Take The North: A Chicago Bears Podcast

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote check the tape to try and figure out if anyone suspected center Drew Dalman was about to retire 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 discuss how they initially reacted to Bears center Drew Dalman suddenly retiring. 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 need a new starting center after 27-year-old Drew Dalman suddenly retired. It was a stunning development that Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote talk through in this one. Did any of us see this coming? When did the Bears think this was possible? And how could the Bears replace 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, Mark Grote and guest Cassie Carlson of Fox 32 speculate on the possibility of the Bears playing the Falcons in Spain in the 2026 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

FOX-32 reporter Cassie Carlson explains for Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote whether she thinks receiver DJ Moore will be on the Bears for the 2026 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 ask FOX-32 reporter Cassie Carlson what she was hearing about the Bears while she spoke to numerous people around the league at the NFL Combine. 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 was a fountain of information! Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote bring in FOX-32 reporter Cassie Carlson to help us unpack everything. What were people around the league saying about the Bears at the Combine? Is receiver DJ Moore going to be traded before the new league year begins? And what are the latest trade rumors about Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby? 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 Leila Rahimi and Mark Grote on Chicago's 104.3 The Score to discuss his latest piece in The Athletic about Bears quarterback Caleb 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 Adam Studzinski hear how Bears offensive line coach Dan Roushar is evaluating the team's left tackle position. 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 Adam Studzinski talk through the latest developments as the Bears continue to search for a new stadium location. 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 Adam Studzinski react to Bears defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. apparently being the subject of trade calls. This is one we didn't really see coming. 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 was a productive week for the Bears both on and off the field. Stadium legislation moved forward in both Illinois and Indiana, and the NFL Combine brought more clarity on what direction the Bears could take with certain players. Producer Adam Studzinski fills in for Mark Grote alongside Dan Wiederer for this one. How significant is the stadium news from the neighboring states? Also, Bears offensive line coach Dan Roushar was extremely honest about how the team is assessing the left tackle position. Plus, a surprising player is getting calls for a possible trade. Finally, Wiederer brings us the latest odds and ends he gathered from Indianapolis. 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 reports that the Bears have given linebacker Tremaine Edmunds permission to seek a trade. 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 can't get enough of Bears head coach Ben Johnson's genuine hatred for the rival Packers. 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 continued messaging from Bears general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson about the team going back to square one after a successful 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

Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds' time with the Bears looks to be almost over. The team has given Edmunds permission to seek a trade. Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote react to the news, which isn't unexpected. Also in this episode, general manager Ryan Poles and coach Ben Johnson continue to guard against complacency with this Bears team. Plus, how will they approach filling the left tackle spot? And Johnson continues to embrace the rivalry with the Packers. 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 how Bears general manager Ryan Poles spoke about his team not initially receiving draft compensation for former assistant general manager Ian Cunningham leaving to become the Falcons' new general manager. Could the NFL still award compensatory picks to 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

Bears general manager Ryan Poles confirmed the team has received trade calls for backup quarterback Tyson Bagent. Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss whether it would make sense for the Bears to move Bagent. 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 possibility of the Bears trading receiver DJ Moore this offseason. How did general manager Ryan Poles react to questions about Moore? 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 and head coach Ben Johnson had their time with the media as the NFL Combine got underway in Indianapolis. Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote sift through what we learned from the team's top decision-makers Tuesday. Could receiver DJ Moore's contract be reworked or might he be traded? Has Poles fielded trade calls for backup quarterback Tyson Bagent? What's the next step for quarterback Caleb Williams? And does Poles believe the team should get compensatory draft picks for former Bears assistant general manager Ian Cunningham's departure to become the Falcons' new general manager? 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 Reception Perception (subscribe here), Matt Harmon and James Koh answer wide receiver questions in Chicago after the Bears' impressive 11-6 season. Whether it's the biggest stars in the league or new rookies bursting on the scene, you won't get better wideout information anywhere else. Along the way, they'll break down the biggest stories in the NFL and offer up a few big-picture fantasy football thoughts. Follow the guys on Twitter @JamesDKoh and @MattHarmon_BYB. Follow Reception Perception @RecepPerception. Download and subscribe to the Reception Perception show anywhere you get your podcasts. Watch segments of the show on YouTube at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Matt Harmon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 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 explains for Dan Wiederer why he believes that Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker wants to keep the Bears in the state. 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've learned about the latest developments in the Bears' search for a new stadium location. 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 the Bears promoting Jeff King to assistant general manager. 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 stadium location search saga continues to take twists and turns after Indiana on Thursday moved forward with a bill in hopes of luring the team to Hammond. That drew responses from ... all over the place. Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote have been working the phones and bring you everything they've learned about this ongoing story. Do we still believe Arlington Heights is the front-runner in the race? 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 reveals for Mark Grote whom he took for the Bears when The Athletic conducted its first mock draft of the 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

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote want to know how Bears head coach Ben Johnson views the next steps for quarterback Caleb 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 ponder the different ways the Bears could approach filling their left tackle position knowing that Ozzy Trapilo will likely miss most — if not all — of the 2026 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

As the offseason gets rolling, Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote have assembled several Bears questions that we need the answers to before training camp arrives. Who will be the starting left tackle? What's the next frontier for quarterback Caleb Williams? How will the Bears improve their pass rush? All that is on tap in this episode. Plus, Wiederer took part in The Athletic's first mock draft. Who does he have the Bears taking in the first round? 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 how Bears chairman George McCaskey feels about head coach Ben Johnson's use of expletives after Chicago beat the rival Green Bay Packers in the wild-card round. 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 Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner on the subject of comparing Bears quarterback Caleb Williams with Patriots quarterback Drake Maye. 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 explains to Dan Wiederer what all he has learned about the Bears' search for a new stadium location after he attended a rally in Arlington Heights. 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

There's growing momentum for the Bears to build a new stadium in Arlington Heights, but it isn't a certainty yet. Mark Grote attended a rally in Arlington Heights centered around the desire to keep the Bears in Illinois. He shares what he learned with Dan Wiederer. And how seriously are the Bears considering a stadium in Indiana? Is there genuine fear that Illinois could lose the Bears? Also in this episode, the guys conduct a mini-version of Listen To This, sharing audio from Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner, former Bears offensive tackle James "Big Cat" Williams and Bears chairman George McCaskey. 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 latest news on the Bears' efforts to build a new stadium in Arlington Heights. 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 possibility of the Bears trading for Raiders star defensive end Maxx Crosby. How serious should the Bears be about making that type of move? 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 was a really bad Super Bowl. How do we evaluate it through a Bears lens? 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, the Super Bowl was kind of super lame. Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote react to the Seahawks' runaway victory. How did they rattle Patriots quarterback Drake Maye? Also in this episode, should the Bears go all in to trade for Raiders star pass rusher Maxx Crosby? And the Bears seem to have progress with the state of Illinois on possibly getting a stadium built in Arlington Heights. What needs to happen to finally get it done? Is Indiana still a possibility? Plus, the Bears have a new offensive coordinator. 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 Adam Studzinski review their 2025 Bears predictions. Who was the team MVP and did we guess correctly whom it would be? 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 latest news in the Bears' search for a new stadium location. Is it becoming more realistic that the Bears could build in Indiana? 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 Adam Studzinski give themselves a pat on the back for how close they were in predicting Bears quarterback Caleb Williams' numbers for 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

The time has come to review how we did in our 2025 Bears season predictions! But first, Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote have a few news items to catch up on. The Bears have a new running backs coach. Plus, what's the latest in the Bears' search for a new stadium location? It's then time to find out how right or wrong we were about the way this past Bears season would go! 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 offensive coordinator Declan Doyle leaving the Bears to take over play-calling duties for the Baltimore Ravens. How important was Doyle as the offensive coordinator 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

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss the idea of the Bears moving on from a few key players, such as tight end Cole Kmet and/or linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, in order to create more salary cap space 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 ponder if the Bears can retain cornerback Nahshon Wright after his impactful season as a starter. Wright is set to hit free agency in March. 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 need to replace their offensive coordinator and assistant general manager after Declan Doyle and Ian Cunningham left for promotions with other teams. Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss how the Bears will be affected by the loss of both. And why aren't the Bears getting compensatory draft picks for Cunningham getting a full-time general manager job? Also in this episode, does it make any sense that legendary head coach Bill Belichick wasn't a first-ballot Hall of Famer? Plus, the NFL salary cap is expected to jump again. 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 host Mark Potash explain why what the Bears did in 2025 is sustainable. 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 host Mark Potash discuss Bears quarterback Caleb Williams' ceiling. How much better does Potash think Williams can get? 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 host Mark Potash tackle the topic of the week: Is Caleb Williams already the best Bears quarterback ever? 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

We have former Chicago Sun-Times reporter Mark Potash filling in alongside Mark Grote for this one. Potash explains why he's so confident the Bears will continue to have success when the 2026 season comes around. Also in this episode, Grote and Potash look closely at the Bears defense. What do they need to add most in order to improve 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

On 670 The Score in Chicago, Dan Wiederer and Matt Spiegel were presented with a list of six Bears players on the 2025 roster and debated whether they'll stay with the team or go ahead of the 2026 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