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| Caleb Williams [at the center of the above] photo received a series of phone calls Monday afternoon [on January 20, 2025] that elicited immediate emotion, followed by a sense of long-term clarity and anticipation. The Bears quarterback's phone rang while he was driving down the highway in Florida. President & CEO Kevin Warren, chairman George H. McCaskey, general manager Ryan Poles and special advisor to the President/CEO and chief administrative officer Ted Crews were on the line. Calling from Halas Hall, the group told the 2024 No. 1 overall pick that Ben Johnson would be the team's new head coach. —Chicago Bears, January 23, 2025 |
Stocks spike green today and hands hover on Bibles
while I think of football—do glorious days lie
ahead? Fans know something about faith and tribal
loyalty. Consider the Chicago Bears, the ways they
stumble. Fun fact: Caleb Williams, in his rookie
season, played nine straight games without a lazy
or dumb interception. Sometimes you have to look
hard to find stars. Still, faithful fans lit the stands
orange and blue. I dubbed Caleb unlucky
when he fell. Fun fact: all nine games in that span
without a pick were losses. His line crumbled
around him while he darted among grasping hands.
You keep going, he said. Did he ever fumble
faith? Only a girl who still wears a Walter
Payton jersey would dream of seasons jumbled
with wins. Imagine! Our new head coach will alter
history, make Caleb a legend, make Soldier Field
great again, so great nothing else will matter.
T. R. Poulson believes the best way to deal with a bully is to ignore him. She's a passionate Bears fan, and was excited about the hiring of Ben Johnson as head coach on inauguration day. Her work has previously appeared in The New Verse News and various publications, including Best New Poets, Gulf Coast, American Literary Review, and Booth. She is currently seeking a publisher for her first manuscript, tentatively titled At Starvation Falls.