If you spent any time listening to sports radio in Chicago over the last three decades, you knew the voice. Dan Bernstein was a fixture—a high-intellect, often polarizing presence who didn't just talk about the Bears or the Cubs; he dissected them with the clinical precision of a prosecutor. But then, in March 2025, the mic went cold. After 30 years at 670 The Score, a tenure that survived countless lineup shuffles and industry shifts, Bernstein was gone.
People were stunned. Honestly, how does a guy with that much seniority just vanish in a weekend? It wasn't a slow fade or a planned retirement. It was a firing, plain and simple. And the reason—why did dan bernstein get fired—turned out to be one of the most bizarre and self-inflicted exits in the history of Windy City media. It didn't involve a massive scandal at the station or a ratings collapse. Instead, it started with a picture of a fish.
The Fishing Trip That Ended a Career
It sounds like a bad joke, but the catalyst was a social media post. Bernstein, an avid fisherman, posted a photo on X (formerly Twitter) of himself holding a northern pike he’d caught at Northerly Island. The caption was innocent enough: "This was a helluva fight."
Then the internet happened.
A follower replied, accusing Bernstein of killing the fish rather than releasing it, noting that it looked like a pregnant pike bleeding from the gills. Most people would have ignored it. Some might have muted the user. Bernstein, however, took the bait. He didn't just defend his sportsmanship; he went nuclear.
When the Argument Crossed the Line
The exchange escalated with dizzying speed. Bernstein, known for his "take no prisoners" attitude with callers, brought that same energy to the digital world. But this time, he didn't just call the guy an idiot. He allegedly threatened to dox the user and, in a moment that truly sealed his fate, made a comment suggesting he would get the user’s children involved.
"Wanna fight? I'm a bad enemy. Want your kids involved?"
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That was the quote that basically burned the bridge. Screenshots started flying around Chicago sports subreddits and Barstool circles within minutes. By the time Monday morning rolled around, the situation was untenable for Audacy, the parent company of 670 The Score.
The Immediate Fallout
Management at The Score had a choice to make. They’d stood by Bernstein through plenty of previous controversies—like the infamous 2015 incident involving comments about a reporter’s appearance—but this was different. This was a direct threat to a member of the public and their family.
The dominoes fell fast:
- Charity Removal: Camp One Step, a children’s oncology charity Bernstein had supported for years, removed him from their board of directors almost immediately. They cited a total mismatch with their mission.
- The On-Air Announcement: On March 21, 2025, Operations Director Mitch Rosen took to the airwaves. In a brief, corporate-style statement, he announced that Bernstein was no longer with the station. No tribute montage. No long goodbye. Just a 30-year legacy ended in a few sentences.
- The Industry Reaction: Critics like Dave Portnoy of Barstool Sports celebrated the firing, while former colleagues like Danny Parkins lamented the loss of one of the "smartest" voices in the room.
Why Why Did Dan Bernstein Get Fired Matters for Sports Media
This wasn't just about one guy losing his job. It was a wake-up call for the entire industry. For years, "shock jocks" and "confrontational hosts" were encouraged to be aggressive. That aggression was the brand. But in 2025, the line between "on-air persona" and "real-world conduct" has blurred to the point of disappearing.
Bernstein later opened up on his new podcast, Dan Bernstein: Unfiltered, admitting he had undergone intensive psychotherapy. He described the incident as the "culmination of a slow-rolling mental health crisis." He talked about a "dopamine outrage cycle" fueled by social media addiction. Kinda heavy for sports talk, right? But it was a rare moment of raw accountability in a business usually filled with egos.
The New Lineup at The Score
The station didn't wait long to move on. Leila Rahimi and Marshall Harris eventually took the reigns in the midday slot. The Score had to pivot from the "Boers and Bernstein" era of intellectual bullying to a style that felt a bit more... well, human.
What We Can Learn from the Bernstein Saga
If you're a creator, a public figure, or just someone who spends too much time on X, there are some pretty clear takeaways here.
- The "Block" Button is Your Friend: You don't have to win every argument. Bernstein's career didn't end because of a fish; it ended because he couldn't walk away from a troll.
- Accountability is the Only Path Forward: To his credit, Bernstein didn't blame a "cancel culture" conspiracy. He admitted he went "psycho" and took responsibility for his shortcomings.
- Mental Health is Real: Even for the toughest guys in the room. Recognizing when you're in an "outrage cycle" can save your career before you hit "send."
If you’re missing the old "Bernsie" vibe, you can still find him on the 312 Sports network. He’s doing the podcast thing now with his old producer Matt Abbatacola. It’s a different world—no FCC, no corporate bosses—but the shadow of that 2025 firing still looms large over his legacy.
Next Steps for Readers: If you want to understand the full context of the Chicago radio scene, check out the archives of the Bernstein & Holmes show to see the evolution of his broadcasting style. Alternatively, listening to the debut episode of Dan Bernstein: Unfiltered provides a deep look into the mental health challenges he faced leading up to his departure.