

5:19

kickoff coverage for Jeff and I doing the

5:21

broadcast was all about iz Ziadanaje

5:24

because.

5:24

He would run down there and he would

5:26

have some impact, knockout type of hints.

5:29

Did it incentifize you to

5:32

make those types of hits because you know,

5:34

the returner that you had on your side,

5:36

and you wanted to limit the success

5:39

of their returner. Just given

5:41

the fact that it was always kind of a

5:43

debate when Devin was on the field.

5:47

Yeah, I mean I think one, you know,

5:49

I always felt, you know, and our unit

5:51

felt like we were we felt our

5:53

special teams was the most important,

5:56

you know, facet of the game.

5:57

Right.

5:58

We were going to give great field position to the offense.

6:00

We were going to pin you know, opposing

6:03

offenses deep. And you

6:05

know, when you look statistically, it's hard to

6:08

score.

6:09

If you're starting you know, inside your ted consistently.

6:11

It's hard not to score if you're getting

6:13

that ball thirty forty fifty right

6:16

short field. And so we always

6:18

felt that our special teams unit was like

6:20

the secret sauce to a lot of

6:22

the.

6:22

Success that the Bears had through you

6:24

know, that.

6:25

Decade while I was there, and

6:27

and for me, you know, I

6:29

loved being the wedgebuster, right. I kind

6:31

of wore that chip on my shoulder,

6:34

you know, you know, six foot six,

6:36

two seventy and I was coming

6:39

down like to take somebody out.

6:41

We felt that we were the reasons they that they.

6:43

They kind of moved everything up because

6:46

we were we were absolutely obliterating

6:49

guys.

6:49

You know myself. We had Brendan and I and Badajo.

6:52

I was like the hammer and he was the knife coming

6:54

through and we as a unit just

6:57

just did a great job.

6:57

But I will say, because I

7:00

was doing so much damage

7:02

as the wedgebuster, when I became

7:04

the wedge center, let me tell you they

7:06

were coming for me.

7:09

Well.

7:12

The great news is because Tom and I have

7:14

bemoaned this the entire last

7:17

couple of years, the

7:19

kickoff has become a real downer and

7:22

it's just it's a football

7:24

play that they eliminated for

7:27

no other better way to put it. And

7:31

Roger Goodell this week says the NFL

7:33

needs to quote find a way to keep the kickoff

7:35

in the game. So whether they look

7:37

at the XFL and see how they

7:40

did it with the low impact rule, there's

7:42

ten players on each team lining up

7:44

five yards apart with no running starts,

7:47

and the kickoff returns increased

7:49

and injuries decreased. I

7:52

hope and pray that that happens, because

7:55

we're all talking about hoping and

7:57

praying this week that On Thursday night,

7:59

Devin Hester becomes the first return specialist

8:01

to enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame. And

8:05

right now, it's it's a it's a downer, it's a snooze

8:07

fest, and it takes out one of the

8:09

most exciting plays in football. Iusy,

8:12

please tell me they can fix this. And

8:14

how do you feel, because hey, you bore

8:16

a brunt of the physicality of this

8:19

and delivered it.

8:20

Yeah. I love that

8:22

aspect of the game.

8:23

I think what they did moving up the

8:26

line, it was a disservice to

8:29

to that, to that series in the game.

8:31

And again agree, it's one of the most

8:33

exciting moments. It's it's

8:36

one of those moments where it's me versus

8:39

you, Mono Imano, whoever's

8:41

set to block me. As I'm the wedgbuster,

8:44

it's like everything you got, bring it when I'm the Webster.

8:46

Same thing.

8:47

I'm marking my line on who's

8:49

coming the AL four L five and

8:53

it's just an opportunity to make a dynamic

8:55

play. It's full speed, all

8:57

out, no no like no mercy

9:00

show. And I think they can

9:02

still execute that by again

9:04

having the line set back. I

9:06

love the idea of I mean,

9:09

the running start is where the damage is right

9:11

I'm running down full steam ahead and

9:13

a guy that's setting a wedge static

9:16

like that's a battle he can't win for both

9:18

of us, right, I took a

9:20

lot of big hits where you know, I opened

9:22

my eyes like what happened, and

9:25

thankfully back, thankfully back

9:27

then, I just they let

9:29

me still play, you know, you know, I couldn't

9:31

imagine if but you had a concussion.

9:34

And it took my helmet and I couldn't go back in

9:36

the game.

9:36

It was just a different game back then,

9:38

which is crazy to say because.

9:40

I'm not that old, But I

9:43

mean, I love.

9:44

The idea of finding a way to bring that

9:46

excitement back to that kickoff and kickoff,

9:48

return, punt, just.

9:49

All the that special teams unit.

9:51

Again, I'm biased because it was such an important part

9:53

of my life and my career. I think

9:55

it's really important that they they find

9:58

a way to allow the fans to enjoy

10:00

and that in its tru essence and what it was meant

10:02

to be.

10:03

Hey is he Throughout the course of Jeff

10:05

and I's our career, in my playing career,

10:07

my broadcasting career, I don't think I've

10:09

ever known a player they've asked

10:11

to fluctuate his body more than you.

10:14

I've seen you from two sixty to three

10:16

ten, so a

10:19

couple parts of it. How did that help

10:21

or hurt the special team requirements

10:23

that you had, because you're talking about a sixty yard

10:26

sprint, not a not to get off

10:28

the ball. And then what was

10:30

easier to lose the weight or to gain

10:32

the weight?

10:34

Oh well, getting the weight was amazing.

10:36

It was like desserts, appetizers.

10:39

It was like it was easy,

10:42

you know.

10:42

And that year in particular, they

10:44

took me off all special teams.

10:46

I was full time three technique knows,

10:48

so I was, you.

10:50

Know, in the trenches, playing

10:52

double teams.

10:53

All day long.

10:54

I will say, being so you

10:56

know tall, that was the only

10:59

time in my career I felt like I had lower

11:01

back issues, my hips, my knees. Carrying three

11:03

hundred and fifteen pounds and taking

11:05

double teams on all day was challenging. Then

11:07

they asked me to get back down to two sixty five.

11:10

The next season, I

11:12

came in about six percent body fat two

11:14

sixty five. That was

11:16

Getting from the three fifteen to the two sixty

11:18

five.

11:19

Was a hard off season.

11:20

I went up to a place called the House of Pain in Saline

11:23

Michigan for three weeks and

11:25

just like worked out twice a day, you

11:28

know, six days a week, and yeah,

11:30

we.

11:30

Got the weight off.

11:31

I was in great shape, but being

11:33

leaner was definitely better

11:36

for the special teams aspect of my

11:38

career. Right They I was a problem

11:41

in that I was I was quick enough to

11:43

run around the big guys that they tried to set to block

11:45

me. And I was fast enough and I

11:47

was too big for the little guys who had the speed

11:50

to stay with me.

11:51

I would just you know, run them over.

11:52

And I think, you know, again,

11:54

kudos to Dave Toad and Jerry Angel

11:56

at the time for saying, hey, maybe

11:59

this guy can kind of be one of our key guys on

12:01

special teams and giving me the opportunity.

12:03

Came down to me and Michael Haynes.

12:05

They said, whoever played better on special

12:07

teams was going to make the team.

12:08

The other guy would get cut.

12:09

And thankfully I made

12:12

a big play against Drummond in

12:14

Detroit and uh, just

12:16

me one on one shoe string tackled

12:19

inside the ten, and I secured

12:21

my spot on the fifty three man roster.

12:24

You know, you know, Izzie, I'm

12:26

surprised that as much as Devin

12:28

Hester is carved out of place in Special

12:31

Team's history that you

12:33

haven't either, because I don't see

12:36

that template of Izia

12:38

Donage on every Special

12:40

Teams, every tickoff coverage unit

12:43

that there is. And I know they don't have the

12:45

wedge anymore and they have different rules, But

12:47

to me, I always think of that uniquely

12:50

qualified six five six plus

12:53

athlete that can run like you can

12:55

and it doesn't have a bigger

12:57

role on Special Teams.

12:59

Are you surprised?

13:00

Well?

13:02

Yeah, I mean when I remember, you know, Dave Tober

13:04

and I sitting down and watching film and after

13:06

kind of we started to do what we were doing

13:09

and having some success, there were

13:11

a few teams that tried they put big guys

13:13

on the wedge, they try

13:16

to kind of do what we did. Thankfully, you

13:18

know, you

13:20

know we had we had a pretty unique unit,

13:23

right so again, you know,

13:25

we had a camera, Morell and Brendan

13:28

and I and Medejo and just you know, having

13:31

kind of the ingredients we did allowed

13:33

us to do something really unique. And

13:35

some of these other teams that tried to do that Special

13:38

Teams and again, what I love about it is it's

13:41

it's read and react, right, you're running

13:43

down you think this guy's going to block you, and somebody else

13:45

comes to block you. And and sometimes I

13:47

think a lot of the bigger guys struggle

13:50

to be in such a quick environment

13:52

with bullets flying left and right, and

13:55

you got to be able to react

13:57

quickly, make decisions quickly, execut

13:59

quick and something that was something

14:01

portionally that I was able to do, and

14:03

a lot of the big dogs just struggle

14:06

to do that.

14:07

Good new Chicago United Airlines is getting

14:09

brand new planes with all the bells and whistles, like

14:11

Bluetooth connectivity screens at every

14:13

seat in a room for everyone's roller bag. United

14:15

Proud to fly the Chicago Bears, and you too,

14:18

Jeff and Tom with Israel to Donaja, our

14:20

good friend. And before we get

14:22

into what's going on with you right now, one last question

14:24

on Devin. As we'll hear in this interview

14:28

that we're going to play shortly, it

14:31

means a ton of dev and he was extremely

14:33

disappointed he was not a first ballot Hall

14:35

of Famer. So if this

14:37

is the year that he's going to get in, I

14:40

assured him that he will have tears in his

14:42

eyes no matter how he feels about it. You're

14:44

a close friend of his. How

14:47

important is it to him?

14:50

I mean, it's really important, I think. I mean what

14:53

he did was so unique. I think that's why we all

14:55

felt that he should have been a first ballot Hall of Famers.

14:59

There is no one else

15:01

that will replicate what Devin Hester as how

15:03

he has redefined and changed this game. And I guess

15:06

there's been some talented returners,

15:08

yes, but not none like

15:10

Devin Hester. And I think when

15:13

you're making these decisions on who gets in who gets

15:15

out, that criteria of like

15:17

did this guy break the mold as.

15:19

Far as what we've known, We

15:21

felt like he really

15:23

imvited that.

15:24

Not only that, if he would have stayed as

15:26

a returner, it would have been even crazier

15:28

over his career.

15:29

Right, he ended up getting shifted to

15:31

a receiver, which.

15:32

I always felt kind of changed how

15:35

he attacked the return game

15:37

because he also had to go out there and play offense.

15:40

But you know, I know he's going

15:42

to be elated when he gets in. You

15:44

know, third times, the charm. You know, we're

15:46

all really excited.

15:47

We hope they get it right this time and that he

15:49

does get into that hall, and it's

15:52

well deserved.

15:53

You know, we love him and we're just

15:55

we're just also thankful to.

15:56

Have had even a little bit of a

15:59

part in the great legacy that

16:02

he's brought to this game.

16:03

Well, speaking of legacy, you're creating

16:05

one in this city. That's for sure. What

16:07

you're doing is it's been impactful

16:10

from the moment you really got into town. You

16:13

just had a vision for other things in

16:15

life other than the sport you played, and that

16:17

was your line of work. But by

16:19

no means the last of it. The multiple

16:22

philanthropic efforts, the entrepreneurism,

16:25

building businesses, charitable organizations,

16:28

and in recent weeks now a brand new upscale

16:30

sports bar and restaurant signature

16:34

thirteen twelve South Wabash. Make sure

16:36

you check it out. I missed the opening, Tom

16:38

Tommy, Ya couldn't go, And I would

16:41

have enjoyed delving into the

16:43

fine entrees and appetizers

16:46

and the craft cocktails that

16:48

signature is putting out there with Steven

16:51

Golander's famous

16:53

name in Chicago cuisine, tell

16:56

us why, tell us what the impact of the name

16:58

signature is all about and what people expect

17:00

when they swing by in the South Loop.

17:03

Yeah.

17:04

So, I mean, anyone who's looking to

17:06

have a great Super Bowl experience.

17:08

We'd love to have you there.

17:09

We'll be there, you know, uh, you know,

17:11

getting ready for the big game, and we're just so excited.

17:13

I mean, throughout our career, you

17:16

know, we're always eating right d Line

17:18

dinner every Wednesday, you know downtown,

17:21

you know, Saturday, before the game, we'd always go out for

17:23

dinner. And after the game, family

17:26

friends, you're out for dinner at another restaurant. So over

17:28

my career, I've been a restaurant

17:30

guy. I've invested in probably

17:32

a dozen plus restaurants over my career,

17:35

and you know, as of late, there's

17:37

a few that have been really successful.

17:39

To the tune that I was like, you know what, I think I'm going to do

17:41

my own concept.

17:42

And you know, folks wanted to meet a call at

17:44

Izzy's and this and that, and I wanted it to

17:46

be something that represented sports

17:49

but had to have some you know,

17:51

sexiness to it.

17:52

So we went through a.

17:53

Naming exercise and signature just head above

17:55

shoulders, like to have an autograph representing

17:58

signature. It was just kind of embodied

18:01

a great sports bar. You can come and get a

18:03

world class, beautiful, beautifully

18:06

composed plate, but you can also root

18:08

on your favorite team.

18:09

And it's been off the charts.

18:12

We have fifty employees now that.

18:15

Are bringing that signature experience

18:17

to the city of Chicago, and we're

18:19

excited. We're excited, We're and talks about maybe a couple

18:22

other locations, but.

18:24

I mean, it's it's just been off the charts. This

18:27

is our third week.

18:28

Now open, and the love, the

18:30

support, the reviews have been just off

18:32

the charts. So as always I say, Chicago

18:35

is a city that cares. That's been my experience

18:37

here and as a Chicago Bear,

18:40

the love has always been so strong, and

18:42

I just always want to thank the fans

18:45

and the people that come out and support.

18:48

It doesn't matter what hair, brain.

18:49

Scheme or idea that I come up with, people

18:51

come out and support, and I'm just so grateful

18:54

and thankful for that.

18:55

Is as I'm born and raising Julie,

18:57

I've been here my whole life. I was never going any

19:00

where but through you, the process

19:02

of your professional life, being in

19:04

the Chicago Land area, being around the

19:06

Chicago Bears fans, when

19:08

did it set into you that's saying, hey, this

19:10

is going to be my home. I'm not this

19:12

is the place that I'm going to I'm going to be for

19:15

the rest of my life. And now being

19:17

a multiple business owner and having

19:19

the reputation in the city that you've been able

19:22

to develop, When did it set in that

19:24

Chicago's going to be my town?

19:28

Yeah?

19:28

You know, Tom, I don't know the exact moment where

19:30

that clicked, but somewhere along the journey,

19:32

you know, working on the South side of the thousands of

19:35

kids, trying to bring them, you know,

19:37

inspiration and help them find

19:39

out who who.

19:41

Can they be in this world? Right?

19:44

Just being a part of the community, being a part

19:46

of events and meetings

19:49

and things that are happening.

19:50

This ecosystem is just so dynamic.

19:52

And as the

19:54

journey went on, I just realized,

19:56

like, I love Chicago.

19:58

And people always say, like, Isy, what

20:00

are you still doing there? It's so cold.

20:02

Why aren't you going to go down to Florida or Arizona

20:05

or somewhere warm, you know?

20:06

And the truth is, I just like I

20:09

am Chicago right I.

20:10

Got here, I was twenty one years old, forty

20:12

three now the city has just

20:15

been so.

20:15

Incredible to me. The people.

20:17

You know, I can I regardless of

20:19

what's going on, I can call somebody

20:22

and I have support, I have love,

20:24

And I always say Chicago is like a city that genuinely

20:27

cares. Right, people here

20:29

care and it's not just

20:32

like a fly by night Hey can I do anything for

20:34

you? In Chicago, when somebody says, hey, yeah, you

20:36

know, what do you need? How can

20:38

we help you? What's going on?

20:40

They genuinely mean that.

20:41

And that's just something that's always been

20:43

so important to me in my life. And

20:45

so to be a part of a great community like

20:47

here in Chicago's it's a

20:49

special and I

20:52

would never go anywhere right Chicago is home.

20:54

Will continue to be home.

20:58

Jeff and I see you on the sideline of a

21:00

lot of the Bears home games, and you

21:03

know, I think it's kind of exciting

21:05

for all of us X players to be around

21:07

Soldier Field on game day. Can

21:09

you kind of describe a little bit of that feeling

21:12

at being an ex player? Like you said, you

21:14

know, when you say you're forty three years old, I

21:16

kind of think back of when Jeff

21:19

and I got to meet you at twenty years old,

21:21

and now you're forty three, but

21:23

still, you know, the emotions that go through

21:26

your body and mind and the

21:28

people that you see on the sidelines that

21:30

you know are so gracious in greeting

21:33

you.

21:33

What's that like for you at this point

21:35

in your life.

21:37

Yeah, it's just it's so special. I think one

21:39

of the best decisions that I made two years ago

21:42

were to was to come to every game.

21:44

So for the last years, I've come to every game,

21:47

and you know, before

21:49

that, I'd never come to a Bears game in

21:51

a fan in a fanlike

21:53

capacity, just to watch the game. So two

21:56

years ago we made the commitment We're going to come to every

21:58

game, and it was one of the best

22:00

decisions just to kind of reconnect

22:02

and plug back in to the fan base.

22:04

As I'm walking on in the field, the love, the support,

22:07

to be able to just to be in

22:09

that energy again, and as you both

22:11

know, it's it's so unique and so special.

22:14

There's very few places outside

22:16

of that stadium in the world where

22:19

you have that that that Sunday,

22:21

that game day excitement, and

22:23

it's just been really revitalizing for

22:25

me personally just to be kind of clubbed back

22:28

into the community in the ecosystem, to see

22:30

the other guys that come in every year,

22:32

to be a part of the alumni.

22:34

Day that they that they have and just to to.

22:37

Really reconnect with what that

22:39

that game and what the Bears have

22:41

meant to my life. So coming

22:44

to those games, it's always exciting. It's

22:46

always it's just you know, it's

22:48

game day, right, There's there's just nothing like it.

22:50

Game day snacking calls for good foods. Chunky

22:53

guacamolde made with has avocados, tomatoes,

22:55

onions, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime

22:57

juice. It's the perfect snack to watch at

22:59

the Bears win score some today at

23:01

your local grocery store. Game day is

23:03

guak Day is real to Donagie, our guest

23:06

here on the Bears et Cetera podcast, Episode

23:08

fifty four, So as is no

23:11

surprise to me. Yes, you're

23:13

trying to build a business with Signature

23:15

and another one. I don't know how many businesses you

23:17

own at this point, or how many you're involved with.

23:20

I'd like to know that number, because it's not just

23:22

the restaurant business obviously, but there

23:25

is a charitable avenue of this

23:27

also because your proceeds

23:29

some of those will go to the Impact Fund. Explain

23:32

what that does for the people

23:34

that need it?

23:35

Yeah, I mean, I think you know, for us

23:37

kind of just as far as our formula, everything

23:40

that we do, we want to be able to

23:42

have some sort of giving back component. And

23:45

I think when you just talk about like restaurants

23:47

in the F and B space, Yes, we're

23:49

going to be smart about how we're buying and be efficient

23:52

and really focus on not wasting resources,

23:55

especially in the world that we're in today. But in addition

23:58

to that, you know, a portion of our

24:00

annual revenue we're going to commit to go to

24:02

the Impact Fund. The Impact Fund really

24:04

focuses on education, food

24:06

and security, and housing in security. The

24:09

resources from Signature and

24:11

any of our restaurants ultimately

24:14

will specifically be allocated

24:16

to help solve food insecurity in

24:18

Chicago. And it's just it's shocking to

24:20

us that here we are in twenty

24:22

twenty four and there are families that still can't

24:24

get food right. There are people that still

24:27

you know, don't have access to nutrition

24:30

and the resources to support

24:33

kids. How can you go to school when you're

24:35

hungry, right when you're not getting proper nutrition. So

24:38

as a part of you know, this

24:40

chapter of my life that I'm in now,

24:43

I really have a focus on, you

24:45

know, how can I be a part of ending

24:48

this hunger gap,

24:50

this food and security gap that's here in Chicago.

24:53

Obviously, it's a big it's a big

24:55

fix, it's a big thing that needs support.

24:57

But how can I be a part of bringing.

24:59

In the right players, the right voices,

25:01

the right insights so we can

25:04

through a lens of innovation, like

25:07

how can we make Chicago a city

25:09

where everybody can eat, everybody

25:11

can get nutrition?

25:12

Specifically, you know, or more

25:14

importantly are our children.

25:16

And that South Loop area you've kind of centered

25:18

on that not only you know, for many different things,

25:21

it happens to be one mile from Social Field

25:23

signature, and so the certain

25:25

certainly the stadium talk in the future for the

25:28

Chicago bears a lot of discussion.

25:30

Obviously, news coming

25:32

out this week that the Chicago

25:35

uh Lake Shore and that area

25:37

still is is on the table there. Do you

25:39

have a personal opinion about

25:41

a new stadium for Chicago.

25:44

Absolutely.

25:45

I think when you travel to some of these other markets,

25:47

you'll often define the stadiums are like out

25:50

in the boonies or out in the middle of nowhere.

25:52

We're kind of offset areas.

25:54

What's so special about Chicago

25:57

is our stadium is right downtown,

26:00

in the heart of the city.

26:01

It's really unique. You can

26:03

come down here.

26:04

Maybe you can't go to a game, but you can still

26:06

come downtown Chicago and in

26:09

that celth loop area.

26:10

It's buzzing, it's electric. The energy

26:12

after a win.

26:13

It just stills out of Soldier Field

26:15

down Michigan Avenue.

26:17

Up to River North. It's unique.

26:20

Right.

26:20

You don't have to drive forty five minutes back

26:22

down to the city. You don't have to take a train

26:25

or or find your way to get back to like, hey, what's going

26:27

on? You can literally leave the stadium

26:29

and be into like the post game party

26:32

and celebration.

26:34

I think it's important that leadership both.

26:36

City and the Bears find

26:38

a way not to lose that magic, right.

26:41

I think it's pretty special, and I

26:44

think there's a deal to be done there. You know, I'm a

26:46

really big fan of keeping

26:48

the Bears downtown but still

26:50

allowing them to build

26:52

a facility that gets them

26:55

on par with all of the other top

26:58

stadiums in the league. I've been to a few than

27:00

they're off the charge. It has to be done. We need

27:02

a new facility, but can we get a

27:04

win win where we bring that world class facility

27:07

to this downtown area.

27:09

You know, as he through my lifetime of being around

27:11

the old Soldier Field and the new Soldier Field.

27:13

The one thing that's frustrated me is

27:15

that four months a year it kind of sits dormant

27:18

because there is no roof to Soldier Field.

27:20

You take what you imagine happens

27:23

after a Bears game, taken

27:26

to imagine what could happen

27:28

all year round with the Big Ten

27:30

Championship game, the Final four, Super

27:32

Bowl. You know, all those thousands

27:35

of hotel rooms within a walkable

27:37

distance to Soldier Field.

27:39

If I envision anything. And Jeff

27:41

and I have.

27:42

Been to every new stadium built in the NFL

27:44

in the last thirty years, and when

27:46

you see what some of those landmark

27:48

buildings can be like, there's no

27:50

reason Chicago doesn't have one

27:53

of those city landmark buildings

27:55

that are is a twelve month year usable

27:58

facility.

27:59

Yeah, agreed, I think you're

28:02

spot on.

28:03

Whatever ends up being created, hopefully

28:05

here on that Martial Landing site or

28:07

by Soldier Field, it has to

28:09

be a dome. It has to be able

28:12

to be utilized all

28:14

year round from a Marriott

28:16

of different things, and I

28:19

mean it is, it

28:21

is if you want to be competitive in this

28:24

league now today.

28:27

You've got to have that right.

28:28

So I'm hoping again, I'm hoping that you

28:30

know, with Kevin Warren and the leadership

28:33

team and the voices at the table,

28:35

they kind of can recircle up

28:37

and dial in how to execute

28:41

you that vision.

28:42

But keeping it downtown here in the city.

28:44

All right, Israel will let you go real

28:46

quick, what's your favorite on the menu

28:48

that you can entice our listeners

28:50

to head down to signature On thirteen

28:53

twelve, said Wabash, Well.

28:56

For those burger eaters, you're going to

28:58

come get our signature burger. It is off

29:00

the charts. And

29:02

and you know, obviously we have we have a we have

29:05

a uh short rib dacho

29:07

that's amazing as well. And if you're coming for a

29:09

cocktail, we have our Old

29:12

Fashion is our number one sell them drink.

29:14

And along with a drink, we have called the spicy

29:16

situation, So you know, come on

29:19

down. I try to get down there two three

29:21

nights a week, so hopefully I can see you well while you're

29:23

down.

29:24

No question is the spicy what did you call

29:26

that again? The spicy one?

29:28

Spicy situation?

29:30

Is that an ode to uh spice Adams by

29:32

chance? Spicy situation.

29:35

Yeah, exactly, all

29:38

right.

29:38

We do have a few drinks that are that are

29:40

named for players for sure.

29:41

Nice well, Tom and I we got to get one named

29:44

after us eventually in the in the restaurant.

29:46

How about that.

29:49

Him he is?

29:50

He is uh, you know, the

29:52

voice of Chicago, so right,

29:54

you know, maybe you could just call it the voice

29:57

of Chicago.

29:59

We'll see, we'll see. We have to sit down

30:01

with Israel, all right. We appreciate

30:03

you very much, Thank you for all you do. You

30:06

are one of the voices of Chicago,

30:08

no question about it. You're big in this city

30:10

in more ways than you know. So we

30:12

love you. We appreciate you, and we're looking forward to see

30:15

the place.

30:16

Thank you both appreciate it.

30:17

Cizzy, thank you.

30:18

Izzy, appreciate it. Hey, when it's time to

30:20

tackle some game day deals, then go with the grocery

30:22

who's been a part of Chicago since eighteen ninety

30:24

nine, Jewel Aasco, the official grocery store

30:26

of the Chicago Bears. You know,

30:29

one quick thing with about is he. From

30:31

the moment I met the guy, there was something different

30:33

about the guy, and it has proven

30:36

to be the case for the eleven years that we

30:38

knew him as a player and all these years afterwards

30:41

one of the most impressive football players

30:45

slash personalities, intelligent

30:48

people that I've ever met, and a heart of

30:50

gold, a heart of gold. His

30:52

give back is unmatched. It really

30:54

is Tommy.

30:55

Right, He's an amazing guy because

30:57

where he came from, what he was

30:59

able to transform himself into

31:02

and out of a couple times throughout his career,

31:05

always earn a spot on the roster,

31:07

and then be able to develop

31:11

the business acumen.

31:13

What he's doing in the.

31:16

Support of nonprofit groups

31:18

and the charities that he's been a part of.

31:20

He's really an incredible guy.

31:22

And I think if anybody has an opportunity

31:25

to go to his restaurant or get a chance

31:27

to shake his hand or meet him, you

31:30

know, he's just a super

31:33

part of the you know, the background

31:35

of the Bears, in the background

31:37

of Israel and Dona Jay.

31:39

All right, So, as promised Devin

31:41

Hester, we'll find out on Thursday if the third time

31:43

is a charm is Israel a Dona Jay indicated

31:46

in our interview. This was a sit down

31:48

back in Orlando week two before

31:50

the Tampa Bay game. Unbelievable experience

31:53

for me, A guy who called nineteen of his twenty

31:55

return touchdowns in his career

31:58

with Tommy at the mic is well,

32:00

he thrilled us. Tommy's oozing

32:02

eyes were all over those big calls. It

32:05

means everything to Devin Hester for sure.

32:07

A lot of detail about how he've used it

32:09

here in this interview and shit down with Devin

32:12

Hester.

32:12

That whole process was. It

32:14

was very siting for me.

32:16

I was like, wow, man, I'm gonna be the first

32:18

guy, first returner, you

32:21

know what I mean, the first open up. It

32:23

pays for a lot of guys that's behind me, that's

32:25

trying to knock on the door. My thanking

32:28

the back of the back of my head I didn't make. I

32:30

wasn't first drive pick, but at least I can make the

32:33

first battle to be a first battle of Hall of Fame.

32:35

You know that. That did come up.

32:36

And when I got that called

32:39

it, it destroyed me, Like

32:41

I woo who cried? I

32:43

I called and talked to the

32:45

head guy over the Hall of Fame and aksed him

32:47

like I want to have a personal conversation with you,

32:49

cause I really wanna know what was told, Like

32:52

what went on in the meetings. The story

32:54

was as you was

32:56

a very unique situation. He was a very

32:59

unique person. We

33:02

the voters that didn't vote for

33:04

you, was just proven the case that the

33:07

guys that the listue is competing against, these

33:10

guys had right thousand

33:12

plays more than you, you know what I mean. So

33:15

we based it off of that. I said,

33:17

well, okay, I know you picked

33:19

five from the top ten. I

33:22

just wanna know what what number was. I

33:24

say, you was the last one. He

33:27

was the six man we picked five. You was the six one to

33:29

get cut. You was the last one to get cut. And

33:32

I say, okay, wow, six

33:35

man to get cut.

33:36

I say, what, Explain to me what

33:38

is the Hall of Famer?

33:41

And so he said,

33:43

well, it's a guy that consistently does

33:46

greatness year in year out,

33:48

makes the Pro Bowl, consistent base

33:51

makes it All Pro Team,

33:53

and it's well

33:56

known around the league, and it's well known

33:58

as a player when he's out there. I

34:00

say, appreciate your your your compliment,

34:04

cause you talking to 'em.

34:05

Yeah, I say appreciate

34:07

it.

34:07

I say, how

34:10

many players on this list that

34:12

made the top one hundred?

34:16

How many players in the Hall of

34:18

Fame that made the

34:20

top one hundred list? We talking about we're not

34:22

talking about the Hall of Fame. We talking about it the greatest

34:24

warntre players all the time. And

34:26

you got one sitting right here that that didn't make the

34:29

Hall of Fame. Like, how

34:31

can I nap make the Hall of Fame when I made

34:33

the top one hundred? Like

34:35

I don't get it, Like you have over three hundred players

34:37

in the Hall of Fame. How

34:41

how do I how do I slide through the crack because

34:43

you saying I don't have enough snaps. But

34:47

when you talk about it, you just playing the Hall of Fame

34:49

to me. You you based it off of a

34:52

player that's one of the most

34:54

favorite players in the league. Check

34:56

Box that teams

34:59

prepare for weekend week out and can't

35:01

sleep. Checkbox, player

35:04

that makes the All of the Pro Bowl, Checkboll,

35:06

player that makes the All Pro Team, checkbos

35:09

players that made the All Decade Team, two checks.

35:13

You forget anyone a player

35:16

who revolutionized how

35:19

teams had to figure out

35:21

how to.

35:22

Prepare for one man.

35:23

Yeah, and you changed

35:25

the way it's done and.

35:27

You changed You changed the rule.

35:29

Change the rule too.

35:30

You changed the rule.

35:31

In reality, if people don't

35:33

know the rule will changes because it's

35:37

a fact But the crazy thing about it is

35:40

this is facts.

35:41

I've been to six man get cut two years in a row

35:44

to see the last person two

35:48

years back to back.

35:49

Since I've been as well, two years in the row, I've

35:52

been in the last guy to get cut them.

35:53

POMPEII was in the Pro Football Hall of

35:55

Fame himself in the writer's

35:57

section and is is your biggest porter?

36:01

Interviewed a lot of people, a lot of coordinators.

36:04

You made them psychle.

36:05

Yeah, they didn't know what to do with you, right right,

36:08

Uh.

36:08

You had that much of an impact to go out

36:10

there and have three or four return and still

36:13

have an impact on the game as a start and running

36:15

back.

36:16

That carried the ball twenty five thirty times a game.

36:18

It's special.

36:19

And I see why they call it special team

36:22

because you have to be a special

36:24

person to do it.

36:26

If you're great at it. It's not

36:28

many they can say that.

36:29

And in the situation that I was in too,

36:31

really really strike fearing opponents

36:34

with only touch them ball three or four times a game.

36:37

That speaks body.

36:39

I watched the segment of Mike Tyson and

36:42

the one thing that they say is when I look through in the eye, you

36:44

start looking left and right.

36:45

I already wanna fight.

36:47

And so when I would come

36:49

up to the kickers and

36:51

I would walk by, like in they area

36:53

where they sent up punts and stuff like that, and

36:56

I would actually, you gonna kick it to me today, And

36:59

when they would ignore with me, I knew I had already

37:01

wanna fight that they was nervous.

37:04

It's not really a lot of people that I can say that

37:07

they play offense and defense their whole

37:09

life in every aspect, from

37:11

park Warned to high school to the NFL.

37:13

I did both. But because

37:16

of what I can

37:18

do with the ball in.

37:19

My hands, you were too valuable.

37:21

And it was just, you

37:24

know, Coach.

37:24

Love it just he pulled me to the office after

37:27

my first year and I was

37:29

like, damn, I hey, I know

37:31

cause I bullhoo cried when he told me. It

37:33

was like, hey man, I

37:36

know you're a corner. I know teens

37:38

are gonna start kicking away from you. It's

37:41

been proven what

37:44

you deal with the ball in your hand. I

37:46

never seen a guy like that.

37:49

I'm preparing myself cause I know teens finna

37:51

start kicking away from you. So

37:53

we have to find ways to get

37:56

the ball in your hand. It's what

37:58

you do with the ball in your hand is very special.

38:01

I boo, who cried?

38:02

Cause I say, coach, I had this same situation

38:04

from pot one er to

38:07

high school to college where

38:09

I never just thought on one side of the

38:11

ball and just dominated. So

38:14

I was so fear and so scared

38:16

to move over to the offense side of the ball because

38:19

the trauma that I had in college. I

38:22

was scared of that trauma. I didn't

38:24

never understand offense. Let's get this

38:26

straight. Facts, I never understood

38:29

offense. I never played a game where

38:31

I went in saying that I

38:34

was confidence and everything that was called

38:36

every time I broke the heart on my mind

38:39

was racing, racing,

38:41

racing, racing, racing, terrified, you

38:43

know what I mean. Oh, I don't know what I got what

38:45

I got on this plate, you know what I mean?

38:48

So hm, that's a fact.

38:50

So it really

38:52

really just limit me

38:54

from playing fast

38:57

to.

38:58

Second guesst myself every time my boat dodel.

39:01

Every week, I was in a new meaning room,

39:03

running back room, receiver

39:06

room, DV room,

39:09

safety room. So

39:13

and it traumatized me because I never was

39:15

able to matter one spot.

39:18

So when he brought that up, it just crushed me because

39:20

I'm like, hey, we go again. I

39:22

sat out my whole junior year because I just get played

39:25

around from room to room. And

39:27

that was the biggest issue with me when I got drafted,

39:29

was we don't know where to put him because he never

39:32

solidified the positions.

39:33

The irony of that is moving

39:36

it forward to now your Hall

39:39

of Fame candidacy. This will be your

39:41

three and

39:44

it almost feels like they don't know what to do with

39:46

you again, and they still don't. You know, it's

39:48

a no brainer and it's gonna

39:50

happen, right, We've just explained

39:53

why. But it's

39:55

so weird for me to hear you talk

39:58

like this, because great

40:01

athletes, it should be a no brainer. This is what

40:03

you do where you at today.

40:06

When it happens, they have, But don't

40:09

get me wrong, I'm still gonna be ecided. You know, as

40:12

as a player. You know, whenever you make the Hall

40:14

of Fame, if you understand the game football

40:16

and you love it, that's the cream

40:18

on the crop, you know what I mean, Soul, I'm

40:21

gonna treat it as I'm pretty sure I'm gonna treat that as.

40:23

Yeah, the first.

40:24

Body when you get that call you're gonna

40:26

be crying, yeah, and you're

40:28

gonna you're gonna be one of a few hundred

40:32

in the one hundred and four.

40:34

It's gonna happen. Yeah.

40:35

And that's why I say, right

40:37

now, it's just a maunter of time.

40:40

How can Devin has to not be a Hall of Famer? Devon

40:42

has to change the during game.

40:44

And I don't think there's a question that

40:46

Devin is the best player in a

40:48

returner position. I mean, he revolutionized

40:51

the game of football and how coaches have

40:53

to cover kicks.

40:54

Now, if you are definitely

40:56

and far away the best player

40:58

ever at your position by far, there's

41:01

no comparison.

41:02

You're in off

41:05

football team.

41:10

This is a guy that you can deal with that you had the game plan

41:12

that took over the game, changed the game, no matter what you

41:15

knew unequivocally what he was going

41:17

to do during that game that you paid your ticket

41:19

or you turned on your turned on your TV to

41:21

go watch, and he did that. So

41:24

high in the world do you pick some of these

41:26

guys? And Devin Hester is

41:28

not in the Hall of Fame.

41:29

Everybody knew when he had the ball in his hands, he

41:31

was different. He did it differently than anybody

41:33

that had ever returned kicks

41:36

and punts, and that to me is what

41:38

signifies the Hall of Famer.

41:40

If you are one of one, you

41:42

deserve to be in the Hall of Fame.

41:44

I love all the guys that are going in, but

41:46

they got it absolutely wrong when

41:48

it comes to Devin Hester.

41:50

Also give it up for Devin Hester.

41:58

Guys, you're not hard that we're talking, but in a history

42:00

of the game, there's been a lot of great returns.

42:03

You also heard the voices of Dion Sanders,

42:05

Bear, Special Teams coordinator Richard high

42:07

Tower, Kyle Brant from NFL and network

42:10

of course Lovey Smith, Dion

42:12

Sanders again along with Hall of Fame quarterback

42:14

Kurt Warner, Michael Irvin and Lovey

42:17

Smith to finish it out. So there's

42:19

a whole lot more. We spent two hours Tom

42:21

walking through his house there in

42:24

Florida outside of Orlando. It's

42:26

a shrine to the

42:28

NFL teammates, legends,

42:32

uniforms hanging framed his

42:34

mementos. He saved every one of them from the time

42:36

he played high school football. And you

42:38

know, remember that time at Old hallis

42:41

Hall, not the one you worked out

42:43

at before the renovation to Hallis Hall. Devin

42:45

took us back there. We're in the video

42:47

room where Big Dean and those guys were set

42:50

up, and he was showing us highlights of his high school

42:52

career and it was jaw dropping.

42:54

He was so proud of what he accomplished.

42:57

And the takeaway that I had just from doing

42:59

the interview, no one really really

43:02

knew what to do with Devin, Like he was so

43:04

uber talented at so many things, but other

43:07

than the kick return, you knew the punt return he

43:09

was going to do that. But

43:12

it was really interesting to me that all the way

43:14

through his playing days from grade school to

43:16

high school to college, they

43:18

kept moving him around because of his unique

43:20

skill sets, his traits, the speed,

43:23

the cuts, the moves, and it

43:25

really it really frustrated him.

43:27

Actually, well just listen,

43:29

and he kind of took the word out because

43:31

it would have been really frustrating to a lot of

43:34

people. But when I listened to the interview

43:36

with him that you had down in Florida,

43:39

it's impressed me how important

43:41

it was to him. Because you

43:43

can take frustration two different ways.

43:46

You can frustrate yourself out of the game,

43:48

or you can frustrate yourself into a Hall

43:50

of Fame player and a contributor

43:53

and a game changer in a rules

43:56

evaluation. I mean, so what

43:58

Devin was able to accomplish it. I

44:00

remember one thing that shows

44:02

you important when we are back in that video room

44:05

and we are watching.

44:05

A copy of his high school All Star game.

44:08

He knew every single player in that game

44:11

by just looking at their mannerisms,

44:13

the number they wore, where they were from,

44:16

what position they played, where they went.

44:18

So Devin isn't just a

44:22

one trick guy. He is a

44:24

guy that's dedicated to the sport of

44:26

football. And rather than allow

44:28

him to allow frustrations

44:31

to take him out of the game, he turned frustrations

44:34

into a Hall of Fame opportunity.

44:36

Right, And he's become a coach of his son and

44:39

his sons and is really impressive

44:41

to watch. I went to the game and

44:44

that weekend, and his fire

44:46

and his passion and his play calling, and his

44:48

son's a great player. It's just it was a really

44:50

cool thing to see. Learn a lot

44:52

about Devin things I did not know. There's

44:55

so much that was left on the cutting room floor about

44:57

his life. Nothing easy

44:59

about it. Thing easy to make that climb and

45:01

to find his way, but so much

45:03

thrill he gave all of us, and we certainly

45:06

hope that this will be the time a record

45:08

breaking season, first player in NFL

45:10

history to return an opening kickoff. The seventeenth

45:13

anniversary of that was just a few days

45:15

ago, so all the memories came coming back, the

45:17

ninety two yard kickoff return and then afterwards

45:20

the slap in my rear end from Tom Thayer

45:22

who turned and pointed at me and said, with

45:24

fear and anger in his face,

45:27

the game hasn't even started yet. I remember

45:29

that quote like it was yesterday, and how

45:31

true that was. The Bears did not

45:33

finish the job there, but the NFL record five

45:35

kick return touchdowns during the regular

45:38

season last year eighty four yard punt return

45:40

touchdown Week one against Green Bay

45:42

at Lambeau. Eight seasons the all

45:44

time leader in kick returns with eighteen

45:47

thirteen of the punt game. That's a record three

45:49

time Pro bowler all decade of

45:51

the two thousands, and interesting

45:54

when he went to Atlanta after all

45:56

those years, he finished with twenty

45:58

touchdowns of twentieth one and we got to remember a miss

46:00

field go return touchdown against the Giants

46:03

out at East Rutherford only

46:06

one rushing touchdown and

46:08

that was with Atlanta. And you think about

46:10

today's game and the fly sweeps

46:12

and the reverses. I mean,

46:15

you kidding me. He would have had probably

46:18

a lot of touchdowns as a running

46:20

back as well. He really would have.

46:22

Yeah, but you know, listen, anytime

46:24

Devin Hester was on the football field.

46:26

It wasn't like he was an unknown.

46:27

That's true.

46:28

If he was on the football field lineup as a

46:30

wide receiver going in motion for

46:32

the timing of a jet sweep, there would

46:34

be four guys following him from

46:36

the linebacker position to the defensive line

46:39

to the defensive backfield. So yeah,

46:41

it would have been an interesting play for him throughout

46:43

his career.

46:44

You know.

46:45

But the reason that we're having this conversation.

46:47

About the possibility of the Hall of Fame is

46:49

because what he was able to do with the most

46:51

difficult play on the.

46:53

Football field, and that's kickoff and punt

46:55

return.

46:56

All right. Another finalist in the senior category

46:59

is a good and Steve McMichael, your

47:01

teammate, somebody you're very close to, and

47:04

you know, all signs point to you

47:06

know, I would say a likelihood, but you never

47:08

know. We'll find out on Thursday as well. What

47:11

is the McMichael camp's feelings

47:13

at the moment.

47:15

You know, listening will always be a Hall of Famer

47:18

to me and not one of those guys

47:20

that's in his camp and his support, and I.

47:22

Believe that he will get in.

47:24

You have to really admire the job his wife,

47:26

Misty is done for him in her

47:28

constant pursuit of the attention of Steve

47:31

McMichael, since he can't speak

47:33

for himself, that she's speaking on behalf

47:35

of him to the Hall of Fame committee

47:37

and to the voters and the people that

47:39

are considering the senior group of candidates,

47:43

and to me, as proud

47:46

as any Chicago Bear that's ever gone in the Hall

47:48

of Fame in my lifetime, I would

47:50

love to see Steve McMichael and Shrime

47:52

in the Hall of Fame because it's

47:55

not like I always say, it's it's

47:57

not a pity and shrine man, it's

47:59

a deserving enshriment. You

48:02

look at his numbers compared to anybody

48:04

in the Hall of Fame. Steve McMichael

48:06

belongs in the Hall of Fame, and.

48:08

I'd imagine in some spiritual

48:11

way he's fighting to stay alive for

48:13

this moment.

48:15

I agree, it is life incentive

48:18

for him.

48:18

And you know, recently when

48:21

I saw him, he's got a communication

48:24

device that he works with his eyes, and

48:27

Misty was telling me that he's been in the

48:29

process of writing

48:31

his acceptance speech on

48:33

this machine. And three

48:36

months ago, four months ago, the machine

48:38

kind of frustrated him where he was

48:40

didn't want to use it, and then all of

48:42

a sudden, now he's been able

48:44

to become more used to using

48:47

it. And you think about the incentive

48:49

of writing your Hall of Fame speech

48:52

on a device that's controlled with your

48:54

eyes. I'm I'm

48:56

as proud of him for that is anything

48:58

that he's been able to do, because.

49:00

The bottom line is nothing else works in

49:02

his body, nothing that's

49:04

incredible. That's incredible. Wow,

49:08

tastes like Miller Time, Celebrate responsibly.

49:10

Miller Brewing Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Ninety

49:12

six calories and three point two carbs per twelve

49:14

ounces. All right, Tom Pray forming

49:18

not only his family but him,

49:20

and let's hope it all comes through on

49:22

Thursday. All right, the super Bowl is

49:24

on Sunday. Let's get

49:26

our thoughts on the table for that real quick.

49:28

Kansas City trying to repeat

49:31

for the first time. It hasn't happened

49:33

since the Bill Belichick Patriots two thousand

49:35

and three, two thousand and four, so it's been nineteen years.

49:39

How do you rate their chances against the San Francisco

49:41

forty nine ers and Brock Purty in his second

49:43

year Super Bowl starter,

49:46

and just watching him on Opening night and

49:48

all the stage and

49:50

cameras and questions, this guy

49:52

is so poised. He handles himself with unbelievable,

49:57

unbelievable moxie,

50:01

and he's just he's something else.

50:04

Really, I love his self confidence. But it's hard

50:06

to go against Patrick Mahomes. The guy

50:09

is creative, vision, arm talent.

50:11

They have Pacheco the running game,

50:14

that is, you know, helping

50:16

out. So unless

50:18

San Francisco's defense does something

50:21

uniquely challenging upfront,

50:24

take advantage maybe of the offensive tackles

50:26

that's the most penalized aspect of the

50:28

Kansas City Chiefs, I still

50:30

think it's Patrick Mahomes

50:32

and Andy Reid are

50:35

the favorites. I'd like to

50:37

see San Francisco win, but I'm pulling

50:40

on I think Kansas City will win.

50:42

And the last time they met was in twenty twenty two,

50:44

Kansas City scored forty four points and now

50:46

it's a different team. They beat San Francisco

50:49

in that game. I think it could

50:51

be a bit of a fireworks show. I really

50:53

do. I think the type of mindset

50:56

that Kyle Shanahan has and

50:58

I don't know if it's going to come through a ground attack

51:00

that's going to try and you know, really

51:03

make mincemeat out of the defensive

51:06

of the forty nine ers, excuse me, of the Kansas

51:08

City Chiefs, or if it's going to be an aerial

51:11

show. But one thing is I think we're going

51:13

to see outstanding quarterback play.

51:14

I do you know what, at the end.

51:16

Of the day, we're going to be talking about Shanahan

51:18

And I think his reputation is on the line

51:21

a little bit because he's been in the Super

51:23

Bowl before and what he's

51:25

done in the second half of Super Bowls

51:27

and calling plays and it's showed the

51:29

collapse of the Atlanta Falcons to

51:32

what he hasn't been able to accomplish

51:34

in his opportunities to get the NFC Championship

51:37

game and beyond. So I think

51:39

at Kyle Shanahan

51:42

for not ever taking a snap, never

51:44

being a stance He's going to have a big

51:46

part of the outcome of this game.

51:48

All right, I'm going to go with the forty nine ers in this one.

51:50

I guess my heart's with Brock

51:52

Purty in company. But it will take

51:54

a monumental effort to stop the

51:57

best quarterback in the NFL right now, and that's

52:00

Patrick Mahomes. He finds a way. He

52:02

just makes plays. But so does Brock Purdy. I

52:04

mean that's the one thing. He just finds a

52:06

way to make plays. So who makes more plays?

52:09

That usually winds up the reason why a quarterback

52:11

who makes the most plays. And I know defense wins

52:13

championships. Two will find out who's

52:16

the better defense on this particular day. Be

52:18

busy, heart, seltz your flavors for every vibe.

52:20

Celebrate responsibly. Moltson Cors Beverage

52:22

Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Game

52:25

Day snacking calls for good foods. Chunky

52:27

guacamod he made with haswambocados,

52:29

tomatoes, onions, silantrona squeeze

52:31

of lime juice. It's the perfect snack to watch while

52:33

de Bears win. Score some today at your local grocery

52:35

store. Game Day is guawk Dave.

52:38

You know, sitting in front of your TV watching

52:40

a Super Bowl. You're gonna be mingling with friends

52:42

and having some of your favorite

52:45

appetizers and such. What do you got cooking?

52:48

Have you ever heard of Ernie, Sweet Lou and Rudy.

52:51

Yep, that'll be your buddies on Super Bowl?

52:53

Say dogs, you know what?

52:56

We talk about the playoff

52:58

games, and there's still that MB and to

53:00

me that I watched the Super Bowl

53:02

with that. So no, I will

53:04

watch the game, and you

53:07

know, I just hope it's a good game, and

53:10

if it gets frustratingly out

53:12

of touch, I'll probably turn it

53:14

off and take the dogs for a walk.

53:17

Well, we'll be back Thursday night on Bear's

53:19

Weekly on ESPN one thousand and six

53:21

thirty Star Time. We've moved that start time now

53:23

six thirty to seven thirty with Jim Miller

53:26

from Serious XMNFL Radio. Check us out

53:28

then for a time there. I'm Jeff Joniac.

53:30

Thanks to our guest Israel to Donaja, and

53:32

we'll talk to you next week. Please subscribe

53:34

now in the Chicago Bears official app,

53:36

Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get

53:38

your podcast. Bear Down Everybody,