NFL-Themed Stat About Pope Leo XIV Is Hard To Believe
A new pope has been chosen, and for the first time ever, he's an American.
Cardinal Robert Prevost, a Chicago native and Villanova University alum, was elected as the 267th and newest leader of the Roman Catholic church. The 69-year-old, who speaks five languages and can read seven, chose the papal name Leo XIV.
Prevost is the first-ever American pope, defying the odds to earn the position.
'He's somebody that, even though he's from the West, would be very attentive to the needs of a global church,' said CNN Vatican analyst Elise Allen. 'You're talking about somebody who spent over half of his ecclesial career abroad as a missionary in Peru.'
In the aftermath of Prevost being announced as the next pontiff, a few people couldn't help but use the occasion to take a shot at the Chicago Bears and their longstanding quarterback issues.
"Chicago got a pope before it got a QB to throw for 4,000 yards in a season," tweeted Collin Whitchurch of Action Network.
Yes, that stat may seem crazy, but it is true. The Bears have been around for more than 100 years and have never had a passer reach the 4,000-yard mark.
Somehow, in all that time, Chicago has only had 13 quarterbacks throw for 3,000 yards or more in a single season, including Caleb Williams, who passed for 3,541 yards as a rookie in 2024.
Erik Kramer owns the franchise's single-season passing yardage record with 3,838 yards, set in 1995. Williams seems like a good bet to eclipse that mark and perhaps finally get the Bears over the 4,000-yard hump.
After all, Chicago didn't take the former USC star and Heisman Trophy winner No. 1 overall for him to fall into the trap of mediocrity that has ensnared pretty much every signal caller to take a snap for the Windy City franchise.
Perhaps having a pope from Chicago will help the Bears get back on track.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
25 minutes ago
- USA Today
CBS Sports suggests Bucs land former starter as backup for Baker Mayfield
CBS Sports suggests Bucs land former starter as backup for Baker Mayfield Baker Mayfield is the bona fide starter for the Bucs, make no mistake about it. The veteran quarterback is coming off a career year where he set new highs in several key statistical categories, and they kept the continuity going in the quarterback room when they re-signed Kyle Trask to a one-year deal this offseason. But could they look to shake things up despite the return of the former Florida Gator and Heisman Trophy finalist? Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports wrote about some Post-June 1 trade candidates, one of which was Titans former starter Will Levis. The former Kentucky Wildcat finds himself on the outside looking in after the team drafted Cam Ward with the first overall pick in April's NFL Draft. Benjamin projects a trade to the Bucs and cites the cap savings for the Titans as the main reason. "The Tennessee Titans aren't rushing to move on from the former second-round pick, at least publicly, but ever since the club's new regime spent this year's No. 1 overall pick on Cam Ward, the writing has been on the wall. Could coach Brian Callahan retain the big-armed youngster as Ward's backup? Perhaps. But the Titans could save $1.6 million by trading Levis after June 1, whereas a trade or release prior to June 1 would've only saved the franchise about $600,000." Getting a more proven backup with starting experience isn't the worst idea for someone with Baker Mayfield's play style. Josh Grizzard has spoken about Mayfield protecting himself better in 2025, but in the event that accidents happen, since it is the NFL, having someone like Levis doesn't hurt. Not to mention, his play style also matches up well with that of the Bucs.
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Houston rushing to fix up city before 2026 FIFA World Cup — but is the cost of hosting these events worth it?
As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, Houston is cleaning house and undertaking significant infrastructure improvements to prepare for the influx of international visitors that will descend on the city. The municipality is addressing issues such as non-functional freeway lighting, deteriorating buildings and outdated public amenities to ensure a welcoming environment for fans. But just how big is the scope of the event and the required improvements? Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) The city is set to host seven "Super Bowl-size" matches during the tournament, which is expected to bring in millions of fans from over 100 countries across the globe. To prepare, Houston Public Works is prioritizing the repair of freeway lighting, particularly along Interstate 610 and U.S. Highway 59, where many lights are currently inoperative. In internal emails, a maintenance manager at Houston Public Works noted challenges such as wire theft, a qualified labour shortage, unreported damage by unknown contractors and knocked down electrical services. What's more, aging infrastructure and coordination with the Texas Department of Transportation for lane closures have complicated these efforts. The city is also focusing on demolishing "blighted" and "dangerous" buildings, including the old Greyhound station at 2121 Main Street and an old hotel at 801 St. Joseph's Parkway in order to improve public safety and aesthetics. In addition, the city is cleaning up graffiti, improving landscaping, restriping roads, fixing sidewalks and creating a new park for a month-long "fan fest" party. Of course, all these upgrades will come at a cost. Hosting a major world sporting event, like the FIFA World Cup, is a significant financial undertaking for any city. For instance, the 2018 World Cup in Russia cost more than $14 billion, while the 2014 tournament in Brazil totaled approximately $11.6 billion. More recently, Qatar spent $229 billion to host the World Cup in 2022, making it the most expensive such undertaking. These investments often cover stadium construction, transportation upgrades and other infrastructure projects. And while the 11 American host cities are requesting $625 million in federal funding to help finance the needed works, Houston's own cost is projected to be around $70-$80 million — on par with the projected costs for other cities. Read more: Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says — and that 'anyone' can do it The potential benefits for host cities include infrastructure development, increased tourism and job creation. For example, over the five years leading up to the 2018 World Cup in Russia, about 315,000 jobs were created annually. Workers' income increased by about $5.61 billion (450 billion rubles), and small business profits grew by nearly about $10 billion (800 billion rubles). The country also welcomed 4.2 million tourists in 2018 — 10% more than it did the previous year. In Brazil, World Cup-related investments helped finance rapid transit projects in three of the country's largest cities: Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte and Recife. And hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup could generate more than $5 billion in economic activity for North America. Additionally, host cities could see an estimated $160-$620 million in incremental economic activity, with 'a net benefit of approximately $90-$480 million per city after accounting for potential public costs.' Houston officials, specifically, are anticipating over $1 billion in revenue as a result of the event. Plus, the city could benefit from improved infrastructure and investment in the sport and its incoming athletes in the long run. However, there are also risks such as huge costs and budget overruns (Canadian host cities Vancouver and Toronto are already citing 'substantial' increases). Additionally, hosting such events can also lead to issues of displacement of residents (including lower-income communities), environmental concerns, questionable return on investment and underutilized facilities post-tournament. Brazil's 12 stadiums used in the 2014 World Cup cost 50% more than planned, and just six of the 35 planned transportation projects were completed on time. The Popular Committee for the World Cup and Olympics claimed more than 170,000 people were displaced from their Rio de Janeiro homes for games-related purposes, while Beijing was reported to clear 1.5 million people from their homes for the 2008 Olympics. Qatar is contending with an even darker legacy, standing accused in the deaths of migrant workers associated with hosting the event. In addition, a study by the Wesleyan Business Review highlights environmental concerns, noting that the extensive event preparations can lead to increased pollution and strain on local resources. In fact, some cities like Minneapolis, Chicago and Glendale, Arizona withdrew their bids to host in 2026. It's unclear what Houston's balance sheet will look like when the event has come and gone, but it's clear that it will require a lot of resources and massive upfront investments, impacting many Houstonians — whether or not they welcome the event in the first place. Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now This is how American car dealers use the '4-square method' to make big profits off you — and how you can ensure you pay a fair price for all your vehicle costs Like what you read? Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise straight to your inbox every week. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Sabalenka, Swiatek sweep quarterfinals, set up French Open semifinal
Iga Swiatek celebrates her win against Ukrainian Elina Svitolina at the end of their quarterfinal match at the 2025 French Open on Tuesday in Paris. Photo by Maya Vidon-White/UPI June 3 (UPI) -- World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and No. 5 Iga Swiatek each swept through their quarterfinal foes Tuesday to set up a high-profile 2025 French Open tennis semifinal in Paris. Sabalenka overwhelmed fellow hard-hitter No. 7 Zheng Qinwen of China with her serve in the 7-6(3), 6-3 triumph on Court Philippe-Chatrier. Advertisement "It was like, 'OK, you want to see the power? Let me show you something,'" Sabalenka told reporters. "I always take it as a challenge and as, like, 'OK, let's see who is better today.'" The Belarusian edged Zheng 6-5 in aces and converted 4 of 6 break point chances. She also totaled 18 unforced errors, compared to Zheng's 31. Sabalenka will meet Swiatek in a semifinal match Thursday at Roland-Garros. The winner will play in Saturday's women's singles final. Aryna Sabalenka (pictured) will face Iga Swiatek in a women's singles semifinal at the 2025 French Open on Thursday in Paris. File Photo by Maya Vidon-White/UPI Swiatek advanced with a 6-1, 7-5 victory over No. 14 Elina Svitolina of Ukraine. Swiatek held a 3-0 advantage in aces and 23 winners. She also converted 4 of 8 break point opportunities. Svitolina totaled 12 winners and converted 1 of 4 break point chances. Advertisement "Even though first set, the score looks pretty straightforward, it wasn't like that in any other games," Swiatek said. "I had to fight for every point. I'm happy that I also stepped up when she broke me in the second set, and that I kept my intensity until the end." Iga Swiatek plays against Ukrainian Elina Svitolina during their quarterfinal match at the 2025 French Open on Tuesday in Paris. Photo by Maya Vidon-White/UPI Swiatek now has a 40-2 career record in women's singles main draw matches. No. 8 Madison Keys will take on fellow American Coco Gauff (No. 2) in another women's singles quarterfinal at 5 a.m. EDT Wednesday in Paris. Iga Swiatek runs for a return against Ukrainian Elina Svitolina during their quarterfinal match at the 2025 French Open on Tuesday in Paris. Photo by Maya Vidon-White/UPI No. 6 Mirra Andreeva of Russia will face No. 361 Lois Boisson of France in the final women's quarterfinal after that match. The winners will meet in a semifinal to decide who will face Swiatek or Sabalenka in the finale. Iga Swiatek hits a shot against Ukrainian Elina Svitolina during their quarterfinal match at the 2025 French Open on Tuesday in Paris. Photo by Maya Vidon-White/UPI Quarterfinal coverage will continue at 5 a.m. Wednesday on TNT and Max.
