Regular listeners of Barstool’s Pardon My Take are well-acquainted with Dan “Big Cat” Katz and his often-painful recounting of life as a Chicago Bears fan. Over the years, Katz has become the face of tortured fandom, endlessly lamenting the Bears’ missteps. But on Wednesday, a new guest took that fandom to a whole new level — by testing it.
Ben Johnson, the newly minted head coach of the Bears, made his debut on the show, having taken the reins in January after three years as the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, where he helped turn the Lions’ offense into one of the league’s most dynamic. Big Cat was eager to speak with the man now tasked with salvaging his beloved Bears, hoping to gain insight into Johnson’s vision for a team that has been in perpetual rebuilding mode as the 2025 season looms. Just as Katz was gearing up to ask his first question, Johnson flipped the script. Rather than discussing his plans for the Bears, he wanted to know about Big Cat’s past as a Patriots fan, specifically where Katz’s loyalty would lie in a potential Super Bowl matchup between the Patriots and the Bears.
“Can I start with a first question for you first? Super Bowl scenario,” said Johnson. “Chicago Bears versus New England Patriots. Who are you rooting for?” Right away, Big Cat declared his support for the Bears.
“Oh, Bears,” said Katz. “Bears. Bears. Bears. Bears all day!” “Okay, we got that one out of the way,” replied Johnson.
This exchange follows Big Cat’s public admission during an episode of PMT last month, revealing that he grew up supporting Boston sports teams before switching to a primary allegiance with the Bears upon joining Barstool in 2012. Clearly, Johnson must have been paying attention to this revelation. To some, changing allegiances as a sports fan can be problematic, especially for a passionate fanbase like the Bears, which has endured years of heartache. Regardless, this response should clarify that Big Cat has no plans of favoring any team other than the Bears in the foreseeable future, which is, at the very least, enough for Johnson to welcome his support with open arms.
