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Mike Sansone

@mikesansone.bsky.social
7.9K followers 546 following 253 posts

Senior editor, NFL (Bears, Chiefs) at The Athletic. Longtime Chicago Tribune sports guy. Living the Northwest Indiana life.

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Reposted by Mike Sansone
Kevin Fishbain @kfishbain.bsky.social · 3h
Tyson Bagent set to start for the Bears tomorrow. Story by @danwiederer.bsky.social
nytimes.com
Bears starting QB Tyson Bagent against the Jets: Sources (Gift Article)
Bagent watched third-stringer Case Keenum tear up the Eagles defense on Monday night. Not he gets his chance to fill in for Caleb Williams.
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Mike Sansone @mikesansone.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
“It’s amazing how he transitioned into this. I would have been a basket case. But he’s so pleasant, still likes to laugh, and he’s thankful for his life.” The latest special story from @danpompei.bsky.social on a special person, Hall of Famer Roger Craig. Unlocked. www.nytimes.com/athletic/764...
nytimes.com
Roger Craig paid the price to reach the mountaintop. He has no regrets (Gift Article)
During his Hall of Fame induction speech, Craig revealed he has vascular dementia. He's not letting the diagnosis define him.
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Jesse Newell @jessenewell.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Spoke with Chiefs players in the locker room about what it's been like with Eric Bieniemy as OC. Here's what they talked about (free link): www.nytimes.com/athletic/764...
nytimes.com
What Eric Bieniemy’s return has brought to the Chiefs offense (Gift Article)
A sideline huddle. A change in receiver roles. Here are some ways the Chiefs appear to have benefited from Bieniemy's return to K.C.
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Dan Pompei @danpompei.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
For Roger Craig, the benefits of playing the game more than justified the cross he now carries. My story on a Hall of Fame living with the realities of dementia is free to read here. www.nytimes.com/athletic/764...
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Mike Sansone @mikesansone.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Jon Greenberg on the scene of the White Sox series victory in Houston, featuring ... Jerry Reinsdorf? Free to read: www.nytimes.com/athletic/764...
nytimes.com
White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf enjoys another celebration in Houston (Gift Article)
Reinsdorf never talks to reporters anymore, but on Tuesday, he didn't want to stop.
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Mike Sansone @mikesansone.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Let's goooooo!!!
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Kevin Fishbain @kfishbain.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Estimated Bears injury report (they held a walkthrough)… DNP: Caleb Williams, Braxton Jones (knee), Jonah Jackson (personal) Limited: Shemar Turner, Noah Sewell, Cam Lewis Full: Kyler Gordon
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Kevin Fishbain @kfishbain.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
👀
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Kevin Fishbain @kfishbain.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
After a few attempts to get some Bears QB intel, Johnson did add, "The direction's already been made so we will be in good shape for Sunday."
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Kevin Fishbain @kfishbain.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Bears QB Caleb Williams won't be at today's walkthrough, per Ben Johnson, but he's "getting better every single day." No (public) starting quarterback decision.
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Mike Sansone @mikesansone.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Ride the hot hand with Case Keenum or follow the depth chart and start Tyson Bagent? @kfishbain.bsky.social and @danwiederer.bsky.social dive into the Bears' Week 4 QB dilemma. FREE TO READ: www.nytimes.com/athletic/764...
nytimes.com
After Case Keenum’s stunning performance, Bears have QB dilemma: Who should start? (Gift Article)
One wouldn't have expected there to be any doubt that Tyson Bagent would start Week 4, but after what Keenum did Monday night...
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Sarah Langs @slangsonsports.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
THE WHITE SOX
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Kevin Fishbain @kfishbain.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Bears head coach Ben Johnson to Jeff Joniak on the stanky leg post-game celebration: "I defaulted to my old self a little bit. I'm glad I kept it PG-rated." (As for the quarterback situation, he said, "We'll see how it all plays out all week.")
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Mike Sansone @mikesansone.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Why did the Bears-Packers game get moved up to a noon start? Explanation here, free to read: www.nytimes.com/athletic/764...
nytimes.com
Bears-Packers Week 5 matchup moves up to early Sunday window on Fox (Gift Article)
The game could get more TV exposure in Fox's early window and do the same for 49ers at Seahawks in the late window.
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Kevin Fishbain @kfishbain.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
In the second half… • The Eagles were 0-for-5 on third down • Saquon Barkley had 4 carries for 9 yards • Jalen Hurts was 6-of-12 passing for 42 yards with a pick Story from Soldier Field on a standout performance from the Bears’ defense (free to read)
nytimes.com
How the Bears defense got back to its takeaway ways and stymied the Eagles (Gift Article)
Chicago's defense stepped up on third down Monday night while forcing three turnovers in an upset win over the Eagles.
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Kevin Fishbain @kfishbain.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Case Keenum: “You dream about this. That’s why I’m still here and still doing this.” From Soldier Field, @danwiederer.bsky.social on a memorable night for the Bears’ third-string quarterback (free to read)
nytimes.com
The Bears’ demanding week became a magical night for Case Keenum (Gift Article)
From QB3 role to "Monday Night Football" star, the veteran Keenum answered the bell in a blowout of the Eagles.
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Kevin Fishbain @kfishbain.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
The Bears have now won 20 in a row dating back to 2007 when forcing at least 3 turnovers on defense and not giving the ball away on offense. It's their fifth such win under Ben Johnson winning the turnover battle 3+ to 0.
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Mike Sansone @mikesansone.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Case Keenum everybody! Quick recap of what the 38-year-old pulled off for the Bears on "Monday Night Football." Free to read. www.nytimes.com/athletic/764...
nytimes.com
Case Keenum surprises in Bears’ win. What’s wrong with Eagles’ offense? (Gift Article)
Veteran QB, starting in place of injured Caleb Williams, guides Chicago to win over Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia.
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Kevin Fishbain @kfishbain.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Career INT No. 8 for LB T.J. Edwards, and he does it against his former team.
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Kevin Fishbain @kfishbain.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Kalif Raymond has 90 yards receiving after that 41-yard touchdown catch, his most in a game since Nov. 2023. This is Case Keenum's first two-TD game since the 2021 season finale. 5 plays, 71 yards in 2:49 Bears 20, Eagles 7
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ArtButMakeItSports @artbutmakeitsports.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Man in a Blue Mantle, by John Singer Sargent, 1891, 📸 via @cjzero.bsky.social
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Kevin Fishbain @kfishbain.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Pretty rare scenario at the end of the half. Should Bears defenders be partaking in some chicanery to keep the Eagles from getting another snap off? Either way, a tush-push TD makes it 10-7 Bears at halftime.
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Kevin Fishbain @kfishbain.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Bears go 69 yards in 11 plays and go up 10-0 on Cairo Santos' field goal. Cole Kmet had Sam Roush's previous spot on that field goal, with Joe Thuney on the other wing.
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Mike Sansone @mikesansone.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Ben Johnson on another unpopular try on fourth-and-1 in Week 1: “Listen, that’ll always be the goal is we want to be the highest-scoring (team). We want to have the most wins. We want to win Super Bowls; that’s what we do. We didn’t get into this profession trying to be mediocre or average.”
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Kevin Negandhi @kevinnegandhi.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Ben Johnson in his bag. Fantastic playcalling. Eagles defense on their heels the entire opening drive.
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Kevin Fishbain @kfishbain.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Case Keenum: 5-of-6 for 45 yards, 1 TD Luther Burden: 3 touches for 22 yards, 1 TD 11 plays, 66 yards in 6:13 Bears 7, Eagles 0 Quite the opening drive. Tons of creativity from Ben Johnson. Keenum was dialed in.
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Jesse Newell @jessenewell.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Quick analysis from the Chiefs' win over the Dolphins, including some areas of concern and a few quick quotes from the locker room (free link): www.nytimes.com/athletic/763...
nytimes.com
Chiefs struggle to finish off Dolphins, exposing areas of concern despite 3-0 start (Gift Article)
Kansas City ultimately took care of business, but it wasn't pretty and a few familiar demons reared their heads in the 24-10 win.
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Mike Sansone @mikesansone.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
The White Sox are playoff bound! Jon Greenberg on the unlikely turnaround. Free to read. www.nytimes.com/athletic/762...
nytimes.com
The Chicago White Sox were a punchline. Now they are postseason-bound (Gift Article)
The Chicago White Sox emerged as one of baseball’s best stories this season.
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Jesse Newell @jessenewell.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Talked to Chiefs' Ashton Gillotte about his Sunday night. He saw a stalled car. He got out. And two fans had no idea a Chiefs player was pushing their van. "That’s how God calls people to treat people. So I’m gonna try to operate that way." (free link) www.nytimes.com/athletic/762...
nytimes.com
This Chiefs lineman had just played an OT game. Then he saw a fan pushing a stalled van (Gift Article)
Gillotte said two fans didn't know who he was when he helped push their stalled van in the stadium parking lot.
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Kevin Fishbain @kfishbain.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
From a busy day at Halas Hall, some thoughts on: - Case Keenum - Ozzy Trapilo - Tyrique Stevenson - Shemar Turner And more. Free to read
nytimes.com
Bears takeaways: Case Keenum was Chicago’s No. 3 QB. Now he’s the starter (Gift Article)
The Bears had a busy day at Halas Hall with Keenum taking the QB1 reps and Ozzy Trapilo practicing in pads in full for the first time.
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Kevin Fishbain @kfishbain.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Asked if he'll have jitters if he starts Monday night, Case Keenum said: "I love the feeling of being nervous. It's not a scared nervous, it's an excited nervous. ... I feel butterflies, but it's because I care. ... Heck, this Texas boy, I love Chicago."
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Kevin Fishbain @kfishbain.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Bears head coach Ben Johnson on Caleb Williams: "I know he's an antsy individual. He's a competitor. He wants to be out there on the grass going full speed. So it is a little bit more challenging to hold a guy back like that. But if you could build a player, that's what you'd want him to be like."
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Kevin Fishbain @kfishbain.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Bears head coach Ben Johnson: "We're at a point right now, not sure who the starter's going to be on Monday night. We'll let this thing play out. Case is the one that's practicing today."
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Kevin Fishbain @kfishbain.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
A couple more notes from Bears head coach Ben Johnson... - CB Tyrique Stevenson is week to week. - LT Ozzy Trapilo will practice in full today. - Tyson Bagent isn't in the buliding today, per concussion protocol. - No update on CB Kyler Gordon.
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Kevin Fishbain @kfishbain.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
"In a week’s time, he went from MVP to meme." Jon Greenberg finds a way to write a level-headed, no-hot-take column on all the Caleb Williams discourse over the past 72 hours
nytimes.com
What does Caleb Williams’ injury ‘meme’ for the Bears star? (Gift Article)
On the cruel internet, and in the sports talk world, no one cares about the context that Williams hasn't missed a game in two seasons.
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Kevin Fishbain @kfishbain.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Per @rapsheet.bsky.social, Bears QB Tyson Bagent is in the concussion protocol. Could be Case Keenum on Monday night...
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Mike Sansone @mikesansone.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
All signs point to Tyson Bagent stepping into the "Monday Night Football" spotlight with Caleb Williams hurt. @danwiederer.bsky.social on what it means for Bagent and the Bears. Free to read. www.nytimes.com/athletic/761...
nytimes.com
Caleb Williams is hurt. Now Tyson Bagent gets his chance to lead the Bears (Gift Article)
A big test awaits Bagent and Bears coach Ben Johnson. Will they have the answers to pass?
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Mike Sansone @mikesansone.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Updated Caleb Williams story after Ben Johnson's press conference. From @danwiederer.bsky.social and @kfishbain.bsky.social. Free to read www.nytimes.com/athletic/761...
nytimes.com
Bears QB Caleb Williams avoids major injury but won’t practice this week (Gift Article)
Tyson Bagent is poised to start while Williams recovers from his right hamstring injury, but the Bears can envision Williams returning soon.
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Kevin Fishbain @kfishbain.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Ben Johnson isn't ruling Caleb Williams out yet for MNF, but he does not believe Williams will practice this week.
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Kevin Fishbain @kfishbain.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Bears head coach Ben Johnson reiterates that Caleb Williams' injury is week-to-week: "It was somewhat encouraging the report that we got."
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Jesse Newell @jessenewell.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Chiefs' Josh Simmons has been in the facility, attending team meetings and "working his tail off" as he recovers from a back injury, coach Andy Reid said Monday. More here (free link): www.nytimes.com/athletic/761...
nytimes.com
Chiefs’ Andy Reid says injured Josh Simmons ‘working his tail off’ at team facility (Gift Article)
Reid also explained why first-round pick Mansoor Delane suited up but didn't play against the Indianapolis Colts.
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Jesse Newell @jessenewell.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
When the Chiefs needed a big play in OT vs. the Colts, they went back to an old favorite. They ran 'Wasp.' And sure enough, it worked again (free link): www.nytimes.com/athletic/761...
nytimes.com
Chiefs playing Andy Reid’s greatest hits on way to 2-0 start. Yes, that includes ‘Wasp’ (Gift Article)
Here's how Tyquan Thornton put his own spin on Tyreek Hill's legendary "Wasp" route — and helped the Chiefs to a 2-0 start.
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Mike Sansone @mikesansone.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
The Bears look to have dodged a bullet with Caleb Williams' hamstring injury. The latest from @kfishbain.bsky.social and @danwiederer.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/761...
nytimes.com
Bears’ Caleb Williams week-to-week with hamstring injury, Ben Johnson says (Gift Article)
Williams "will miss some time," according to his coach, but the franchise quarterback appears to have avoided a major injury.
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Kevin Fishbain @kfishbain.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Updated story from Soldier Field on Caleb Williams' hamstring injury
nytimes.com
Bears’ Caleb Williams suffers hamstring injury in loss to Vikings: ‘We’ll see how bad it is’ (Gift Article)
The Bears do not yet know the severity of Williams' injury. The QB will undergo more testing Monday.
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Kevin Fishbain @kfishbain.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Today marked the second Bears game since 2002 in which zero touchdowns were scored. The other was 12/26/24, a 6-3 loss to the Seahawks.
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Kevin Fishbain @kfishbain.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Bears head coach Ben Johnson said he has no update on the severity on Caleb Williams’ injury. He just talked to Williams and the QB was “in good spirits.”
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Mike Sansone @mikesansone.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Early takeaways on the Bears' terrible day. Free to read. www.nytimes.com/athletic/761...
nytimes.com
Caleb Williams injury overshadows Bears’ loss to Vikings, and fuels questions as to what’s next (Gift Article)
A hamstring injury to the Bears star quarterback overshadowed the Vikings' 9-3 win on a wet day at Solider Field.
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Kevin Fishbain @kfishbain.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Trainers helping Caleb Williams off the field. Tyson Bagent is in.
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Kevin Fishbain @kfishbain.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
The Bears had pretty easy 1-yard touchdown runs last week in Carolina. D'Andre Swift practically walked in both times. Today, he loses a fumble at the 1, ending the Bears' best drive of the afternoon.
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Kevin Fishbain @kfishbain.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
The Bears had a 2nd-and-35 on that yikes of a drive, their longest 2nd-down-yards-to-go since a 2nd-and-40 in the 2019 season opener.
static.klipy.com
The More You Know - Iconic Star Animation
ALT: The More You Know - Iconic Star Animation
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