Chicago Bears Notes: One Last Look at Hard Knocks 2024 (2024)

Hard Knocks with the Chicago Bears is in the books. The NFL regular season kicks off tomorrow. And our favorite team plays in four days. Let’s boogie.

I wrote this down immediately after the credits rolled: “On the one hand, I don’t know how anyone can watch a season of HBO’s “Hard Knocks” that doesn’t involve a team they have a vested interest in going into that given season. But on the other hand, HBO’s production — narration, storytelling, presentation — is so good that I kinda understand how someone can watch a season of Hard Knocks that doesn’t involve a team they have a vested interest in going into that given season.”

As someone who was openly opposed to “Hard Knocks” coming to town for years, I can say that I’m glad that the HBO cameras had to wait until 2024 to get the Bears on the show. It was worth the wait. Again, would you rather have wasted a “Hard Knocks” appearance on a lesser team with fewer interesting cogs? I truly hope this is a lesson in the value of patience. Sure, I know it won’t be. But shouldn’t be.

We’d all be better off as a society if we took Bears Head Coach Matt Eberflus’ three rules to heart and applied them every day: Be on time, work hard, and respect.

“Sometimes, the right way is the hardest way” is a bar. This season had a bunch of one-liners that are sticking with me. I might need to go back, re-watch, and share my faves.

There is still time to vote in our poll:

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You have 68 spring 2017 festivals to choose from in metro Phoenix - get out there The Call-Leader from Elwood, Indiana
How did you feel about this season of Hard Knocks?
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) September 4, 2024

MORE: Matt’s Hard Knocks Ep. 5 Recap

There was a moment in which I thought we would get more of Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren in the episode. It turns out Warren’s short-lived cameo was more than enough time for what that episode was trying to present. Even still … I wish “Hard Knocks” would’ve given us more insight into the team’s ongoing stadium project.

It was cool to see Bears Assistant GM Ian Cunningham handle the Austin Reed cut. Considering how Cunningham has been on the cusp of getting a GM gig of his own each of the last two offseasons, I don’t think it is a coincidence that Poles gave Cunningham an opportunity to put something on tape for teams looking to hire a new leader next offseason.

There is a part of me that will be excited for Ian Cunningham to run his own team. It is a sign of a healthy organization when other teams want to hire your guys away. But there is a part of me that sees how important Cunningham is to Poles. Those two work so well together. It’ll be a big loss if (when?) Cunningham flees the coop.

Chicago Bears Notes: One Last Look at Hard Knocks 2024 (3)

We are currently living in an era in which it is easy to blast your ex on your way out the door. But shout out to Brett Rypien for showering the Bears with some love despite his late-summer cut. “This team, I think, is going to do special things this year.” “There’s a lot of special people in that building.” “Caleb’s gonna be a helluva player.” “They’re going to be great.” “I’m excited for them.” Keep in mind that Rypien’s words came *AFTER* he was cut. I’d be worried about the Bears as a team on the rise if I were a Minnesota Vikings fan watching my team’s QB2 speak so glowingly about the team that just dropped him.

Unearthing Ryan Poles training camp footage was a fun surprise. Someone deserves a raise for that pull.

Raise your hand if you are also looking forward to rooting for Ian Wheeler in 2025.

Are you sure there isn’t a way for Adrian Colbert to stick around? Every good team needs a vibes guy. And the safety certainly has the vibes going for him, even if they weren’t enough to land him a roster spot.

Speaking of vibes, this is the height of fashion in Chicago:

Pic I took of Shōta Imanaga arriving at Wrigley Field today wearing a @ChicagoBears jersey.
Way to go Shota!!!@BN_Bears @WatchMarquee @BearsMarquee pic.twitter.com/nXYuuYCgFu— Sam Bernero (@sambernero) September 3, 2024

Someone should introduce Shōta to a pair of Air Jordans that are better with that colorway. For instance, a pair of Starfish 13s would go great with the Sweetness jersey.

Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell appeared in a new Applebee’s commercial and it pains me to admit that I liked it:

Detroit Lions HC Dan Campbell is in a new commercial for Applebee’s:pic.twitter.com/qpXP8ZEaEM
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) September 3, 2024

Way to keep that résumé fresh, Dan. That is good hustle.

Denver Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II is the latest big-time extension to make news. ESPN’s Adam Schefter puts it into perspective by lining up Surtain’s deal with his fellow NFL Draft Class of 2021 members:

First-round picks from the 2021 NFL Draft who have been extended:
🏈Trevor Lawrence: 5-years, $275M
🏈Jaylen Waddle: 3-years, $84.75M
🏈Penei Sewell: 4-years, $112M
🏈Patrick Surtain II: 4-years, $96M
🏈DeVonta Smith: 3-years, $75M
🏈Christian Darrisaw: 4-years, $104M
🏈Zaven… https://t.co/teVLWecTmZ— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 4, 2024

Every cornerback deal that hits the wire makes Jaylon Johnson’s extension with the Bears look like a steal. It is also a reminder of how much value there can be if you’re willing to jump on the market and hand out an extension sooner rather than later.

Speaking of notable extensions with tangential Bears connections, this franchise icon just got a well-earned new deal:

The Texans have extended backup QB Davis Mills, per source. Houston secures a solid back-up. Mills has garnered interest from other teams over the few last years, now he stays put in Houston. pic.twitter.com/NWhbYQPpEN— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) September 4, 2024

MORE: How Davis Mills and Lovie Smith Gift-Wrapped the No. 1 Pick in 2023 to the Bears

Patrick Beverley says the weirdest things. For instance, the former Chicago Bulls guard says players like Michael Jordan and LeBron James always come around. Yeah, sure. Whatever you say, dude. (BN Bulls)

A heads up for Chicago Blackhawks fans from our friends at BN Blackhawks: Tickets go on sale Friday. So you’ve got two days to get your affairs in order and your information saved into Ticketmaster for quicker checkouts. Hopefully, your experience buying hockey tickets is better than mine was when I was trying to snag Taylor Swift concert tickets.

CHECK IT OUT: The Bleacher Nation Newsletter

The latest on Justin Steele, the ace whose injury status is up in the air at a time when the Chicago Cubs could really use a stabilizing force:

The Update on Justin Steele Seems Mostly Positive, But Timeline Not Yet Sethttps://t.co/KZxFVZJZJF pic.twitter.com/tVcnuAf1zM
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) September 3, 2024

written by

Luis C. Medina

Luis C. Medina, who you can find on Twitter at lcm1986, has been covering the Chicago Bears at Bleacher Nation since 2017. Since then, he has written about 3 head coaches, 5 play-callers, and 11 starting quarterbacks. Previously, Luis wrote about the Cubs and MLB at BN (2015-16) and worked in the Chicago Tribune sports department (2011-16). He also co-hosted a Cubs postgame show, Outside the Ivy, in 2019.

Chicago Bears Notes: One Last Look at Hard Knocks 2024 (2024)

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