Bears Almost Played A Prank On Luke Newman During The Draft

The Chicago Bears knew their game plan for the final day of the 2025 draft. They wanted to grab help at linebacker, cornerback, running back, and offensive guard. It all depended on how the board fell to determine which order they'd go in. They ended up grabbing the linebacker (Ruben Hyppolite) in the 4th round and the cornerback (Zah Frazier) in the 5th round. Going into the 6th round, it looked like the opportunity was right to take a guard. GM Ryan Poles agreed that Michigan State's Luke Newman was somebody they'd like.

As the time arrived for them to pick, assistant GM Ian Cunningham hoped Poles would greet the young guard with a specific phrase on the phone.

For those who don't know, this references the classic 1990s sitcom Seinfeld. The main character, Jerry, has a neighbor named Newman in his apartment complex. The two don't like each other. Whenever they meet for one reason or another, Jerry greets him with the same line, "Hello, Newman." All the while, he never hides the disgust in his voice. It became one of the great catchphrases in TV history.

Would Luke Newman have gotten the joke?

He was born in 2002, and Seinfeld concluded in 1998. Sure, there is always the possibility he picked up on the show through reruns, but that might've been an awkward call if Luke Newman had no idea what Poles was saying. Ultimately, the GM kept the call traditional, much to Cunningham's disappointment. That would've made for a classic draft moment. Alas, an opportunity missed. Either way, if Newman becomes a good player for the Bears, this joke may resurface at some point. He certainly has the tools, be it power or mobility. The question was always whether he could handle bigger defensive linemen in the NFL. We're about to get answers in the next few months.