[♪♪♪] >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

BRANDIS FRIEDMAN HAS THE EDGE OFF.

>> ON THE SHOW TONIGHT... COVID CASES SURGE AHEAD OF THANKSGIVING WEEKEND TWO DOCTORS ON BOOSTER SHOTS AND MORE.

>> BEARS HEAD COACH MATT NAGY'S JOB IS REPORTEDLY ON THE LINE AMID ANOTHER LACKLUSTER SEASON HOW MIGHT THAT IMPACT THE TEAM'S THANKSGIVING MATCHUP DEPENDS THE LIONS.

>> WE BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT ART IS FOR EVERYONE AND EVERYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO THIS WONDERFUL RESOURCE.

>> A LOCAL ART SCHOOL IS TAKING A STEP WITH THE ART ACCESSIBILITY WITH THE PAY AS YOU CAN MODEL.

FIRST, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES...

JURORS REACH A GUILTY VERDICT IN THE MURDER TRIAL OF 25-YEAR-OLD AHMAUD ARBERY.

>> JURY VERDICT.

COUNT ONE, MALICE MURDER, WE THE JURY FIND THE DEFENDANT TRAVIS McMICHAEL GUILTY.

>> TRAVIS McMICHAEL, HIS FATHER GREG AND WILLIAM "RODDIE" BRYAN WERE CONVICTED OF KILLING AHMAUD ARBERY WHO WAS FATALLY SHOT WHILE BEING CHASED THROUGH A GEORGIA NEIGHBORHOOD IN FEBRUARY 2020.

DEFENSE ATTORNEYS CLAIM THEY WERE ATTEMPTING A LEGAL CITIZENS ARREST TO DETAIN ARBERY AS A BURGLAR.

FOLLOWING TODAY'S MURDER MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT RELEASED A STATEMENT THAT READS IN PART QUOTE... >> CHICAGO'S PAYING HOMAGE TO THE CITY'S FIRST BLACK MAYOR ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF HIS DEATH.

♪LET US MARCH ON♪ >> CITY LEADERS AND FORMER ADMINISTRATION MEMBERS GATHERED THIS MORNING FOR AN ANNUAL WREATH LAYING CEREMONY IN HONOR OF HAROLD WASHINGTON.

WASHINGTON DIED OF A HEART ATTACK THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING 34 YEARS AGO IN 1987.

HE IS BURIED AT OAKWOOD CEMETERY ON CHICAGO'S SOUTH SIDE.

>> A CHICAGO TRADITION IS BACK.

THE ALL STATE CTA HOLIDAY TRAINS AND BUSES WILL BE TRAVELING ALL ROUTES FRIDAY THROUGH DECEMBER 22.

CHICAGOANS CAN SPOT SANTA ON THE FLEET AND THEY WILL HEAR HOLIDAY MUSIC.

FACE MASKS AND CTA FARES ARE REQUIRED TO BOARD.

>> UP NEXT, WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE RECENT SURGE IN COVID CASES.

SO PLEASE STAY WITH US.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> THANKSGIVING IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER AND SO IS A SURGE OF ANY COVID-19 CASES.

THE STATE'S PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT REPORTS MORE THAN 5,000 NEW COVID CASES SINCE YESTERDAY.

THE INCREASE IN CASES IN ILLINOIS HAS NOW SURPASSED LAST SUMMER'S DELTA VARIANT SURGE.

HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE URGING RESIDENTS TO TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTION AS THEY MAKE PLANS TO GATHER WITH FAMILY MEMBERS WHO MAY OR MAY NOT BE VACCINATED.

JOINING US TO DISCUSS THE LATEST ARE Dr. ROBERT MURPHY PROFESSOR OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES AT NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY'S FEINBERG SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

AND Dr. SUSAN BLEASDALE, MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL AT UI HEALTH.

WELCOME BOTH OF YOU BACK TO "CHICAGO TONIGHT."

Dr. MURPHY I ASK YOU THIS WHAT IS DRIVING THE LATEST SURGE NOW?

>> WHAT IS DRIVING THE SURGE IS A COUPLE THINGS.

ONE IS WE HAVE THE DELTA VARIANT STILL WHICH IS HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS.

TWO, PEOPLE HAVE GONE INDOORS.

THEY ARE CONGREGATING MORE AND GETTING A LITTLE BIT LAX IN TERMS OF WEARING MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING AND DOING THE THINGS THEY DID EARLIER IN THE PANDEMIC.

AND THE MAIN REASON IS WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH PEOPLE VACCINATED.

THAT IS WHAT IS DRIVING IT.

IT IS A COMBINATION OF ALL THOSE THINGS.

>> AND IT'S BEEN THE CASE FOR PREVIOUS SURGES.

Dr. BLEASDALE WHERE DO YOU THINK THIS WILL PEAK OUT PEOPLE WILL BE GATHERING TOMORROW AND TRAVELING OVER THE NEXT WEEK?

>> IT'S CONCERNING THAT IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO CONTINUE TO RISE AFTER THE HOLIDAYS WE SAW THAT LAST YEAR AND WE ARE HITTING A PIE POINT AND PEOPLE GATHERING AND TRAVELING, JUST MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR TRANSMISSION SO PEOPLE NEED TO BE CAREFUL.

>> YOU MENTIONED VACCINATION RATES NOT HIGH ENOUGH.

LET'S LOOK AT THE NUMBERS FROM THE C.D.C.

71% OF ELIGIBLE ILLINOISIANS ARE FULLY VACCINATED.

78% HAVE RECEIVED ONE DOSE AND 1.7 MILLION BOOSTER SHOTS HAVE GONE OUT.

THOSE WE PRESUME INCLUDE KIDS NOW 5 AND OLDER WHO ARE ELIGIBLE.

ROBERT, DOES THIS RATE OF VACCINATION AT LEAST MEAN THERE IS A LOWER RATE OF DEATH GIVEN THE HIGH RATE OF CASES?

>> YEAH.

YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF CASES IT'S QUITE CLEAR.

IF YOU ARE UNVACCINATED YOU'RE FIVE TIMES MORE LIKELY GETTING INFECTED AND THAT IS WHY THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE C.D.C.

AND FROM EXPERTS IN THE CITY AND STATE AND NATIONALLY, HANG AROUND WITH VACCINATED PEOPLE.

MAKE YOUR CROWD YOUR GATHERING FOR THANKSGIVING WITH THE VACCINATED.

BECAUSE YOUR FIVE TIMES LESS LIKELY TO GET INFECTED IN CASE ONE OF THEM IS INFECTED.

FOR DYING FROM THIS THING IT'S GREATER.

IT'S THROIN-FOLD -- 13-FOLD DIFFERENCE.

THE KEY GETTING VACCINATED.

>> AND PERHAPS A LOT OF FOLKS MADE THEIR THANKSGIVING PLANS BEFORE THE SURGE STARTED TO RISE.

WHAT IS YOUR RECOMMENDATION FOR FOLKS TOMORROW?

SHOULD THEY RETHINK PLANS TO GATHER WITH BIG GROUPS OF PEOPLE?

>> YOU NEED TO THINK ABOUT IT LIKE Dr. MURPHY POINTED OUT THE VACCINE IS EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING SEVERE DISEASE HOSPITALIZATION AND DEATH AND IT DOES DECREASE YOUR RISK OF ACQUIRING IT.

BUT THERE IS A CHANCE YOU CAN GET IT.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO CHOOSE WHO YOU ARE GATHERING WITH, IS THERE ANYBODY VULNERABLE EVEN WITH VACCINATION?

AND IF YOU HAVE THE GATHERINGS ANY SIGN OR SYMPTOMS OF COVID SOMETIMES PEOPLE WHO ARE VACCINATED HAVE MILD DISEASE AND THEY DON'T THINK THEY COULD HAVE COVID SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU KNOW WHEN YOU ARE GATHERING AROUND A LOT OF PEOPLE IT'S GOING TO INCREASE THAT RISK EVEN WITH VACCINE PROTECTION AND WILL KEEP YOU FROM SEVERE DISEASE.

IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS GET TESTED AFTERWARDS.

>> AND Dr. MURPHY KIDS 5 AND OLDER ARE ELIGIBLE AND THEY HAVE BEEN RECEIVING THE VACCINE MOST PROBABLY HAVE NOT HAD THEIR SECOND SHOT AND WAITED TWO WEEKS TO BE FULLY VACCINATED.

WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO PARENTS OF CHILDREN AND GATHERING FOR THE HOLIDAY?

>> WELL, USE COMMON SENSE.

THOSE KIDS LIVING IN HOUSEHOLDS WHERE THE PARENTS ARE VACCINATED THE ADULTS IN THE HOUSEHOLD ARE VACCINATED THEY ARE LESS OF A CHANCE.

BUT WE HAVE TO GET THAT GROUP THAT IS IN PRESCHOOL AND SCHOOL VACCINATED BECAUSE THAT IS ANOTHER POOL OF UNVACCINATED PEOPLE AND THAT'S STARTING TO HAPPEN.

IF YOU ARE CAREFUL, JUST LIKE Dr. BLEASDALE SAID MAKE SURE ANYONE NOT FEELING 100% THEY ARE NOT TO MIX WITH THE FAMILY.

IF THERE'S UNCERTAINTY YOU CAN GET AN OVER-THE-COUNTER TEST.

YOU CAN TEST EVERYBODY COMING TO YOUR HOUSE IF PEOPLE COMING FROM OUT OF STATE OR YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THEIR STATUS IS.

THERE'S MANY ITEMS IN THE TOOLBOX, WE SAY, TO HELP KEEP YOUR RISK AS LOW AS POSSIBLE.

>> AND IT'S NOT JUST A HOLIDAY TOMORROW BUT MANY, MANY AMERICANS ARE TRAVELING EITHER CAR, AIRPLANE THEY WILL BE TRAVELING OVER THE NEXT WEEK.

THEY ARE GOING TO BE INDOORS GIVEN THE FACT WE'VE STARTED GETTING INTO THE WINTER SEASON DOES THAT PORTEND A SURGE THAT GOES ON A LONGTIME IS THIS.

>> THERE IS THE POTENTIAL BUT THERE IS A REQUIREMENT ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION YOU HAVE TO BE MASKED.

WEARING THE MASK ON THE AIRPLANE AND THE BUS STATION AND TRAIN YOU KEEP THE MASKS ON BECAUSE THEY ARE EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING TRANSMISSION.

WE HAVE TOOLS WE'VE GOT MASKS, VACCINES AND TESTING SO WE CAN TRY TO CONTROL IT.

WE HAVE TO CHOOSE WISELY AND BE CAREFUL AND ESPECIALLY FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE VERY VULNERABLE.

THEY ARE GOING TO TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS WHEN THEY ARE GATHERING WITH OTHERS OR NOT GATHERING WITH OTHERS.

BEING CAUTIOUS AND THOSE UNVACCINATED BE EXTRA CAUTIOUS.

CHOOSE WHO YOU GATHER WITH AND KEEP YOUR MASKS ON.

THOSE UNVACCINATED ARE THE PEOPLE AT HIGHEST RISK FOR HOSPITALIZATION AND DYING.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE CAREFUL WHEN ARE YOU GATHERING.

>> Dr. MURPHY, 1.7 MILLION PEOPLE RECEIVED THE THIRD BOOSTER SHOT.

WHAT DO AMERICANS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BOOSTERS AND THEIR EFFICACY?

>> IT'S QUITE CLEAR.

IF YOU'VE HAD YOUR TWO SHOTS OF THE VACCINE THIS IS FOR THE MODERNA AND PFIZER, THE PROTECTION WEARS OFF.

IT STARTS WEARING OFF AS LITTLE AS FOUR MONTHS AND SIGNIFICANTLY AT SIX MONTHS.

YOU HAVE TO KEEP UP WITH THE VACCINES UNFORTUNATELY.

BECAUSE THE PROTECTION JUST WANES OVER TIME.

GET THE BOOSTERS.

WE DON'T KNOW IF YOU WILL HAVE TO HAVE A BOOSTER EVERY SIX MONTHS?

IT MIGHT NOT BE THAT LONG.

COULD BE ONE YEAR.

WE'RE NEW TO THIS WHOLE THING BUT YOU NEED THE BOOSTER NOW SIX MONTHS AFTER YOUR VACCINE AND IF YOU HAVE THE VACCINE IT'S TWO -- OWE JOHNSON & JOHNSON IT'S TWO MONTHS AFTER YOUR SHOT.

>> ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO GET BOOSTERS INPERPETUITY?

>> THERAPEUTICS WILL PROBABLY HELP AND WE WILL HAVE [INAUDIBLE] RIGHT NOW STILL PRIMARILY THE DELTA VARIANT.

AND I WOULD EMPHASIZE THAT THE BOOSTERS ARE HELPFUL THEY ARE MOST HELPFUL FOR THOSE OVER 65 BECAUSE THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM IS NOT AS ROBUST.

THAT WHY WE GIVE A HIGH DOSE FLU SHOT BUT THE BOOSTERS ARE AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE 18 AND OVER.

THEY ARE SHOWING PROTECTION AGAINST SEVERE DISEASE AT THIS POINT FOR MANY THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN VACCINATED AND NOT BOOSTED RIGHT NOW.

GET AN ADDITIONAL MEASURE OF PROTECTION.

ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE GET THEIR FLU SHOT, TOO.

IT'S FLU SEASON AND WE ARE SEEING THE FLU ACROSS THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU GET YOUR FLU SHOT AND DO NOT GATHER IF ANYONE HAS ANY ILLNESS COVID AND OTHERWISE.

>> A LOT TO CONSIDER AS PEOPLE PREPARE TO GATHER FOR THE HOLIDAY TOMORROW.

AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO BOTH OF YOU.

THANK YOU TO Dr. ROBERT MURPHY AND Dr. SUSAN BLEASDALE.

>> HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

>> UP NEXT WE VISIT A TUITION FREE ART SCHOOL JUST SOUTH OF THE CITY.

BUT FIRST, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE WEATHER... >> NEXT SPRING AN ART SCHOOL SOUTH OF THE CITY SAYS IT WILL BE THE FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND OFFERING TUITION FREE ART CLASSES FOR ARTISTS OF ALL AGES.

ARTS CORRESPONDENT, ANGEL IDOWU TAKES US TO A CERAMICS CLASS AT THE HYDE PARK ART CENTER HOW IT'S MAKING ART MORE ACCESSIBLE FOR EVERYONE.

[♪♪♪] >> PEOPLE LOOK OUT FOR YOU HERE.

>> WHEN YOU ARE HERE YOU'RE FAMILY.

THAT IS HOW ART STUDENT SHEILA CLAY AT THE HYDE PARK ART CENTER DESCRIBES THEIR EXPERIENCE AND SAYS THAT IS WHAT KEEPS HER COMING BACK.

>> IT LIFTS YOUR SOUL AND YOUR SPIRIT AND IT TAKE YOUR MIND OFF OF ANYTHING ELSE THAT IS WORRYING YOU AND RELAXES YOU.

IT KEEPS YOU MENTALLY FOCUSED AND AWAKE FOR ANYTHING THAT YOU MIGHT BE WORRIED ABOUT YOU CAN GET CLARITY HERE AND THE BEAUTIFUL WORKERS AND THE STAFF AND THE PEOPLE HERE, THEY SHOW INTEREST IN EVERYTHING AND THEY ARE VERY SUPPORTIVE.

YOU KNOW AND I JUST LOVE THAT.

IT MAKES ME HAPPY AND I'M SUPPOSED TO BE HERE.

I'M NOT SUPPOSED TO BE SITTING AT HOME.

[♪♪♪] >> IT IS A PLAN NEARLY FIVE YEARS IN THE MAKING WITH THE HELP OF THE ART CENTER'S $15 MILLION ART MAKES CAPITAL CAMPAIGN.

THROUGH THE HELP OF DONORS THE ART CENTER WILL BE ABLE TO OFFER A PAY AS YOU CAN OPTION FOR ALL OF THEIR ART CLASSES.

FROM PAINTING AND DRAWING TO TEXTILE CLASSES TO PHOTOGRAPHY.

NOTHING IS OFF LIMITS.

>> WE DON'T LIKE TO SAY ONLY BECAUSE WE HOPE OTHER PLACES WILL FOLLOW SUIT.

AS FAR AS I KNOW THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TUITION-FREE ART SCHOOL FOR FOLKS OF ALL AGES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COUNTRY.

THIS MODEL WILL ALLOW US TO RUN CLASSES MORE CONSISTENTLY, OFFER NEW CLASSES THAT WE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO OFFER BEFORE.

IT'S GOING TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF OUR ARTIST COMMUNITY.

>> THIS INCLUDES TEACHING ARTISTS LIKE MALIKA JACKSON.

I SAT IN ON HER CUSTOMER RAMPICS COURSE FOR SENIORS MANY ON SCHOLARSHIP A BENEFIT THAT WILL CONTINUE UNDER THE CAMPAIGN.

>> EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE AND NO ONE SHOULD BE LIMITED AND IT SHOULDN'T BE BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE THE FUNDS THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ACCESS.

>> DON'T USE... >> THROUGH THE ARTS, THE CHILDREN AND PEOPLE CAN EXPRESS THEMSELVES.

AND YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF WHERE THE PERSON MIGHT NEED HELP.

YOU KNOW, THROUGH WHAT THEY DO AND WHAT THEY SAY VISUALLY.

YOU CAN -- THEY ARE OPEN MORE SO THEY ARE MORE FREE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE GOING THROUGH WITHOUT BEING PUT ON THE SPOT.

>> VEDA FANGI WHO UTILIZES THE SCHOLARSHIP AGREES.

>> I DON'T THINK I COULD HAVE TAKEN THIS CLASS WITHOUT THE FINANCIAL HELP.

THEY HELPED ME CREATE THE THINGS I'M SEEING IN MY HEAD THAT I CAN'T REALLY SEE.

>> ASIDE FROM A FEW NICHE CLASSES THE CAMPAIGN WILL SUPPORT ARTIST RESIDENCY PROGRAMS, EXHIBITIONS AND OTHER ART EVENTS HOSTED BY THE CENTER.

>> IT ALLOWS PEOPLE FROM ALL SORTS OF WALKS OF LIFE, ALL DIFFERENT DIVERSITIES TO BE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER IN A SPACE AND MAKE MEANING TOGETHER, BE CREATIVE TOGETHER AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH ONE ANOTHER IN ADDITION TO BEING ABLE TO BUILD THEIR ART SKILL SET.

>> FOR "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M ANGEL IDOWU.

>> THE HYDE PARK ART CENTER WILL CONTINUE TO OFFER FINANCIAL AID AND PAY AS YOU CAN METHOD FOR CERTAIN ART CLASSES UNTIL SPRING 2022.

REGISTRATION FOR WINTER COURSES BEGINS NOVEMBER 30TH AND YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION HOW TO SIGN UP.

UP NEXT, JAMES "BIG CAT" WILLIAMS OFFERS HIS TAKE ON COACH NAGY'S FUTURE WITH THE CHICAGO BEARS.

FIRST, A LOOK AT EVENTS HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND... BEFORE YOU SIT DOWN FOR TURKEY THERE IS A FOOTBALL GAME.

REFERRING TO THE 3-7 BEARS VERSUS THE 0-9-1 LIONS.

WHATEVER TAKES PLACE ON FIELD IS DWARFED BY THE COP FUSION SURROUNDING THE ORGANIZATION.

REPORTS PAINT A PICTURE OF A HEAD COACH ABOUT TO BE OUT OF A JOB AND QUESTIONS OF WHETHER THERE IS ANY COMPETENCE AT ALL IN THE UPPER MANAGEMENT OF THE ORGANIZATION.

[♪♪♪] >> AND JOINING US WITH MORE IS JAMES "BIG CAT" WILLIAMS.

FORMER OFFENSIVE LINEMAN FOR THE CHICAGO BEARS FROM 91-2002.

BIG CAT GREAT TO SEE YOU.

YOU'VE SEEN THE REPORTS THE ONE REPORT SAYS NAGY IS INFORMED HE WILL BE OUT OF A JOB AFTER TOMORROW'S GAME AND TODAY REPORTS SAYING GEORGE TOLD THE TEAM NONE OF THAT IS TRUE.

WHAT IS YOUR SENSE WHAT IS GOING ON THERE AT HALLIS HALL?

>> HI, PARIS, HOW ARE YOU.

I JUST DON'T KNOW, MAN.

THINGS OVER THE YEARS THINGS HAVE GOTTEN SO WEIRD AT HALLIS HALL THAT YOU JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT IS TRUTH AND WHAT IS FICTION WHEN REPORTS -- WHEN PEOPLE TALK, WHEN PEOPLE ACTUALLY TALKING AT HALL LITS HALL.

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

WE HEARD ALL THE CRAZY THINGS YESTERDAY ABOUT NAGY BEING FIRED AFTER THE DETROIT GAME.

AND WHY WOULD YOU LET THAT LEAK OUT?

I CAN UNDERSTAND THEM NOT RESPONDING TO IT RIGHT AWAY.

BUT JUST SEEMED LIKE TO DRAG ON AND DRAG ON WHEN IT DIDN'T NEED TO.

>> YEAH.

IF IT WAS FALSE, YOU THINK THEY WOULD HAVE RESPONDED AND NOT WAIT 24 HOURS.

AS A PLAYER HOW DIFFICULT IT TO PREPARE FOR A GAME AMID ALL THIS CONFUSION?

>> THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION.

BECAUSE YOU THINK BACK TO WHEN THE BEARS PLAYED THE LAS VEGAS RAIDERS AND THE TURMOIL THEY HAD GOING ON.

AND IT WASN'T NEARLY AS PUBLIC AS THE NAGY THING IS RIGHT NOW.

YOU'VE GOT TO THINK IT IS AFFECTING THE PLAYERS MENTALLY.

BUT WE HAVE TO ASK HOW IS IT AFFECTING THEIR PRACTICES?

BECAUSE YOU KNOW COACH NAGY'S GOING THROUGH A LOT RIGHT NOW.

AND YOU HEARD HE LET THEM GO AFTER A WALK THROUGH AND CANCELED A MEETING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

YOU'VE GOT TO WONDER HOW PREPARED ARE THEY GOING TO BE GOING INTO THE GAME IN DETROIT.

>> AND THE BEARS' RECORD IS NOT GOOD BUT DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO FIRE SOMEONE IN THE MIDDLE OF A SEASON AND TELL THEM YOU HAVE TO COACH THIS GAME AND YOU WILL BE FIRED NO MATTER WHAT?

>> I DON'T SEE HOW YOU DO THAT.

I'VE HEARD A FEW PEOPLE AND TALKED TO A FEW PEOPLE.

THE THING THAT IS INTERESTING IS IF YOU DID TELL HIM THAT, NOW HE IS GOING INTO A NATIONALLY BROADCAST FOOTBALL GAME HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET HIS POINT ACROSS, TO GET HIS SIDE ACROSS.

AND ALL THAT'S GOING TO DO IS IF THEY DID TELL HIM ALL THAT WILL DO IS MAKE THE BEARS LOOK REALLY BAD.

>> AND SPORTS RADIO THEY ARE TALKING TODAY THAT EACH COACHING STAFF MEETS WITH THE BROADCAST CREW AND THEY GET TO TALK AND NAGY CAN TELL THEM WHATEVER HE WANTS.

IF HE IS GONE AT SOME POINT DURING THE SEASON OR AFTER THE SEASON AND THEN YOU ARE LEFT WITH A GENERAL MANAGER WHO HAS A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND LEFT WITH A TEAM PRESIDENT AND A TEAM CHAIRMAN THAT HAVE ALSO NOT HAD SUCCESS ON THEIR WATCH OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

WHAT SHOULD BEARS' FANS BE EXPECTING?

>> I KNOW WHAT BEARS' FANS WANT.

I KNOW WHAT I THINK I KNOW WHAT BEARS' FANS WANT AND I -- I THINK WHAT PEOPLE IN GENERAL WANT.

THEY WANT THEM TO BLOW IT UP.

GET RID OF EVERYBODY.

START FRESH.

BUT YOU STILL GET INTO THE SAME QUESTION AS FAR AS IF YOU DO GET RID OF ALL THESE PEOPLE, IF YOU GET RID OF PACE AND GET RID OF NAGY, IF YOU GET RID OF PHILLIPS WHO ARE THE PEOPLE HIRING THE NEXT GROUP OF PEOPLE COMING IN?

THAT'S BEEN THE PROBLEM OVER THE YEARS IS NO ONE HAS ANY COMPETENCE IN THE PEOPLE IN THE BUILDING NOW TO BRING IN ANYONE THAT IS GOING TO ACTUALLY HELP THE ORGANIZATION.

>> CERTAINLY A LOT OF FANS -- I WAS LISTENING TO SPORTS RADIO FANS SAYING THEY DON'T HAVE THE CONFIDENCE FROM THE VERY TOP BECAUSE OF TOO MANY YEARS OF BUNGLES AND BAD DECISION MAKES.

JUSTIN FIELDS ISN'T GOING TO PLAY.

HE IS NURSING RIB INJURIES.

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT OUT OF THE OFFENSE WITH ANDY DALTON?

>> WELL, IT GOES BACK TO WHAT YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER.

HOW PREPARED ARE THEY?

THE ONE THING THAT YOU NEED ON THIS TEAM NOW IS A VETERAN PRESENCE, A PRESENCE THAT CAN SAY THAT CAN SIT BACK AND TELL THE TEAM LOOK I KNOW THINGS ON THE OUTSIDE ARE NOT GOING WELL RIGHT NOW.

BUT NOT ONLY FOR OUR LIVELIHOODS AND EVERYONE AROUND US THEIR LIVELIHOODS WE HAVE TO GO OUT AND PERFORM.

THEY'RE BEING PAID TO PERFORM SO THEY HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY ON THURSDAY MORNING TO GET UP, GO OUT THERE AND HANDLE THE BUSINESS TAKE CARE OF THEIR JOBS.

I WOULD ASSUME WE'LL SEE THE SAME OFFENSE WE HAVE SEEN.

THE OFFENSE THAT IS ONLY AVERAGING 16.1 POINT PER GAME.

AND THAT IS PART OF THE REASON THEY ARE NEEDING TO CLEAN HOUSE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THINGS CAN CHANGE IN THE MATTER OF THREE OR FOUR DAYS.

>> AND YOU HAVE A DEFENSE THAT GAVE UP A BIG WINNING TOUCHDOWN DRIVE BECAUSE OF MISCUES.

WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE DEFENSE?

AND CAN THEY GET IT STRAIGHT AGAINST DETROIT?

>> WHEN THE DEFENSE CONSIDERING THE DEFENSE YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A DEFENSE THAT IS RIDDLED WITH INJURIES.

AND I THINK THAT IS STARTING TO REAR ITS UGLY HEAD.

WE TALK ABOUT THE MISSED ASSIGNMENTS AND MISSED COMMUNICATIONS IN THE SECONDARY FOR AS MUCH AS WE GOT ON EDDIE JACKSON ABOUT HIS TACKLING HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE GLUE HOLDING THAT SECONDARY TOGETHER.

NOW YOU HAVE TO SIMPLIFY THINGS.

SO GUYS KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO ON EVERY PLAY.

IT MIGHT NOT BE PRETTY AT LEAST YOU HAVE GUYS PLAYING AT FULL SPEED IF IT IS SIMPLER.

RIGHT NOW, GUYS ARE JUST THINKING TOO MUCH, MAKING TOO MANY MISTAKES AND PLAYING SLOW >> AND.

>> AND THE LIONS HAVE THE WORST RECORD IN FOOTBALL.

DO YOU WORRY ABOUT A TEAM THAT IS HUNGRY GIVEN IT'S NATIONAL TV AND BEARS ARE IN TURMOIL?

>> IN DETROIT'S MIND THEY ARE THINKING LOOK THIS IS OUR BEST OPPORTUNITY TO GET A WIN RIGHT NOW.

THE BEARS ARE IN SHAMBLES, FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM.

THEY ARE NOT PLAYING WELL.

AND THEY ARE COMING TO US ON THANKSGIVING.

AND DETROIT IS ALWAYS A DIFFICULT PLACE TO PLAY ON THANKSGIVING, ESPECIALLY IF THEY CAN FIND A WAY TO GET A CROWD IN THERE.

>> AND COUPLE SECONDS LEFT.

YOUR PREDICTION FOR TOMORROW?

>> I'M GOING WITH THE BEARS.

I THINK THE VETERAN PRESENCE WILL HELP THEM PULL IT TOGETHER.

WE'RE ONLY GOING WITH 17-13 WIN POSSIBLY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WELL THAT WILL BE SOMETHING FOR NATIONAL AUDIENCES TO FEAST ON BEFORE THEY EAT THEIR TURKEY.

JAMES "BIG CAT" WILLIAMS HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO YOU AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> HAPPY THANKSGIVING, TO YOU TOO, PARIS.

HAVE A GOOD ONE.

>> THANKS VERY MUCH.

AND WE'RE BACK TO WRAP THINGS UP RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> Announcer: "CHICAGO TONIGHT" IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY... >> THAT'S OUR SHOW.

STAY TUNED FOR "JAY'S CHICAGO".

AND JOIN US TOMORROW FOR A SPECIAL THANKSGIVING DAY SHOW HOSTED BY PHIL PONCE.

A LOOK AT A NEW CALL FOR LAND BASED REPARATIONS TO INDIGENOUS PLERNS AND HOW SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES ARE IMPACTING ACCESS TO FOOD.

AND FOR FOR ALL OF US HERE AT "CHICAGO TONIGHT" I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A WONDERFUL THANKSGIVING.

[♪♪♪]