They interviewed an NFL Hall of Famer and got an autograph from Chicago Bears star Caleb Williams, but children’s podcasters Jimmy V and Hen-Dawg were left speechless with a surprise on TODAY.
Henry “Hen-Dawg” Zotti and Jimmy “V” Maley, both 10, are die-hard Chicago Bears fans and, with their love of the Da Bears, the middle school inheritors of the iconic Bill Swerski’s Superfans from “Saturday Night Live.”
Despite his commitment to the black and orange, Hen-Dawg had never even been to a Bears game.
The kids were surprised by Craig Melvin, Savannah Guthrie and Carson Daly during a Nov. 4 video call on TODAY when they were gifted tickets to the Bears’ Sunday Night Football game on Nov. 8 against the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Hen-Dawg’s face went blank with disbelief as the surprise began to sink in. Jimmy V’s mother then entered the room with two tickets for the children and she shouted with joy before embracing wildly.
“Thank you very much!” Jimmy V said.
“We’re going to kill them this weekend!” Hen-Dawg said.
The guys are sure to have fresh content for their podcast after their trip to Chicago’s legendary Soldier Field. They’ve already interviewed Hall of Famer former Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher and received an autographed copy of the Madden 27 video game from current Bears star quarterback Caleb Williams.
Hen-Dawg also dressed up as Williams for Halloween this year.
“He has the most aura,” he said.
Tandem made her TODAY debut in September and instantly became a fan favorite with her direct conversations. They also became mini-celebrities at school.
“Older kids with phones usually ask for photos,” Jimmy V said.
It’s not easy to knock them off the game like Savannah, Craig and Carson did by surprising them, because they weren’t starstruck. Urlacher is one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history and a Bears icon, but they talked to him like anyone else.
“Another podcast with someone else,” Jimmy V said. “Just talking to the Hall of Famer on the first ballot, nothing much.”
They also have a lot to discuss this year as the Bears are off to a 6-2 start. They recently traded for All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons and defeated the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks 34-17 on Monday Night Football.
The way the Bears are playing has kids thinking they’ll win their first Super Bowl this year since their legendary team of 1985. They believe Chicago will do so in honor of franchise legend Mike Ditka, a Hall of Fame Bears player and coach who died Oct. 9 at the age of 86.
“Mike Ditka of the stars will be watching us win it all,” Jimmy V said.