The Charter: A Chicago Bears Podcast

On the latest Charter Podcast, Ruthie, Alex, and Clay break down the Chicago Bears' huge offensive line additions of Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, with insights from Sports Illustrated's Matt Verderame. We get the national perspective on the Bears' offseason moves, the Caleb Williams/Ben Johnson pairing, and the impact on the upcoming NFL draft. Plus, we discuss the wide receiver market and speculate on Aaron Rodgers' future team.

This week on the Charter Podcast, we're breaking down the 2025 NFL Combine! Ruthie Polinsky, Clay Harbor, and Alex Shapiro hand out awards for standout performances, surprises, and players that shot up draft boards. We discuss impressive athleticism, leadership qualities, and evaluate top draft prospects. Check out our award for best defensive and offensive linemen, and how the combine might change draft strategies for teams. Get ready for an in-depth look at the most head turning moments from this year's combine!

Join Alex Shapiro and Clay Harbor for a new edition of The Charter Podcast. The guys bring you their takeaways from Ryan Poles and Ben Johnson's media availability yesterday. We break down Poles' assessment of Ben Johnson's football IQ, his approach to free agency, and his plans to improve the Bears' roster. We also explore Johnson's vision for the offense, his excitement about working with Caleb Williams, and his strategy for rebuilding the offensive line. The guys discuss key personnel moves, including the releases of Gerald Everett and DeMarcus Walker.

Ruthie Polinsky and Alex Shapiro are back along with Clay Harbor as they prepare for the Bears' annual migration to Indianapolis got the NFL Draft Combine. Clay brings us an inside look at the process for the draft hopefuls. Everything from the intense process it takes to be fit both physically and mentally and the real impact that comes from a prospect's performance. We then get into the Bears' new approach after adjusting to Ben Johnson's system needs.

Ruthie Polinsky, Alex Shapiro, and Clay Harbor are back on The Charter podcast and with the NFL Combine and free agency on the horizon, we discuss the massive salary cap increase and its implications for the Bears, who are already sitting pretty with top-five cap space. We debate whether this means bigger paydays for individual stars or a broader distribution of wealth across the roster. Plus, we analyze the potential departure of Ian Cunningham to Jacksonville and what that could mean for the Bears in terms of compensatory picks and the overall team dynamic. Then, we lay out our dream scenarios for the Bears' off-season and covering key positions like center. Finally, we dream of a potential blockbuster return of a familiar face... or maybe not?

Alex Shapiro is joined by Clay Harbor for an inside look at what the NFL offseason looks like! On this episode of The Charter Podcast, Clay shares his insight on draft prep, the rookie wall, navigating free agency, and the importance of offseason training. He highlights the balance between recovery, rigorous training, and personal time.

Dive into the Chicago Bears offseason with Ruthie Polinsky, Alex Shapiro, and Clay Harbor. This Charter Podcast episode analyzes potential free agent targets from the Super Bowl, including offensive linemen Mekhi Becton and Trey Smith, and explores the high-stakes decision of trading for elite defensive players like Micah Parsons. We also discuss the Montez Sweat trade and its impact on the Bears' draft strategy. Tune in for a breakdown of the Bears' offseason plans and the crucial decisions ahead.

Ruthie Polinsky, Clay Harbor, and Alex Shapiro react to the fallout from Super Bowl LIX. Clay joins us from Philly and lays out the reaction from the city. They outline the dominance from the Eagles front four, the offensive line, and the MVP performance from Jalen Hurts. How does the loss affect Patrick Mahomes’ case for being the GOAT? And how far away are the Bears from being able to field a Super Bowl lineup?

After recording this episode of The Charter, we received news about the passing of Chicago Bears owner Virginia McCaskey. Ruthie, Alex, and Clay quickly address. Ruthie Polinsky, Alex Shapiro, and Clay Harbor are back to talk about Super Bowl LIX. We draft current members of the Bears roster to add to the Chiefs and Eagles ahead of the big game. A surprising name is left off the list. Clay gives us three big reasons why the Eagles will bring home the Lombardi Trophy. Alex tells us why it's a mistake to ever go against the Chiefs.

Ruthie Polinsky is back with Clay Harbor and Alex Shapiro. The crew talks about more key additions to the Bears coaching staff. Eric Bieniemy was once a highly touted offensive mind and head coaching candidate in the past. What does his career arc say about his coaching staff. Dan Roushar brings his experience as the offensive line coach in hopes of changing the team's recent history at the position. Ryan Poles is expected to be extended and what would you give up to bring elite pass rusher Myles Garrett to the Chicago Bears?

Alex Shapiro and Clay Harbor give us their final takeaways from the Senior Bowl. They talk about the players who boosted their draft stock and key reports on lineman like North Dakota State's Grey Zabel and North Carolina's Willie Lampkin. Also skill position standouts in Georgia's Trevor Etienne and TCU's Jack Bech. Plus, the Bears added two more pieces to Ben Johnson's coaching staff, defensive line coach Bill Johnson and passing game coordinator Press Taylor.

Alex Shapiro and Clay Harbor come to you live from Mobile, Alabama where they are covering the 2025 Senior Bowl. They bring you their reactions to the first practice of the week including notable standouts, what the Senior Bowl means to smaller school attendees, and what the guys are looking forward to seeing at these practices. They're also on the search for Ryan Poles or Ben Johnson as well as bringing you their reactions to the latest coordinator hired by the Chicago Bears.

Alex Shapiro and Clay Harbor discuss Ben Johnson's introductory press conference at Halas Hall. They analyze his leadership style, his plans for building a custom offense around Caleb Williams, and his vision for establishing a culture of accountability. Plus, they discuss the Bears' defensive needs and the impact of a new defensive coordinator.

The Chicago Bears made a HUGE move, hiring Ben Johnson as their new head coach! Alex Shapiro breaks down Johnson's impressive offensive success with the Lions, the importance of quarterback Caleb Williams, and the challenges ahead. Clay Harbor joins us to discuss the potential and pitfalls of this exciting hire, and whether the Bears can capitalize on their division rivals' early playoff exits. We also preview the upcoming free agency period and Senior Bowl. The Chicago Bears enter a new era and it’s Good Vibes Only 2025!

Ruthie Polinsky, Alex Shapiro, and Clay Harbor discuss Caleb Williams' appearance on the St. Brown Podcast. We react to Caleb's thoughts on feeling pressure and his incident with a prankster. We also discuss more from the teams connection with Mike McCarthy and can a Ben Johnson hire come with a shakeup in the front office if he calls for it? We finally dive into our latest Resume Review with Ravens OC Todd Monken!

Ruthie Polinsky, Clay Harbor, and Alex Shapiro break down the latest in the NFL coaching search! We analyze the Chicago Bears' missed opportunity with Mike Vrabel, the qualities Mike McCarthy can bring to the team, and the intense competition for top candidates. Plus, they discuss Ben Johnson, Thomas Brown, and Ron Rivera, exploring the complexities of NFL coaching searches and the strategic decisions teams must make.

Join Ruthie Polinsky, Alex Shapiro, and Clay Harbor for a deep dive into the Chicago Bears' coaching search. Following a highly anticipated (and somewhat controversial) press conference at Halas Hall, the crew dissect the team's direction, break down the leadership dynamics, and the growing list of coaching candidates. Alex Shapiro also brings us his Resume Review on former Super Bowl winning coach Pete Carroll.

Alex Shapiro and Clay Harbor react to a victorious season finale against the Green Bay Packers. Caleb Williams leads the Bears down the field with :48 seconds left and Cairo Santos puts the exclamation point on the drive by nailing a 51-yard field goal to beat the Packers for the first time since 2018. The guys put a bow on the season and look forward to the Bears expected draft position. They also pick their positive takeaways from the season.

Ruthie Polinsky and Alex Shapiro are joined by Herb Howard from The Bigs to preview the final game of the 2024 season against the Packers. They discuss the importance for the players to end the season on a good note even if the result isn't a victory. How far are the Bears from competing in the NFC? They debate if the Bears would have been better off trading away the pick that landed them Caleb Williams. Also, the best direction to go in hiring the next head coach. And much more!

Ruthie Polinsky and Clay Harbor return to talk about the latest in the Bears' search for a head coach. They discuss the recent report connecting Super Bowl winning head coach Pete Carroll to the Bears, the strength of the division for years to come, and how attractive will the Bears' head coach position be in the offseason. Also, they give their New Year resolution for the team.

Alex Shapiro and Clay Harbor react to to 10th loss in a row for the Chicago Bears. They discuss the offensive struggles, the end of game clock management, and the need for a revamped offensive line. They also highlight the Bears defense which held the Seahawks to 6 points despite their own struggles recently. Clay and Alex also give the Bears some holiday gifts!

Ruthie Polinsky, Alex Shapiro, and Clay Harbor are joined by Bob Condotta for a northwest coast look at the Seahawks visiting the Chicago Bears for Thursday Night Football. They talk about the importance of this game for the Seahawks' playoff chances. They also look back at the hiring process of Shane Waldron, who was the OC in Seattle prior to his brief time in Chicago. Bob talks about the process that got new head coach Mike MacDonald to Seattle and the down year for Geno Smith as well as the breakout year for second year receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

Alex Shapiro is joined by Clay Harbor and Kevin Lapka to break down the Bears loss to the Detroit Lions. Caleb Williams and the passing game shined, unfortunately it wasn't enough. They discuss Keenan Allen's future with the team as his connection with Caleb Williams has been on display recently. More injuries on the offensive line and a quiet day from the defensive line raise more concerns about roster depth. They also talk about Ben Johnson and how attractive the Bears head coaching job will look this offseason.

Ruthie Polinsky and Alex Shapiro are joined by long time Bears beat reporter Mark Potash. They get Mark's insight on how this disappointing season stacks up against other painful seasons. They also talk about the state of the locker room and the coaching style that would best fit with the current roster. Mark also details his level of concern with Caleb Williams in his rookie season along with the challenges Ben Johnson would face as the next head coach.

Ruthie Polinsky and Alex Shapiro are joined by Clay Harbor for a mid-week Vibe Check. We discuss the tough position Kiran Amegadjie was put in for his first career start and would a second look show better results? The crew discuss the need for the young players to get a chance to show what they can bring to the team. There is also an argument for the veteran players needing to prove they have the motivation to fight. We also bring you a look at head coach candidate Joe Brady.

Alex Shapiro, Clay Harbor, and Kevin Lapka react to another uninspiring Bears performance. They give their concerns with Caleb Williams’ play. The guys go over the struggles by the O-line and Kiran Amegadjie’s first start at left tackle. Key players are underperforming but does the tape still show the effort? Those answers will determine Ryan Poles’ future. The defense has been bitten by the injury bug recently but there might have been a couple bright spots. Roster construction and Caleb’s confidence.

Ruthie Polinsky and Alex Shapiro catch up with Vikings beat reporter, Ben Goessling to talk about their big Monday night matchup versus the Bears. They cover the impressive play of the Vikings compared to the league’s expectation to start the season. Ben also covers the plan for Sam Darnold should he continue to lead the Vikings offense and what happens to JJ McCarthy. Aaron Jones and Jordan Addison are playing major roles in the offense, Ben explains how they are taking advantage of their opponent’s defensive game plan. All that and much more!

Ruthie Polinsky and Alex Shapiro are joined by Clay Harbor on today’s episode. They get a Vibe Check on Thomas Brown’s debut at HC, how Eric Washington handled the defense, and Caleb William’s play. Clay Harbor also identifies someone that may be flying under the radar during all the drama at Halas Hall. Also, Alex Shapiro lays out the resume of Mike Vrabel and his case for being the next head coach of the Chicago Bears.

Alex Shapiro and Kevin Lapka react to the newly led Bears and their loss to the 49ers 38-13. They attempt to explain the woeful first half on offense and the lone bright spot. They also get into the defensive struggles now that Matt Eberflus isn’t calling the plays. Is Ryan Poles’ job security under a microscope? And the chances we see another Bears W this season.

Ruthie Polinsky and Alex Shapiro are joined by Bay Area News Group reporter Cam Inman for an inside look at the 49ers ahead of this Sunday's matchup vs the Bears. He helps explain Kyle Shanahan's standing with the team and the job security rumors. Cam goes into how the turnover at defensive coordinator has effected the team and the pass rush issues. Also, Christian McCaffrey's injury riddled season and Deebo Samuel's drop-off, and much more!

Ruthie Polinsky and Alex Shapiro will be looking into potential head coaching candidates for the Chicago Bears. Up first: Lions OC Ben Johnson. But first, they talk about their takeaways from the Ryan Poles/Kevin Warren press conference and the pressure mounting for Ryan Poles. A lot of key Bears have landed on the injury report. Will this lead to a bounce back game for the injury plagued 49ers? Also, we get a Vibe Check on Thomas Brown, Kevin Warren, and the importance of the remaining schedule.

Alex Shapiro and Clay Harbor react to another stunning end to a Bears game. We break down the clock management on the final drive, the offensive struggles in the first half, and the Bears recent efforts to stop the run. We also prepare ourselves to begin Mock Draft Season and much more!

Ruthie Polinsky and Alex Shapiro are joined by Lions team reporter Dannie Rogers. She helps paint the picture of where the Lions season expectations stand. Dannie expands on the tenacity that Dan Campbell has brought to the Lions since his arrival and rebounding after last year’s loss in the NFC Championship game. Also, the relationship between the Lion’s 1-2 punch at running back and the keys to Jared Goff’s success in Detroit. As well as the potential departure of both sought after coordinators.

Alex Shapiro, Clay Harbor, and Kevin Lapka react to the Bears overtime loss to the Minnesota Vikings. They get into the impressive performance by Caleb Williams against a tough Brian Flores defense and the strides he is making with Thomas Brown calling plays. The crew talk about an uncharacteristic showing on the defensive side of the ball and continued struggles on special teams.

Ruthie Polinsky and Alex Shapiro are joined by Matthew Coller who covers the Minnesota Vikings. He shines a light on how the Vikings have played to a 8-2 record when the preseason expectations were so low. Sam Darnold's performance after taking over for the season after JJ McCarthy was hurt in preseason action. And what Brian Flores has brought to the Vikings defense to have them playing at such a high level. Also, Kevin O'Connell and his case for Coach of the Year.

Alex Shapiro and Ruthie Polinsky talk about the criticism that has followed Matt Eberflus following his decision making at the end of the Packers game. Alex breaks down the differences he saw in the offense after reviewing the All-22. Ruthie points out the things the Bears can do against the Vikings offense. Also the debut of Vibe Check!

Alex Shapiro and Clay Harbor react to the Bears losing to the Packers after having a game-winning field goal attempt blocked. What is the feeling in the locker room after the game? They evaluate how Caleb Williams and the offense looked in their first game with Thomas Brown as play-caller. How do the Bears approach the rest of the season with the playoffs seemingly out of reach?

Ruthie Polinsky and Alex Shapiro are joined by Carmen Vitali who covers the NFL for FOX Sports. She brings us the national perspective on how the week has shaken out for the Bears. They talk about what new OC Thomas Brown needs to bring to get Caleb Williams and the offense back on track. Also Jordan Love's keys to success and the impact of Xavier McKinney on the Packers defense. And much more!

Alex Shapiro returns to the podcast with Ruthie Polinsky. Alex gives his perspective on the Bears' recent struggles. They talk about Thomas Brown bringing a different approach and focus to the offense. They look back at the hiring process that landed Shane Waldron in Chicago. Matt Eberflus acknowledging his struggles to identify a play-caller. Injury updates and more!

The Chicago Bears lose 19-3 to the New England Patriots. Michael Bolling, Kevin Lapka, and Clay Harbor are back to react to the stunning performance. In a game looked at as a bounce back spot, the Bears were held to only 3 points and Matt Eberflus' seat is hotter than ever.

Ruthie Polinsky is joined by Phil Perry from NBCS Boston for an insider perspective on the New England Patriots. They talk about how the Patriots look in the post-Belichick era, the development of Drake Maye, and how Jerod Mayo is handling his first year as a head coach.

Ruthie Polinsky and Clay Harbor react to the news of Andrew Billings' pec surgery and what this mean for the Bears defense. They touch on the recent play of DJ Moore. Caleb Williams missing open receivers and much more!

The Chicago Bears fall flat against the Arizona Cardinals. Michael Bolling, Kevin Lapka, and Clay Harbor react to another troubling loss. They talk about the poor offensive performance and question Matt Eberflus' handle on the team. Also their reaction to the pregame report on how Tyrique Stevenson handled his demotion.

We welcome in Bo Brack from PHNX to break down Sunday matchup between the Bears and Cardinals. We discuss the impact that Tray McBride has made since coming into the league. Did Arizona spot a soft spot in the Bears defense? Jonathan Gannon coaching under Matt Eberflus. Also, the Cardinals defense not overlooking up and down start to Caleb Williams career.

The Chicago Bears try to right the ship as we continue to digest what transpired from the Hail Mary loss to the Commanders. Ruthie Polinsky and Clay Harbor react to the questions of accountability surrounding the team. They also dive into their level of concern with the growing list of names being added to the injury report. Finally, what the Bears' record on the road says about Matt Eberflus.

After battling back to take the lead, the Washington Commanders hand the Bears a crushing loss by completing a Hail Mary on the final play of the game. Alex Shapiro, Clay Harbor, and Kevin Lapka lead the show and give their reaction. They discuss the shocking end to the game, the role Tyrique Stevenson may have played in the final play, and D'Andre Swift's consistent play as of late.

Get ready for the Bears-Commanders game with Ruthie Polinsky and Alex Shapiro as they welcome in Washington reporter Ben Standig. Ben shares the latest information on Jayden Daniels’ status for the game and shares what the Bears can expect from Kliff Kingsbury’s offense if it’s Daniels or Marcus Mariota leading the way. Plus, how Dan Quinn has made his mark on the franchise as the new head coach and how the Bears might be able to exploit the Commanders defense. Finally, Ruthie and Alex share their analysis on the Bears parting ways with Velus Jones Jr and Khari Blasingame.

Ruthie Polinsky and Alex Shapiro are here to bring you the latest from Halas Hall. We get a sense of how the Bears are preparing to face either Jayden Daniels or Marcus Mariota. Caleb Williams' return to DC and bye week adjustments for the team. Also, how does Kliff Kingsbury's offense differ from one quarterback to another.

Alex Shapiro and Edgar Perez keep an eye on the division during the Bears bye week. With two thrilling games, they react to the Green Bay Packers getting past the Texans and the Lions handing the Vikings their first loss. If you had to face one division foe in the playoffs, which are you choosing?

Ruthie Polinsky and Alex Shapiro bring you into the weekend with their reaction to the Bears vs Commanders start time being flexed. Does this mean the Bears are ready for primetime? They also preview the weekend for the rest of the NFC North. How much will Aiden Hutchinson's injury impact the Lions? And an early look at the playoff picture.