Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has found himself in the hot seat after admitting he left a Bears game early to beat traffic. The confession, made during a radio appearance on 104.3 The Score, has ignited a firestorm among fans who question his loyalty to the team and the city.
Johnson recounted his experience at a Bears-Packers matchup at Soldier Field, describing the stadium's notorious traffic issues. 'Getting in and out of Soldier Field is an absolute nightmare,' he said. 'Let me tell you how bad it is. Bears vs. Packers; I’m at the game; we’re losing. I decide to leave to beat the traffic. Before I get out of the footprint, the Bears had come back to win.'
The mayor's timing couldn't have been worse. The Bears staged a dramatic comeback after he left, meaning he missed the thrilling finish. Fans quickly took to social media to express their disbelief and anger. One user on X wrote, 'The bigger issue is our mayor is leaving before the game ends. Dude does not know ball whatsoever.' Another declared, 'Leaving to beat traffic means you were never a fan to begin with. Sick of this fool acting like he is a representative for DA BEARS.'
Some fans jokingly called for Johnson's removal from office, with one posting, 'Leaving a Bears/Packers game early is grounds for impeachment.' Others were more blunt: 'Maybe he’ll leave his term early, too.' The sentiment was summed up by a user who wrote, 'You would have to waterboard me to get me to admit I left that game early. Otherwise, I’m taking that to the grave.'
The incident comes at a sensitive time for the Bears, who are exploring options to build a new stadium outside Chicago. If the team leaves, Mayor Johnson may not have to worry about traffic at Soldier Field much longer. The potential move has already sparked debate about the city's commitment to keeping the Bears, and Johnson's admission only adds fuel to the fire.
Johnson's comments also echo a broader frustration among fans about the stadium experience. The mayor used the story to highlight the need for better ingress and egress at Soldier Field, but the optics of a city leader abandoning his team mid-game are hard to ignore. It's a reminder that even the most powerful fans aren't immune to the temptation of beating the traffic—but they should probably keep it to themselves.
For Bears fans, the mayor's admission is just the latest chapter in a saga that includes coach Ben Johnson's cold two-word take on Caleb Williams' Madden cover and the ongoing debate about the team's future. As the Bears eye a potential move, questions about leadership—both on the field and in city hall—continue to mount.
Whether Johnson's traffic confession will have lasting political consequences remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: in Chicago, leaving a Bears game early is a cardinal sin, and the mayor just committed it in public.
