The Shawn Mackey Show

🏈 The Shawn Mackey Show — Season 3, Episode 24: Bears vs. Patriots and the NFL Rigging Debate

The Chicago Bears defeat the New England Patriots 30–24, but I'm not ready to celebrate without talking about what went wrong! I break down Caleb Williams' 308-yard performance, Luther Burden III's big game, the defensive breakdown that let New England back into the contest, and Cairo Santos' clutch 58-yard field goal.

Then I tackle a controversial question: Is the NFL rigged? With sports betting becoming increasingly prominent, I discuss questionable plays, fan skepticism, and the importance of trust in professional sports. I'm not claiming games are fixed, but I'm asking the questions that fans are talking about.

In the second half, I'm bringing back Chronicles of a Dumbass with a personal discussion about the rising cost of living, student loan debt, business setbacks, and why so many working Americans struggle to get ahead despite doing their best.

It's Chicago Bears analysis, honest opinions, and real-life conversations—all in one episode.

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#ChicagoBears #NFL #TheShawnMackeyShow #BearsNation #SportsPodcast

The Bears get the win against the Vikings, but I'm not convinced everything is clicking in Chicago! On Season 3, Episode 23—episode 80 of The Shawn Mackey Show—I break down Caleb Williams' 305-yard passing performance, Kyler Gordon's huge defensive game, Luther Burden III's receiving production, and my weekly Champs and Chumps.

I also discuss the Bears' 12 penalties for 133 yards and question how a 31–7 lead nearly slipped away. What needs to change for this team to become more disciplined?

Then I switch gears for another installment of Shit That Pisses Me Off, sharing my personal experiences as a former educator and explaining why I believe the education system needs to do a better job preparing students for the real world.

It's Chicago Bears football, honest sports analysis, and real-life discussion—all in one episode.

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Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ShawnMackey96

#ChicagoBears #NFL #CalebWilliams #BearsPodcast #EducationReform

The Chicago Bears' matchup against the Green Bay Packers left me with more questions than answers. On Season 3, Episode 22 of The Shawn Mackey Show, I break down Tyson Bagent's struggles, Case Keenum's appearance, Ben Johnson's offensive decisions, and Dennis Allen's defensive problems against Jordan Love and Green Bay.

I also name my champ of the game, Austin Booker, and explain why the Bears' overall performance has me concerned about the team's direction. Is this a temporary setback, or are we beginning to see problems that could derail Chicago's season?

I'm still giving Ben Johnson a chance, but the Bears need to make adjustments and show that they can respond to adversity.

Listen in, share your thoughts, and join the conversation about Chicago Bears football!

Watch the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ShawnMackey96

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Remembering Mike Ditka and His Chicago Bears Legacy

When I think about the Chicago Bears, Mike Ditka is one of the first names that comes to mind. He was more than a head coach. He was a symbol of toughness, determination, and the blue-collar attitude that has always been part of Chicago's identity.

Ditka was born on October 18, 1939, in Carnegie, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Aliquippa. He came from a working-class background and developed into an outstanding athlete. Although he initially considered becoming a dentist, his athletic ability opened doors to major college football programs.

He ultimately chose the University of Pittsburgh, where he excelled as a three-sport athlete. Football was his strongest sport, and his college career helped establish him as a player to watch. He became a team captain and eventually earned induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1986.

The Chicago Bears drafted Ditka in 1961, beginning a career that would connect him with some of the most memorable teams in professional football history.

The Bears beat the Jets, and I'm breaking down everything that stood out to me in Season 3, Episode 20 of The Shawn Mackey Show.

I talk Tyson Bagent and Case Keenum, why Bagent earned the right to start, Kyle Monangai's huge 146-yard, two-touchdown performance, Ben Johnson's offensive creativity, the improving Bears defense, Austin Booker, Tyrique Stevenson, Rome Odunze and my Champs & Chumps from the game.

Then I go off on NFL replay and explain why I think we're taking the game too far with frame-by-frame reviews.

I also tackle the phrase "You don't know ball" and why I have a problem with people using statistics like WAR and WHIP to dismiss somebody else's baseball opinion.

Three quarterbacks. Three wins. Now it's Packers week.

This is another episode of The Shawn Mackey Show you don't want to miss.

The Chicago Bears lost to the Minnesota Vikings 9–3 in one of the ugliest games of the season, and I'm breaking down the entire mess in Season 3, Episode 18 of The Shawn Mackey Show.

I talk about Brian Flores’ defensive game plan, Ben Johnson’s offensive decisions, Chicago’s eight penalties, DeAndre Swift’s goal-line fumble, the blocked field goal and the Bears’ inability to finish drives.

I also discuss Caleb Williams’ injury, Tyson Bagent’s situation and the criticism surrounding Caleb’s emotional reaction after leaving the game.

It was ugly, frustrating and difficult to watch — but there is plenty to talk about.

The Chicago Bears scored 59 points against the Carolina Panthers, but there was plenty more to discuss than the final score.

On this episode of The Shawn Mackey Show, I break down Caleb Williams' performance, DeAndre Swift's three touchdowns, Kyle Monangai's 100-yard game, Rome Odunze's big catch and an offensive line that helped the Bears dominate on the ground.

I also hand out my Champs and Chumps, explain why I'm concerned about the Bears defense after allowing 37 points and nearly 500 yards, and talk about the lack of pressure on the quarterback.

Then I switch gears to the AP Poll, Texas' comeback against Ohio State and a conversation that got me thinking about student loan debt, forgiveness and the long-term impact of the choices people make when they borrow money for education.

It's another wide-ranging episode of The Shawn Mackey Show — Chicago Bears, NFL, college football, student loans and a few things that really piss me off.

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The Shawn Mackey Show — Season 3, Episode 16

The Shawn Mackey Show is back after a short hiatus, and I’m coming into Season 3 with a new studio, a little less chaos in the background, and plenty of opinions!

In this episode, I talk about the return of the NFL season, the Chicago Bears, college football and my ongoing frustration with the AP Top 25 rankings.

Michigan’s escape against Western Michigan has me asking a simple question: Should highly ranked teams be punished when they struggle against opponents they are expected to beat?

Then I turn my attention to the Chicago Cubs and Craig Counsell. I’m still not sold that Counsell is the manager many people believe he is. We talk about injuries, bullpen decisions, analytics, player usage and whether managers sometimes rely too heavily on “the book” instead of simply reading what is happening in the game.

Plus, I bring back the spirit of the original show — talking about the things in sports and life that simply piss me off.

It’s another episode of unfiltered Chicago sports talk, football opinions, baseball frustration and plenty of Shawn Mackey-style commentary.

The Shawn Mackey Show is back.

Craig Counsell has been on my mind—and I finally had to talk about it.

In this episode of The Shawn Mackey Show, I explain why I'm still not convinced Craig Counsell deserves to be considered one of baseball's elite managers. I compare his first season with the Cubs to David Ross' final season, examine his data-driven approach, and compare his results with Pat Murphy in Milwaukee.

I also talk about the Cubs' playoff push, Jed Hoyer's aggressive trade deadline, and why I believe managerial decisions could become extremely important down the stretch.

Then I switch over to the Chicago Bears and their 34-10 preseason victory over the Cleveland Browns, including roster battles and some major injury concerns.

This episode also sets up a new chapter for The Shawn Mackey Show as I prepare for a short hiatus, new studio digs, and a revamped format with a much heavier focus on football.

Before diving into football, I couldn't ignore what the Cubs have been doing. They put together an impressive road trip by winning series against both the Pirates and Cardinals before returning home to take down the Yankees. I even made the trip to St. Louis, where I caught the extra-inning win and visited one of the city's incredible science museums. It turned into a great family experience filled with STEM exhibits, interactive displays, and plenty of baseball memories.

Then it was time to finish evaluating the Bears' rookie class.