Take The North

Our own Dan Wiederer joined Leila Rahimi & Marshall Harris on Chicago's 670 The Score. Wiederer discussed why the Bears second round picks have not signed contracts yet. Plus, went over why the Bears extended general manage Ryan Poles. 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 some important summer news! The Bears have given General Manager Ryan Poles a contract extension through the 2029 season. The move puts Poles on the same contractual timeline as new head coach Ben Johnson. Dan Wiederer and producer Adam Studzinski discuss the team's decision. Do we like the choice? And why announce this extension 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

Dan Wiederer and guest host Kevin Fishbain discuss the Bears' running back room. Do they have enough to accomplish what head coach Ben Johnson wants with the run 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 guest host Kevin Fishbain take a close look at the Bears defense. Did the team do enough, especially up front, to improve on what was a less-than-impressive defensive performance 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

Dan Wiederer and guest host Kevin Fishbain reflect on the times they spent covering Bears training camp when the team held it in Bourbonnais. 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 is taking his turn on vacation, so Dan Wiederer brings back Kevin Fishbain, who covers the Bears for The Athletic. They turn their attention to a few topics unrelated to quarterback Caleb Williams. Such as, did the Bears do enough defensively to improve on what was a disappointing season in 2024? And do the Bears need to add another running back? Plus, Wiederer and Fishbain turn back the clock by reflecting on their time time covering the Bears at their old training camp site in Bourbonnais. 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 special guest Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic predict who the training camp "darlings" will be for the Bears this summer. 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 special guest Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic discuss what they'd like to see from the Bears during training camp. Will there be a sense of urgency for this 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, Mark Grote and guest Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic all attempt to answer this question — will Mitchell Trubisky or Justin Fields have a longer NFL career? 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 start of Bears training camp draws closer, Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote are joined by Athletic writer Kevin Fishbain! The guys discuss what they're all looking to see in camp this year. How much urgency will we see from the team, especially when it comes to making corrections after a bad day? And how will quarterback Caleb Williams continue to react to tough coaching from Ben Johnson? The gang also reflects a bit on the Mitchell Trubisky and Justin Fields eras 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 tells Mark Grote all about the trip he and his son had to Cooperstown, New York for a travel baseball tournament. It was quite the adventure as it turns 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 Mark Grote take a close look at the Bears secondary. There's no doubt we have confidence in several pieces of this group, but there are still questions to be answered. 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

Steelers star edge rusher T.J. Watt is unhappy with his contract in Pittsburgh. That has Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote thinking ... should the Bears try to make a trade for Watt? 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 has been a fairly quiet stretch for the Bears as the NFL is in its dead period of the summer, but another team hasn't been resting. Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss how the various moves the Steelers have made could affect the Bears. Should the Bears make a move to trade for star Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt? He's unhappy with his contract. Also in this episode, how do we feel about the Bears secondary entering 2025? Plus, Wiederer tells us about his trip to Cooperstown with his son! 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 share pieces of an interview that former Bears quarterback Rex Grossman did with CardPlayer.com. Grossman offered analysis on current 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

Producer Adam Studzinski explains to Mark Grote why he doesn't think we need to be looking at what Bears players will fit roles that Lions players had when first-year Chicago head coach Ben Johnson was the offensive coordinator in Detroit. 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 examine what they'll be looking at when Bears training camp begins. This includes who will be playing left tackle. If three-year starter Braxton Jones isn't healthy enough to practice fully when camp opens, could rookie tackle Ozzy Trapilo get the inside lane to 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

Dan Wiederer is on vacation, so producer Adam Studzinski fills in for this one alongside Mark Grote. We have Bears training camp dates! With that in mind, the guys discuss what they're going to be watching most closely once camp starts. Plus, Studzinski has a reminder for everyone about the offense that head coach Ben Johnson is building in Chicago. And, a former Bears quarterback offered his thoughts on current 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

During their most recent mailbag episode, Mark Grote and Dan Wiederer were asked about the newest wave of Bears optimism. How do we know if it will really be different this time? 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

During their most recent mailbag episode, Mark Grote and Dan Wiederer were asked whether they believe Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is the one who will end the organization's quarterback woes. Is it too soon to tell? 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 Dan Wiederer are back with another mailbag episode as they answer Bears questions from our listeners! Will head coach Ben Johnson's approach work if the wins don't come soon? Who will be the backup center? Who could be a cap casualty if cuts are needed before the 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 hear what former Bears receiver Allen Robinson thinks of current Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams. How does Robinson think Williams will mix with new coach 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 take a trip down memory lane with former Bears receiver Allen Robinson, who looks back on the team's magical 2018 season and how it fell apart in the years after. 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 former Bears receiver Allen Robinson about his experience with new Chicago head coach Ben Johnson in Detroit. What makes him stand out 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

We've got a special treat in this one! Mark Grote and Dan Wiederer are joined by former Bears receiver Allen Robinson, who offers perspective on new Chicago head coach Ben Johnson. Robinson was coached by Johnson during the 2024 season in Detroit. Robinson also looks back on his time with the Bears, particularly the 2018 season, when Chicago won the NFC North. 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 part of their mailbag episode, Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss the standard we should be holding Bears receiver Rome Odunze to in his second NFL 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 part of their mailbag episode, Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote answer whether they believe the Bears are confident in the current makeup of their running back room. 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 open up the mailbag and answer questions from our loyal listeners! Do the Bears have enough weapons to compete this season? How comfortable are we with the running back room? They respond to those questions and more in this special 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

Dan Wiederer and guest Sean Hammond of the Chicago Tribune look at the Bears' position battle at left tackle. 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 turn their attention to Bears quarterback Caleb Williams. How's the relationship between Williams and coach Ben Johnson coming along? 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 how Bears head coach Ben Johnson is obsessed about every detail of the offense. 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 fellow Chicago Tribune reporter Sean Hammond! Together, the pair walks through the highlights of the Bears' recently concluded offseason program. What progress has quarterback Caleb Williams made? What have the early impressions of head coach Ben Johnson been? Does rookie offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo have a real shot at earning the starting left tackle job? They discuss that and much more in this rapid-fire conversation! 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 have a lively discussion about how worried we should be that rookie receiver Luther Burden III missed the majority of the Bears' offseason program with a "soft tissue" injury. 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 head coach Ben Johnson's comments regarding what he has learned about quarterback Caleb Williams in their first few months together. We know Williams thrives off-script, but can Johnson hone in his abilities to play on time? 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 head coach Ben Johnson on what he thinks his team accomplished during the offseason program. And what does Johnson intend to do during the dead period to prep for training camp? 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 official end of the Bears offseason program saw just a couple key veterans in attendance — quarterback Caleb Williams and receiver Rome Odunze. Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss why it matters that Williams, especially, felt the need to be at the voluntary workout. Also in this episode, head coach Ben Johnson discusses what he feels the Bears have accomplished during the offseason. What has he learned about working with Williams? Later, the gang gets into a lively back-and-forth with producer Adam Studzinski about how worried we should be that rookie receiver Luther Burden III has missed time with what's been called a "soft tissue" injury. Will he be ready for training camp? 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 Dan Wiederer took over 670 The Score's afternoon show! So of course, the guys held an impromptu live episode of the podcast, where they looked around the NFC North a bit. The Bears aren't the only team in the division with big questions entering the 2025 season. Plus, the guys tracked down old friend/former Chicago Sun-Times reporter Mark Potash to hear what he thinks of the latest news coming out of Halas Hall. 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 coach Ben Johnson, who offered under-the-radar players who have stood out to him during the team's offseason workouts. Plus, why were Bears linemen running routes during practice? 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 they've seen from Bears quarterback Caleb Williams and the team's offense this offseason. Progress is being made, but there's clearly still work to do. 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 backup quarterback Tyson Bagent. What has he thought of head coach Ben Johnson so far? Plus, it sounds like Bagent has a fun birthday party 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

The Bears had a bit of fun to conclude their mandatory minicamp. We got to see offensive linemen running routes during practice! Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote hear head coach Ben Johnson explain the intention behind that ... and it isn't just to have fun. Also in this episode, Johnson offers surprising standouts from the offseason program. And what has backup quarterback Tyson Bagent thought of the new coaching staff so far? Plus, while the vibes around the Bears remain positive, it's clear they still have a lot of work to do before the regular 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

There has been a lot of talk about Bears players' body language since Ben Johnson took over as head coach. What have the coaches told receiver DJ Moore after he had some body language issues last 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