Take The North: A Chicago Bears Podcast

The Bears have interviewed Mike McCarthy for their head coaching job. Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss his credentials. He's won a lot of games in the regular season and a Super Bowl ... so why are so many turned off by him? 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 latest person to interview for the Bears head coaching job is someone whom Chicago fans are extremely familiar with. Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss former Packers and Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy's credentials in this episode. His record as a coach is pretty good, so why is he such a hot-button candidate? Also, quarterback Caleb Williams said on a recent St. Brown Brothers podcast what he'd like to see in the next Bears coach. Is he talking about someone in particular? Finally, the guys offer their thoughts on the NFL divisional round matchups! We want your feedback! Follow this link to take a survey to help us improve the pod: http://tinyurl.com/ttnpod 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 reportedly interested in talking to Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman about their head coach opening. Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss if Freeman would be a good fit and if he's even interested in leaving Notre Dame. 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 best possible outcome of the Bears' coaching search is. Would it be satisfying for the Bears to land the most sought after candidate in Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson? 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 continuously expanding their list of head coach candidates. Why are they talking to so many coaches? Should this list have been trimmed down during the time between firing Matt Eberflus in late November and now? 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' search for a head coach continues, and the list of people the team is looking to interview just keeps growing. In this episode, Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote ponder why the Bears feel the need to talk to so many people for this job. And what do they think about some of the top names on the list? Head coach Mike McCarthy is out in Dallas and is going to talk to the Bears. Would he be a good fit in Chicago? There's also current Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman. Does he have any desire to even interview? Later, the guys react to the the NFL wild-card round, which largely wasn't great. We want your feedback! Follow this link to take a survey to help us improve the pod: http://tinyurl.com/ttnpod 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 attempt to grade Bears general manager Ryan Poles' work in a number of different areas in his tenure with the team. 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 ponder why Bears general manager Ryan Poles seemed to need clarification about how disruptive quarterback Caleb Williams' rookie season was. 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 their thoughts on the list of coaches the Bears plan to interview for their head coaching vacancy. 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 another special live episode that aired on 670 The Score in Chicago, Mark Grote and Dan Wiederer take a look at the growing list of candidates the Bears are planning to speak to about their head coaching vacancy. What do we think of the top names like Pete Carroll, Mike Vrabel, Ben Johnson and others? And does it matter at all that the team is conducting all of its first round of interviews virtually? Later, the guys shares grades for the first few years of Bears general manager Ryan Poles' tenure in Chicago. We want your feedback! Follow this link to take a survey to help us improve the podcast: http://tinyurl.com/ttnpod Also, check out our podcast merch here! 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 asks guest Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press about Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. Would he make a good 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

Dan Wiederer and guest Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press discuss why Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is such a hot head coaching candidate. 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 Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press go inside the culture and coaching of the Lions. How did they manage to lock down the top seed in the NFC despite all their injuries? 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 joined in this episode by Dave Birkett, who covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Birkett shares all the knowledge he can about two intriguing Bears head coaching candidates: Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. 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 Bears chairman George McCaskey's response to fans chanting "sell the team" in Chicago's home finale. McCaskey also tells us how he felt about cornerback Tyrique Stevenson's actions prior to the fateful Hail Mary in the Bears' loss to the Commanders in late October. 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 general manager Ryan Poles wants his team to be more focused on "process over outcome" going forward. Mark Grote and Dan Wiederer try to interpret what Poles means by that. The guys also break down Poles' other key comments Tuesday. 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 press conferences with Bears general manager Ryan Poles, team president Kevin Warren and chairman George McCaskey on Tuesday. We aren't exactly inspired by what they said. 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 top leaders of the Bears have taken their turns speaking after the team's horrible 2024 season. Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote react to everything general manager Ryan Poles, team president Kevin Warren and chairman George McCaskey had to say Tuesday. Did anything they offered give us any faith that they'll get this coaching hire right? Plus, the list of coaches the Bears plan to interview keeps growing. Are they casting too wide of a net? We want your feedback! Follow this link to take a survey to help us improve the podcast: http://tinyurl.com/ttnpod Also, check out our podcast merch here! 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 the Spiegel & Holmes Show on 670 The Score in Chicago on the day the Bears cleaned out their lockers to finish their 2024 season. What did Grote hear from quarterback Caleb Williams, interim head coach Thomas Brown and others? 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 in Chicago the day after the Bears beat the Packers to finish their season. With the horrible season now behind them, the Bears will turn their attention to their search for a new head coach. What does Wiederer think of the initial list of candidates? 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 finally happened. The Bears beat the Packers for the first time since 2018! It was a walk-off field goal by kicker Cairo Santos that finally gave the Bears a win in the rivalry. Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote recap the game, which comes at the end of an extremely disappointing season for the Bears, who finished 5-12. 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 quarterback Caleb Williams strongly backed up his much-criticized offensive line, taking his share of the blame for the 67 times he has been sacked this season. Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss Williams' stance. 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, if anything, there is to watch for in the final game of this horrible Bears season. The gang also predicts who will win the game. 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 react to what quarterback Caleb Williams had to say when he was asked about what he's looking for in the next Bears 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

This Bears season is nearly over. There's just one game left to preview for Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote. But before getting into the largely meaningless game against the Packers, the guys congratulate cornerback Jaylon Johnson on making the Pro Bowl again. He's the only Bear to make the list this season. Also in this episode, we hear from quarterback Caleb Williams, who backs up his much-criticized offensive linemen. Williams doesn't like the narrative surrounding his line this season and explained that he's also responsible for taking sacks. Later, what does Williams want in the next Bears head coach? Is there anything to read between the lines of what he's saying? And what's the latest on general manager Ryan Poles' future job status? 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 Bears interim head coach Thomas Brown, who reflected on his time running the team. The future might still be bright for Brown, even if it has gone poorly since he took over 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, Mark Grote and producer Adam Studzinski conduct a deep dive into the Bears' current 10-game losing streak. Which loss has been the most miserable? 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 dive into what Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams will need to learn about prep work before his second NFL season begins in 2025. 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 Bears' season winds down, interim head coach Thomas Brown is looking back on the time he has spent leading the team. Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote hear from Brown and discuss how he doesn't seem to have been broken by his experience in Chicago. And what does Brown think rookie quarterback Caleb Williams needs to learn about preparing for games as a professional? Later, Wiederer and Grote rank the most miserable losses in the Bears' ongoing 10-game losing streak. Which loss was the most miserable? 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

Filling in on the Mully & Haugh Show, Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote talked Bears on 670 The Score in Chicago. They spoke with Kaitlin Sharkey of WGN-TV to get her perspective on this disastrous Bears season. Later, Wiederer and Grote considered how we should be evaluating quarterback Caleb Williams' rookie season. How much is he to blame for the team's struggles? 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 quarterback Caleb Williams' performance in a loss to the Seahawks. He continues to flash with spectacular plays, but the details in key moments are also lacking. 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 news that former Seahawks coach Pete Carroll is interested in the Bears' coaching job. Would it make sense to talk to him? 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 break down what went wrong for the Bears on the final drive of their loss to the Seahawks on Thursday. They just can't do a damn thing right. 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' 6-3 loss to the Seahawks on Thursday Night Football has left us mystified ... again. Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote unpack everything, starting with the Bears' ill-fated final drive. Why can't this team get on the same page in key moments, still? The guys also break down quarterback Caleb Williams' performance after he had a rough night with a few flashy plays. Finally, what do we think about the idea of Pete Carroll being the next Bears coach? He's reportedly interested in the job. 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 lost to the Seahawks, 6-3. Neither team scored a touchdown. It was a horrible game. Mark Grote and Adam Studzinski discuss the terribleness. 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 list off their personal Christmas wishes for the Bears headed into 2025. 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 put context to the numbers that Bears quarterback Caleb Williams put up in a loss to the Lions on Sunday. The statistics were great, but how much of it should we consider to be progress? 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 tight end Cole Kmet's postgame comments after the Bears' 34-17 loss to the Lions. It's actually kind of refreshing to hear somebody inside the locker room not care about looking for positives after another blowout loss. 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

After suffering their ninth straight loss, the Bears have to get it together quickly to get ready to face the Seahawks on Thursday Night Football. Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote reflect a bit on quarterback Caleb Williams' performance against the Lions before turning their attention to the Seahawks. Also in this episode, the guys discuss tight end Cole Kmet's strong comments after the Bears' loss to the Lions on Sunday. He's sick of losing and wants to get this turned in the right direction. So do we. Finally, in the spirit of the season, Wiederer and Grote list their Christmas wishes for 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

Our own Dan Wiederer joined the Bernstein & Harris Show on 670 The Score to discuss Bears quarterback Caleb Williams' performance in a loss to the Lions on Sunday. Statistically, Williams had a good game — but how much of it can we really judge as a good performance when the team was down double-digits so early? 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

Well, it's another Bears loss. This time, they fell 34-17 to the Lions in a blowout. Mark Grote and Adam Studzinski talk through their feelings after the Bears suffered their ninth straight loss. The bright side is rookie quarterback Caleb Williams played pretty well. The downside is ... basically everything else. 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 Matt Spiegel and our other host Mark Grote on 670 The Score to preview the Bears-Lions matchup Sunday. They also discussed how sad it is that this hope-filled Bears season turned into a wasted year. 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

From Cash The Ticket (subscribe here), is it doom and gloom for the Detroit Lions? Will they respond in a big way against the Chicago Bears? Download the latest episode of Cash the Ticket today. 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 who — if any — of the current Bears starting offensive linemen will for sure be back next season. 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

One of the hottest names in this upcoming coach hiring cycle will be Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss his credentials to possibly be the Bears' next 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

Dan Wiederer, Mark Grote and producer Adam Studzinski predict who will win the second matchup between the Bears and Lions in 2024. 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 Bears prepare to face the Lions for the second time this season, Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote have a big-picture question to ponder: How many of the current Chicago starting offensive linemen will be starters for the team in 2025? Right tackle Darnell Wright seems to be a lock. But the rest of the group, we're not so sure about. Also in this episode, the guys try to get to the bottom of why rookie tackle Kiran Amegadjie started against the Vikings given that Larry Borom has been this team's swing tackle for multiple seasons. And, the Bears will get an up-close look at Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, a hot head coaching candidate. What has Johnson noticed about Bears quarterback Caleb Williams this season? 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 dive into how Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is keeping perspective during his turbulent rookie season. 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 how critical it is for the Bears to find big-time upgrades for their offensive line and their defensive line ahead of the 2025 season. 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 how exhausted the Bears are as they head into the final three games of their 2024 season. How are they going to make it to the finish 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