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The Philadelphia Eagles celebrate their second Super Bowl championship after a 41-22 demolition of the Kansas City Chiefs Feb. 9, 2025
The Philadelphia Eagles are thriving these days because they embrace conflict. There was certainly a learning curve for Birds’ general manager Howie Roseman but now he fills his war room with strong voices, sharp minds, and people unafraid to challenge him. He encourages spirited discussions where coaches and scouts argue, push, prod, and spew their best ideas. He wants to hear from smart people who disagree with him. It’s called telling truth to power and that’s how you build a Super Bowl roster.
In Chicago the most important draft in franchise history turned into a rigged coronation without due process that was so blatantly crooked it makes Chi-town’s 1919 World Series runner-ups look valiant in their efforts versus the Reds that post-season. It was followed by extensions, puff pieces, and a culture of fear that insiders say reeked of a clown show according to Tyler Dunne’s three-part piece titled House of Dysfunction.
The Freight Train Wreck
Inside Halas Hall, the Caleb Williams pick wasn’t debated. It was ordained. Scouts describe the process as a freight train barreling down the tracks, impossible to stop, and dangerous to even question.
Coach’s Take:
“No one else was even a consideration. There. Was. No. Process. The grades they had on Caleb were off the charts.”
Jayden Daniels never got a fair shake. Drake Maye was dismissed before any discussion began.
Clicker Bait
Bears’ general manager Ryan Poles, clicker in hand, turned Maye’s film into a weapon. Scouts recall him running the tape of Maye’s worst games – versus Clemson and Miami, over and over. Every errant throw and every broken play was virtually looped in an informal brainwashing session of sorts.
The result wasn’t analysis. It was mockery.
Coach’s Take:
“The worst football moments of Drake Maye’s collegiate football life were plastered on the screen for all to breathe in. It resembled a bully in the high school cafeteria seeking toadies.”
When top evaluator Chris White tried to defend Maye, the tape stopped. The entire discussion ended.
Coach’s Take:
“Chris was the only one with the balls to call out the truth. Instead of taking that, Poles made everything harder on him.”
White is now in Washington, helping the Commanders build around Daniels. Chicago lost its sharpest evaluator because dissent wasn’t tolerated.
The Jayden Daniels Pass
It wasn’t just Maye who got buried. LSU’s Jayden Daniels, a Heisman winner, who went on to transform the Commanders in his rookie season was never seriously considered in Chicago’s draft room.
Scouts recall the discussion dissolving into cheap shots, even mocking the viral photo of Daniels’ skinny elbow. Poles claimed that Daniels’ wasn’t built for the rigors of the NFL.
Coach’s Take:
“Zero debate for Daniels. They looked at a picture of his elbow and moved on.”
Compare that to Washington, where Chris White, who was silenced in Chicago, is now the director of pro personnel. He went to bat for Daniels then, and he’s shaping the roster around him now.
The Commanders landed a leader teammates swear by. The Bears landed a quarterback covered in hanging chads.
Gone Ostrich
Even Williams’ obvious flaws were swept away. Scouts describe them as “hidden.” Processing issues, holding the ball too long, even whispers of dyslexia never got real air time.
Coach’s Take:
“There’s a reason why he held onto the ball longer than any quarterback in college, and it was never discussed. None of these things were discussed. We took him because the media said to take him.”
Poles apparently cares a whole lot about what others think. He allegedy was overheard to say, “If I don’t take Williams the media will kill me.”
That’s not leadership and it’s that abdication of responsibility that has caused chaos in Hallas Hall.
The Fear Economy
Fear is why the Williams dog and pony show never got push back. Scouts understood their jobs depended on agreeing with the GM.
Coach’s Take:
“If you’re a yes man, you can stay in the NFL for a long time. That’s what that building is: Yes Men.”
The Caleb Train picked up speed not because he was flawless, but because no one dared to get in front of it.
Spin to Win
Poles reframed every red flag into a selling point. Caleb’s disastrous game against Notre Dame he said was proof he’d already seen NFL-style defenses. His tears in his mother’s arms after that loss was spun as passion, not immaturity.
Coach’s Take:
“It was spin layered on spin. They went ostrich mode, buried their heads, and sold sunshine.”
Extension Without Results
Despite it all, Chairman George McCaskey and president Kevin Warren extended Poles, who was 15–36 at the helm, to align him with new head coach Ben Johnson. To the NFL community, it was baffling.
Coach’s Take:
“Back in the day, if you didn’t win, you got fired. The assumption was you’re not good at your job.” — AFC assistant GM
Chicago’s front office is betting Johnson can wave a magic wand and fix everything.
The $13 Million Dollar Man
Sources inside the building already believe Johnson is pulling personnel strings. That’s why the Bears spent the 10th overall pick on Colston Loveland just months after giving Cole Kmet a $50 million deal. That’s why they drafted Luther Burden 39th overall despite glaring character concerns. And that’s why one August transaction spoke louder than all the slogans – the waiving ofmWR John Jackson, Caleb’s best friend from USC.
Coach’s Take:
“Ben can say whatever he wants about the kid. He didn’t draft Caleb. He’s not tied to him. If there are warts? There’s going to be some truth serum when they’re coaching him.” — NFC GM
History tells the story. Mitchell Trubisky was Matt Nagy’s guy, until he wasn’t. Justin Fields was Matt Eberflus’ guy, until he wasn’t.
Fear and Loathing in Chi-town
If Poles is the ostrich, Warren is the salesman. Inside Halas Hall, staffers describe a president more focused on puff pieces about himself than solving football problems.
Coach’s Take:
“You’re always looking over your shoulder because you never know what kind of day it is for Kevin. He might choose to pick on you that day or not.”
He promised stability, even told employees they’d keep their jobs. Then he fired them late in the cycle, when it was too late to land elsewhere in the NFL. Fear became the operating system.
Coach’s Take:
“Unless it’s something that’s going to put Kevin’s name in the paper and give him credit, just leave it alone.”
Buzzwords and Fortune Cookies
Longtime Bears’ staffers see through the facade and scoff at the self-proclaimed culture in the building.
Coach’s Take:
“Back then, there was never any talk about ‘culture’ or ‘family,’ all these f#*king buzzwords that get thrown around. That sh*t creates itself by being good people and creating natural bonds and friendships and relationships. And then it obviously thrives when you start winning.” – longtime staff member
Now?
Coach’s Take:
“They’re trying to drum up this facade of ‘culture’ and ‘good people.’”
He pauses.
“Are you listening to yourself?”
The Philadelphia Eagles Story
The Eagles don’t just thrive on conflict. They live for it, pivoting quickly when they’re wrong.
Carson Wentz was once the franchise cornerstone. When he fell apart Roseman swallowed his pride and shipped him to Indianapolis for assest that would soon elevate his franchise back to the top. Doug Pederson delivered the first Super Bowl in team history, then followed it with back-to-back winning seasons and two more playoff berths. But year number five for Pederson went sideways and resulted in a disaterous 4-11-1 season. The Eagles didn’t cling to nostalgia, they moved on. Chip Kelly’s experiment imploded after two 10-6 seasons and Jeffrey Lurie hit the reset button after game 15, not even letting Kelly finish his third season at the helm.
In Philly, mistakes don’t fester. They get corrected. That’s why the Eagles were back in a Super Bowl five years after Wentz melted down. That’s why Jalen Hurts was doubted coming out of Oklahoma — and now he’s the heartbeat of a perennial contender.
Meanwhile in Chicago, mistakes aren’t corrected they’re covered up. They’re doubled down on, spun, extended, and dressed up in slogans.
That’s not a foundation. That’s a facade.That’s not building a contender. That’s building a clown show and a clown’s laughter is always the loudest lie in the room.