Phil Thompson
@philthompsontrib.bsky.social
Chicago Tribune Bears reporter.
Bears vs. Giants
Soldier Field
Noon, FOX
Crew: Joe Davis (play-by-play), Greg Olsen (analyst), Pam Oliver (sideline)
Soldier Field
Noon, FOX
Crew: Joe Davis (play-by-play), Greg Olsen (analyst), Pam Oliver (sideline)
November 9, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Bears vs. Giants
Soldier Field
Noon, FOX
Crew: Joe Davis (play-by-play), Greg Olsen (analyst), Pam Oliver (sideline)
Soldier Field
Noon, FOX
Crew: Joe Davis (play-by-play), Greg Olsen (analyst), Pam Oliver (sideline)
This is what they have on the opposite side. So why the deathscalator?
November 2, 2025 at 5:43 PM
This is what they have on the opposite side. So why the deathscalator?
Brought to you by the producers of “Final Destination,” this escalator at Paycor Stadium. I can tell you personally, they love ramps, escalators and bridges at this stadium, just all manner of cliffs for no reason!
November 2, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Brought to you by the producers of “Final Destination,” this escalator at Paycor Stadium. I can tell you personally, they love ramps, escalators and bridges at this stadium, just all manner of cliffs for no reason!
Bears @ Bengals
Paycor Stadium
Noon, CBS
Play-by-play: Spero Dedes
Analyst: Adam Archuleta
Sideline: Aditi Kinkhabwala
Paycor Stadium
Noon, CBS
Play-by-play: Spero Dedes
Analyst: Adam Archuleta
Sideline: Aditi Kinkhabwala
November 2, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Bears @ Bengals
Paycor Stadium
Noon, CBS
Play-by-play: Spero Dedes
Analyst: Adam Archuleta
Sideline: Aditi Kinkhabwala
Paycor Stadium
Noon, CBS
Play-by-play: Spero Dedes
Analyst: Adam Archuleta
Sideline: Aditi Kinkhabwala
Bears at Ravens, M&T Bank Stadium
TV: noon, CBS
On the call: Ian Eagle (play-by-play), JJ Watt (analyst), Evan Washburn (sideline)
TV: noon, CBS
On the call: Ian Eagle (play-by-play), JJ Watt (analyst), Evan Washburn (sideline)
October 26, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Bears at Ravens, M&T Bank Stadium
TV: noon, CBS
On the call: Ian Eagle (play-by-play), JJ Watt (analyst), Evan Washburn (sideline)
TV: noon, CBS
On the call: Ian Eagle (play-by-play), JJ Watt (analyst), Evan Washburn (sideline)
Saints tight end Foster Moreau goes shirtless for warmups. Or maybe it's Jon Bernthal from "The Punisher." 50-50
October 19, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Saints tight end Foster Moreau goes shirtless for warmups. Or maybe it's Jon Bernthal from "The Punisher." 50-50
Bears kicker Jake Moody and Commanders kicker Matt Gay both wear 16.
Side question: Who is probably kickers’ favorite receiver? Answer: “Tee” Higgins.
Side question: Who is probably kickers’ favorite receiver? Answer: “Tee” Higgins.
October 13, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Bears kicker Jake Moody and Commanders kicker Matt Gay both wear 16.
Side question: Who is probably kickers’ favorite receiver? Answer: “Tee” Higgins.
Side question: Who is probably kickers’ favorite receiver? Answer: “Tee” Higgins.
As a VA native, I’ve been to this stadium before (now called Northwest), but it’s a first from the press box, here to cover the Chicago Bears. #Bears #Commanders
October 13, 2025 at 8:54 PM
As a VA native, I’ve been to this stadium before (now called Northwest), but it’s a first from the press box, here to cover the Chicago Bears. #Bears #Commanders
“Once I get going, I can run with the best of them.”
—Bears CB Nahshon Wright on being the NFL’s fastest ball carrier for Week 1, clocking 21.66 mph on his pick-six of J.J. McCarthy
—Bears CB Nahshon Wright on being the NFL’s fastest ball carrier for Week 1, clocking 21.66 mph on his pick-six of J.J. McCarthy
September 12, 2025 at 7:37 PM
“Once I get going, I can run with the best of them.”
—Bears CB Nahshon Wright on being the NFL’s fastest ball carrier for Week 1, clocking 21.66 mph on his pick-six of J.J. McCarthy
—Bears CB Nahshon Wright on being the NFL’s fastest ball carrier for Week 1, clocking 21.66 mph on his pick-six of J.J. McCarthy
“My dad is my right-hand man and he didn’t even have running water until he was in high school. There’s definitely a lot of things and people I can certainly help with this gift I’ve been blessed with.”
—Bears QB Tyson Bagent gets emotional when discussing his contract extension
—Bears QB Tyson Bagent gets emotional when discussing his contract extension
August 20, 2025 at 8:44 PM
“My dad is my right-hand man and he didn’t even have running water until he was in high school. There’s definitely a lot of things and people I can certainly help with this gift I’ve been blessed with.”
—Bears QB Tyson Bagent gets emotional when discussing his contract extension
—Bears QB Tyson Bagent gets emotional when discussing his contract extension
Blackhawks schedule is out: Which games catch your eye?
(Example: Hawks will face Jonathan Toews for the first time Oct. 30 in Winnipeg)
(Example: Hawks will face Jonathan Toews for the first time Oct. 30 in Winnipeg)
July 16, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Blackhawks schedule is out: Which games catch your eye?
(Example: Hawks will face Jonathan Toews for the first time Oct. 30 in Winnipeg)
(Example: Hawks will face Jonathan Toews for the first time Oct. 30 in Winnipeg)
“Yeah, it definitely was (a tough market). Whether it be free agency or trade, it felt like it was pretty stagnant. Just kind of stalled.”
—Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson on the opening of free agency
—Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson on the opening of free agency
July 1, 2025 at 10:41 PM
“Yeah, it definitely was (a tough market). Whether it be free agency or trade, it felt like it was pretty stagnant. Just kind of stalled.”
—Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson on the opening of free agency
—Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson on the opening of free agency
“We had walkie-talkies and we were in separate rooms and we had to communicate how to build LEGOs.”
—Marek Vanacker on Blackhawks development camp
—Marek Vanacker on Blackhawks development camp
July 1, 2025 at 10:33 PM
“We had walkie-talkies and we were in separate rooms and we had to communicate how to build LEGOs.”
—Marek Vanacker on Blackhawks development camp
—Marek Vanacker on Blackhawks development camp
“It still goes back to our traits, right? ... I say it till I’m blue in the face, guys are sick of hearing it: ‘Stick to the traits, stick to the traits, stick to the traits.’”
—Blackhawks Mike Doneghey on some of the drafts picks being raw in terms of development
—Blackhawks Mike Doneghey on some of the drafts picks being raw in terms of development
June 28, 2025 at 11:01 PM
“It still goes back to our traits, right? ... I say it till I’m blue in the face, guys are sick of hearing it: ‘Stick to the traits, stick to the traits, stick to the traits.’”
—Blackhawks Mike Doneghey on some of the drafts picks being raw in terms of development
—Blackhawks Mike Doneghey on some of the drafts picks being raw in terms of development
“We want to get harder and usually the harder guys are the bigger guys.”
—Blackhawks scouting chief Mike Doneghey on the majority of the Hawks’ draft picks standing between 6-foot-2 and 6-6
—Blackhawks scouting chief Mike Doneghey on the majority of the Hawks’ draft picks standing between 6-foot-2 and 6-6
June 28, 2025 at 10:51 PM
“We want to get harder and usually the harder guys are the bigger guys.”
—Blackhawks scouting chief Mike Doneghey on the majority of the Hawks’ draft picks standing between 6-foot-2 and 6-6
—Blackhawks scouting chief Mike Doneghey on the majority of the Hawks’ draft picks standing between 6-foot-2 and 6-6
Finally leaving Fifth Third Arena after midnight.
To whoever’s responsible for this marathon 1st round of the NHL draft, I would say “heads will roll,” but maybe “heads will crawl” is more appropriate.
To whoever’s responsible for this marathon 1st round of the NHL draft, I would say “heads will roll,” but maybe “heads will crawl” is more appropriate.
June 28, 2025 at 5:08 AM
Finally leaving Fifth Third Arena after midnight.
To whoever’s responsible for this marathon 1st round of the NHL draft, I would say “heads will roll,” but maybe “heads will crawl” is more appropriate.
To whoever’s responsible for this marathon 1st round of the NHL draft, I would say “heads will roll,” but maybe “heads will crawl” is more appropriate.
“Barkov’s probably a few inches taller. … I would say he’s probably between a Barkov and an Anton Lundell … he’s a big, detail-oriented center with a brain.”
—Blackhawks scouting director Mike Doneghey on Anton Frondell and comparisons to Aleksander Barkov
—Blackhawks scouting director Mike Doneghey on Anton Frondell and comparisons to Aleksander Barkov
June 28, 2025 at 4:16 AM
“Barkov’s probably a few inches taller. … I would say he’s probably between a Barkov and an Anton Lundell … he’s a big, detail-oriented center with a brain.”
—Blackhawks scouting director Mike Doneghey on Anton Frondell and comparisons to Aleksander Barkov
—Blackhawks scouting director Mike Doneghey on Anton Frondell and comparisons to Aleksander Barkov
“My philosophy is we do like to go best player available, but sometimes the discussions are so close where you have to break that somehow.”
—Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson on targeting needs in the NHL draft
—Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson on targeting needs in the NHL draft
May 6, 2025 at 1:06 AM
“My philosophy is we do like to go best player available, but sometimes the discussions are so close where you have to break that somehow.”
—Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson on targeting needs in the NHL draft
—Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson on targeting needs in the NHL draft
Little IceHogs at Wolves playoffs action. Puck drop and we’re off.
April 24, 2025 at 12:11 AM
Little IceHogs at Wolves playoffs action. Puck drop and we’re off.
“I know I want to be here for a long time.”
“If I look a little sad on the bench, maybe people can take it out of context. But I’ve said it so many times, I love being here.”
—Connor Bedard on being receptive to a contract extension as well as speculation that he’s unhappy in Chicago
“If I look a little sad on the bench, maybe people can take it out of context. But I’ve said it so many times, I love being here.”
—Connor Bedard on being receptive to a contract extension as well as speculation that he’s unhappy in Chicago
April 17, 2025 at 3:07 PM
“I know I want to be here for a long time.”
“If I look a little sad on the bench, maybe people can take it out of context. But I’ve said it so many times, I love being here.”
—Connor Bedard on being receptive to a contract extension as well as speculation that he’s unhappy in Chicago
“If I look a little sad on the bench, maybe people can take it out of context. But I’ve said it so many times, I love being here.”
—Connor Bedard on being receptive to a contract extension as well as speculation that he’s unhappy in Chicago
Bon jour, Ottawa. Bye, season.
April 16, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Bon jour, Ottawa. Bye, season.
“Some of the guys are pretty quick, it's hard to keep up sometimes. Frank and Mooresy and Mikky, you can go down, Greener can wheel — there's a lot of speed. That's going to be our identity when we kept getting older and keep having guys coming up.”
—Connor Bedard on the Blackhawks
—Connor Bedard on the Blackhawks
April 16, 2025 at 10:31 AM
“Some of the guys are pretty quick, it's hard to keep up sometimes. Frank and Mooresy and Mikky, you can go down, Greener can wheel — there's a lot of speed. That's going to be our identity when we kept getting older and keep having guys coming up.”
—Connor Bedard on the Blackhawks
—Connor Bedard on the Blackhawks
On confusion over Frank Nazar’s shootout goal:
Nazar: “I gave everybody fist-bumps, and everybody was like, 'What are you doing?'”
Nick Foligno: “Frank was actually mad at all of us because we didn’t respond to his goal. … None of us thought he scored.”
Nazar: “I gave everybody fist-bumps, and everybody was like, 'What are you doing?'”
Nick Foligno: “Frank was actually mad at all of us because we didn’t respond to his goal. … None of us thought he scored.”
April 15, 2025 at 10:44 AM
On confusion over Frank Nazar’s shootout goal:
Nazar: “I gave everybody fist-bumps, and everybody was like, 'What are you doing?'”
Nick Foligno: “Frank was actually mad at all of us because we didn’t respond to his goal. … None of us thought he scored.”
Nazar: “I gave everybody fist-bumps, and everybody was like, 'What are you doing?'”
Nick Foligno: “Frank was actually mad at all of us because we didn’t respond to his goal. … None of us thought he scored.”
“You've been dreaming of it your whole life, and the fact that it's here, it's pretty nerve-racking.”
—Blackhawks F Ryan Greene on making his NHL debut tonight against the Canadiens
—Blackhawks F Ryan Greene on making his NHL debut tonight against the Canadiens
April 14, 2025 at 5:01 PM
“You've been dreaming of it your whole life, and the fact that it's here, it's pretty nerve-racking.”
—Blackhawks F Ryan Greene on making his NHL debut tonight against the Canadiens
—Blackhawks F Ryan Greene on making his NHL debut tonight against the Canadiens