Take The North: A Chicago Bears Podcast

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss how both Bears head coach Ben Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles are telling us the team is going to be held more accountable going forward. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote share what they're hearing about how the Bears could use their picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. It's clear they like their chances of getting more than one good player with their top selections. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bears head coach Ben Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles have given us a ton to discuss after they spoke at the NFL owners meetings. Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote bring you the highlights from Johnson and Poles in this one. Are we getting hints about what direction the team could take with the 10th overall pick in the NFL Draft? Does Johnson think he needs to "undo" any potential bad habits that quarterback Caleb Williams picked up during his rookie season? And are there any players besides cornerback Kyler Gordon who could get a contract extension soon? We've got all that and much more in this jam-packed episode! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A listener wanted to know whom Mark Grote and producer Adam Studzinski think is the worst Bears draft pick ever. The conversation leads down quite the rabbit hole of names! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark Grote and producer Adam Studzinski debate what, if anything, we're supposed to take away from an Instagram post that Bears safety Jaquan Brisker recently made. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark Grote and producer Adam Studzinski respond to a listener question about who will get a contract extension first: Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon or guard Joe Thuney? Plus, will safety Jaquan Brisker be a Bear in 2026? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's another mailbag episode of the podcast! Mark Grote and producer Adam Studzinski field your Bears questions. But first, the guys touch on a social media post by Bears safety Jaquan Brisker, who suffered a scary concussion last season. Are we reading into this too much? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark Grote and guest Ryan Chiaverini of ABC 7 reflect a bit on Chiaverini's college football career. Plus, are the Bears best hope for Chicago to have a really good team soon? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mark Grote asks guest Ryan Chiaverini of ABC 7 in Chicago whom he wants the Bears to draft when they're on the clock at No. 10 overall. Should the team continue building the trenches? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Wiederer is on vacation, so Mark Grote holds down the fort for this one. Grote brings in ABC 7 Chicago lead sports anchor Ryan Chiaverini to get his thoughts on the Bears' moves this offseason. What does he think the Bears should do to continue building out the offensive line? Plus, Chiaverini takes us back nearly two decades to his time covering the Bears when they made a run to the Super Bowl in 2006! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our own Mark Grote joined Marshall Harris and Leila Rahimi on 670 The Score to discuss the Bears' options with the No. 10 overall pick in the NFL Draft and which player he likes at that spot. It might surprise you! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote get into a discussion about why a franchise, especially one that's looked at as a rising team, needs to be capable of handling the attention that comes with its expectations. With that in mind, Wiederer reflects on the fateful 2019 Bears. He believes that team was exhausted by the end of training camp by the attention it was garnering. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Wiederer and guest Sean Hammond of the Chicago Tribune discuss the idea of "reaching" for a player in the NFL Draft. Is there really such thing as over-drafting a player if you're confident the pick will work out? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Wiederer and guest Sean Hammond of the Chicago Tribune look at the Bears' moves this offseason. Hammond notes that there haven't really been any big surprises from the team like we saw in the last couple offseasons. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this special new episode, Dan Wiederer chats with Sean Hammond, his new colleague at the Chicago Tribune. Hammond, who has already been covering the Bears for five years, shares his perspective on the team's offseason moves so far. Have the Bears really got it going in the right direction finally? The guys also dive into a bit of NFL Draft conversation. Is a player really a "reach" in the draft if you're confident he's going to be good? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's time for another edition of our special audio series Listen to This! This time, Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote are featuring the best Bears audio from free agency that they haven't discussed yet. You'll hear from center Drew Dalman, receiver Olamide Zaccheaus, guard Joe Thuney and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett's college coach Brent Venables! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss the presence of Bears head coach Ben Johnson so far. It's just the offseason, but both of the guys love the way Johnson brings the juice when he talks to reporters. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss the Bears' recent signings of key free agents. It's clear that new head coach Ben Johnson is a big reason why players want to come to Chicago. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote examine how new Bears receiver Olamide Zaccheaus will be used in head coach Ben Johnsons' offense. Zaccheaus isn't a top-flight receiver, but he seems to have become a solid player in the NFL. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the offseason moves forward, the Bears continue to build out their roster. In this episode, Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss the team recently signing receiver Olamide Zaccheaus. What role will Zaccheaus play in the new offense? And how about these other receivers the Bears are considering signing? Plus, head coach Ben Johnson had quite the mic drop moment when discussing the difficulty that comes with building an entirely new offense. It seems as if Johnson understands this won't be an easy process. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo, who recently spoke to the media for the first time as a Bear. His sack numbers weren't too high while he was with the Colts. Does he expect to have more with the Bears? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote hear from new Bears center Drew Dalman, who wants to help lighten the load placed on quarterback Caleb Williams before any given play. Will Dalman finally stabilize a position that's been through a lot of change for the Bears in recent years? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss the vibes they're getting from Bears general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson right now. There's no doubt the two seem to feel a sense of accomplishment with their work in the offseason so far, but they know there's still lots of work to be done. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Bears have officially announced the signings of center Drew Dalman and defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo! Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote were both in attendance for the new players' first press conference at Halas Hall and bring you their thoughts in this episode. How does Dalman think his experience with a rookie quarterback in Atlanta in 2024 will help him work with quarterback Caleb Williams? And what makes Odeyingbo believe he's yet to reach his ceiling in the NFL? Plus, general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson seem to be pretty satisfied with the moves they've made so far this offseason. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote share how impressed they were with defensive tackle Grady Jarrett's first press conference with the Bears. If he's even remotely good, he's going to be a fan favorite really fast. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote hear from new Bears offensive linemen Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson. Thuney addressed whether he's interested in an extension with the Bears, while Jackson was reflective about why his time with the Rams didn't go as planned. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon, whose rookie contract will run out after the 2025 season. Does he want to stay with the Bears in the long term? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Bears have unveiled a few of their new players! General manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson took the podium Wednesday to discuss the recent additions of guard Joe Thuney, guard Jonah Jackson and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett. As Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote remark, it was Jarrett who truly stole the show and could quickly become a fan favorite. Plus, how do Thuney and Jackson feel about being traded to the Bears? Meanwhile, cornerback Kyler Gordon spoke to the media after receiving the Ed Block Courage Award. Gordon is entering the last year of his rookie contract. Does he want an extension in Chicago? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote feel the need to toss out a friendly reminder amid the hype for some of the new Bears players: There are all kinds of landmines in NFL free agency, and nothing is a guarantee. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss what the Bears are getting in new defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo, who will join the team on a three-year deal. Why were the Colts OK letting him go? And what kind of upside does he have? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss the Bears' addition of center Drew Dalman, who will walk in the door as a starter. How does he help level everything out on the offensive line? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the first day that teams could negotiate contracts with free agents, the Bears took a few big swings. Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss Chicago's additions of center Drew Dalman, defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett. While there are never guarantees in free agency, we're pretty confident the Bears have gotten better since the offseason started! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Wiederer, Mark Grote and Robert Mays of The Athletic Football Show discuss the failure that was quarterback Caleb Williams' rookie season. Mays didn't like the Bears' plan from the start. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Robert Mays of The Athletic Football Show explains his theory on why guard Jonah Jackson was traded after just one year with the Rams. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote hear from Robert Mays of The Athletic Football Show about how new Bears head coach Ben Johnson can maximize what quarterback Caleb Williams can be in the NFL. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote are joined in this episode by Robert Mays, the host of The Athletic Football Show. They walk through a wide-ranging Bears conversation, beginning with what Mays thinks of the Bears acquiring guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson in recent trades. Mays also takes us into a deep conversation about quarterback Caleb Williams. How did the Bears' plan for his rookie season fail so thoroughly and what more can they do to maximize his talents? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss the Bears trading a 2026 fourth-round pick to the Chiefs for All-Pro guard Joe Thuney. How does that change their offseason plans? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss the Bears' trade for guard Jonah Jackson from the Rams. Jackson was hurt for most of the 2024 season after signing a big contract. Is that why the Rams moved on so quickly? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote realize that newly acquired Bears guard Jonah Jackson's first NFL start was against Chicago in that weird 2020 NFL season. Grote then brings up a piece of trivia for Wiederer based on this fun fact. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Bears are making moves! On Wednesday, they traded a 2026 fourth-round pick to the Chiefs for All-Pro guard Joe Thuney. Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss the big addition. How might this affect the Bears' approach in free agency and/or the NFL Draft? The guys also take a look at the Bears acquiring guard Jonah Jackson from the Rams in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round pick. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our own Dan Wiederer joined the Bernstein & Harris Show on 670 The Score to discuss the next steps in the Bears' offseason. A critical stretch begins on March 10, when the NFL's open negotiating window starts. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

To cap off the 2025 NFL Combine, we've got a mailbag edition of the podcast! Dan Wiederer and producer Adam Studzinski field your burning Bears questions. The guys also touch on the news of Chiefs guard Trey Smith receiving the franchise tag. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss the annual NFLPA survey. To no surprise, former Bears head coach Matt Eberflus didn't receive high marks, to say the least. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The NFL Combine offered Mark Grote the chance to talk to a couple projected top-10 draft picks. He plays for Dan Wiederer what Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham and Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter had to say about themselves. Maybe the Bears won't have a chance to draft either of these prospects, but the idea of drafting a defensive lineman at No. 10 overall is enticing. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

New Bears head coach Ben Johnson has been one of the stars of the NFL Combine. However, as Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss, the fact that he's a popular interview and well-spoken doesn't mean he'll be a great head coach. We still need to see how this plays out! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The NFL Combine rolls on, and the Bears head coach has been a popular guy so far! Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss how willing and engaging Ben Johnson has been with all the various media outlets. But as a reminder — that doesn't mean he'll be a good head coach! Also in this episode, Wiederer and Grote take a look at how the Bears did in the annual NFL Players Association survey. It isn't a surprise that former head coach Matt Eberflus didn't grade out well. Finally, the guys take a look at a couple defensive linemen who are sure to be top-10 picks in the NFL Draft. Could the Bears land one of them? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote hear what Bears head coach Ben Johnson said when describing his favorite attributes of quarterback Caleb Williams. It's obvious Johnson is excited to work with Williams. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote try to decipher Bears general manager Ryan Poles' answer when he was asked about how he'll approach free agency. Poles and the Bears have plenty of cap space — will they hesitate to use it to get key additions? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote listen to what new Jets head coach Aaron Glenn had to say when asked about Bears head coach Ben Johnson, his former colleague. Also, what's this "breakfast club" that Johnson has been attending to prepare for being a first-time head coach? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The NFL Combine is here! Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote are on location in Indianapolis to bring you reaction to what Bears head coach Ben Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles had to say to begin the festivities. Johnson offered us more about why he's really looking forward to working with quarterback Caleb Williams. And how aggressive is Poles willing to be when free agency kicks off? Also in this episode, Johnson's former colleague in Detroit — new Jets head coach Aaron Glenn — brought us thoughts on what he likes most about Johnson as a coach. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices