Phil Thompson
philthompsontrib.bsky.social
Phil Thompson
@philthompsontrib.bsky.social
Chicago Tribune Bears reporter.
I think Viktor the Viking just invented the "plush push."

Conspicuously absent, Staley. Invitation must've gotten lost in the mail.
November 16, 2025 at 3:38 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!
November 2, 2025 at 5:29 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
September 12, 2025 at 7:37 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
August 20, 2025 at 8:44 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
July 1, 2025 at 10:41 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
July 1, 2025 at 10:33 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
June 28, 2025 at 11:01 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
June 28, 2025 at 10:51 PM
“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
June 28, 2025 at 4:16 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
May 6, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Little IceHogs at Wolves playoffs action. Puck drop and we’re off.
April 24, 2025 at 12:11 AM
“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
April 17, 2025 at 3:07 PM
“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
April 16, 2025 at 10:31 AM
April 15, 2025 at 10:47 AM