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The Chicago Bears offense is getting serious national attention heading into the 2026 NFL season, and NFL Network analyst Manti Te'o is all-in on what Ben Johnson is building in Chicago. With Caleb Williams entering a massive Year 3, a dangerous run game led by D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai, and young weapons like Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III, Colston Loveland, and rookie Zavion Thomas, the Bears may have one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL.Haize breaks down why Ben Johnson's run game gives the Bears offense its foundation, why Zavion Thomas is making a real argument to become WR3, and how Chicago can replace the production and versatility lost after trading DJ Moore. Plus, Haize dives into Bears fan voicemails on the defense, takeaways, pass rush concerns, Caleb Williams' completion percentage, Ryan Poles' edge rusher decisions, and why Rome Odunze may be getting overlooked by Bears fans.Are the Bears ready to become an elite offense? Can Zavion Thomas force his way into a major role? And does the defense have enough functional performance beyond takeaways to help Chicago become a true contender?Tap in with Chicago Bears Central for the full breakdown.
The Chicago Bears are back in the news as Ryan Poles adds another player from the UFL, signing former Houston Gamblers wide receiver and kick returner Kaden Davis to a one-year deal. But is this just a depth move, or are the Bears still searching for more competition on offense and special teams?
Former Chicago Bears scouting director evaluates the team's defensive roster. - Why does Ryan Poles like building from the outside in? - What skills are important for Dennis Allen's scheme - What's does Gervon Dexter need to do to unlock his potential - Is TJ Edwards being phased out And, much more!
The Chicago Bears may have one of the most exciting teams in the NFL, but there is still one major concern that refuses to go away: the pass rush. After finishing near the bottom of the league in sacks last season, should Ryan Poles pick up the phone and call the Pittsburgh Steelers about a potential Alex Highsmith trade? Haize breaks down why the $68 million edge rusher could be the perfect running mate for Montez Sweat, what the Bears should be willing to give up, and why Chicago cannot simply bank on internal development alone.Plus, did Green Bay Packers star Micah Parsons really call Caleb Williams the No. 1 player in the NFL? Haize reacts to Parsons shouting out “The Iceman,” the attempted backpedal afterward, and why Bears fans should absolutely have fun with a Packers star giving Caleb his flowers.Later, Ben Johnson's comments about Kyler Gordon raise a real conversation about trust, availability, and what Gordon must prove to the Bears coaching staff after another injury-limited stretch. Haize also discusses why the Bears are encouraged by Braxton Jones heading into 2026 and whether he can lock down the starting left tackle job.Chicago Bears Central brings you Bears rumors, Bears news, Caleb Williams analysis, Ben Johnson updates, Ryan Poles roster moves, Bears trade targets, and everything Bears fans need to know heading into the 2026 NFL season.
The Chicago Bears are officially entering one of the most important OTA periods this franchise has had in years — and the pressure is already building.On today's episode of Chicago Bears Central, Haize breaks down the biggest storylines Bears fans need to watch as OTAs begin, including the battle at center between veteran Garrett Bradbury and rookie second-round pick Logan Jones. After Drew Dalman's surprise retirement, Chicago needs stability in the middle of the offensive line, and Jones is already talking about building chemistry with Caleb Williams — a relationship that could be massive for the future of the Bears' offense.
Ryan Poles and the Chicago Bears added seven new pieces to the puzzle in the 2026 NFL Draft. Are these the final ingredients for a championship core, or did the front office overthink their board?In this episode, we go pick-by-pick through the entire class to separate the draft-day hype from the actual tape. For every single rookie, we break down:The Profile: Height, weight, specialized athletic testing metrics, and college production.The Value Check: Did the Bears find a steal, or was it a costly reach? We also review the draft-capital impact of Ryan Poles' trades.Scheme & Timeline Fit: How these prospects plug into Press Taylor's offense and Dennis Allen's defensive vision—and if they match Chicago's current competitive window.Rd 1, No. 25: Dillon Thieneman (S, Oregon)Rd 2, No. 57: Logan Jones (C, Iowa)Rd 3, No. 69: Sam Roush (TE, Stanford)Rd 3, No. 89: Zavion Thomas (WR, LSU)Rd 4, No. 124: Malik Muhammad (CB, Texas)Rd 5, No. 166: Keyshaun Elliott (LB, Arizona State)Rd 6, No. 213: Jordan van den Berg (DL, Georgia Tech)What's your take? Which pick do you love the most, and which one has you questioning the front office? Drop your thoughts in the comments or call into the fan line!
Clay and Ruthie kick things off with a lighter moment as they share what it's been like being in the middle of a fast, before turning their attention to the Chicago Bears' early offseason rhythm. With rookie minicamp approaching, they break down how the team is laying the groundwork for its newest additions and revisit their initial reactions to the draft now that there's been time to digest it. Clay offers an updated perspective after diving deeper into film, giving a clearer picture of how each pick could fit moving forward. Later, the conversation shifts to a bigger-picture evaluation as Clay ranks Ryan Poles' draft classes now that the GM has reached his fifth year at the helm. The duo highlights standout successes like Darnell Wright, Colston Loveland, and Caleb Williams, while also addressing picks that didn't pan out as hoped, including Tyler Scott and Zach Pickens. They wrap up by circling back to rookie minicamp, discussing what fans should realistically watch for and why this early stage can quietly shape the trajectory of a player's first season.
In Interviews of the Week on 104.3 The Score, Dane Brugler of The Athletic joined the Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show to share his breakdown of the Bears' seven-player draft class; Dan Wiederer of The Athletic joined the Mully & Haugh Show to discuss the Bears' strategy in the NFL Draft and to reflect on general manager Ryan Poles' best draft picks in his Chicago tenure; and FS1 host Danny Parkins joined the Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show to discuss the latest Bears storylines and the NBA taking steps forward to enact new anti-tanking measures.
In Interviews of the Week on 104.3 The Score, Dane Brugler of The Athletic joined the Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show to share his breakdown of the Bears' seven-player draft class; Dan Wiederer of The Athletic joined the Mully & Haugh Show to discuss the Bears' strategy in the NFL Draft and to reflect on general manager Ryan Poles' best draft picks in his Chicago tenure; and FS1 host Danny Parkins joined the Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show to discuss the latest Bears storylines and the NBA taking steps forward to enact new anti-tanking measures.
In Interviews of the Week on 104.3 The Score, Dane Brugler of The Athletic joined the Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show to share his breakdown of the Bears' seven-player draft class; Dan Wiederer of The Athletic joined the Mully & Haugh Show to discuss the Bears' strategy in the NFL Draft and to reflect on general manager Ryan Poles' best draft picks in his Chicago tenure; and FS1 host Danny Parkins joined the Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show to discuss the latest Bears storylines and the NBA taking steps forward to enact new anti-tanking measures.
THE GLOVES ARE OFF! Brandon "Tracks" Hiatt is GOING OFF on the "ivory tower experts" who are handing the Chicago Bears a "C" grade. They called Xavian Thomas a "reach," but Tracks is here to tell you why they're dead wrong and why this 2026 class is the "Nitro in the tank" for Caleb Williams! In this high-voltage episode of Bleav in Bears, we're dismantling the national media narrative. From the first-round theft of Dillon Thieneman to the 4.2 speed of Xavian Thomas, we break down how Ryan Poles and Ben Johnson just built the most explosive, violent roster in the NFC North. Inside the Episode: • [00:02:30] THE THEFT: Why Dillon Thieneman is the "heat-seeking missile" this secondary needed to pair with Coby Bryant. • [00:05:00] THE "REACH" DEBATE: Why Mel Kiper is wrong. We explain Ben Johnson's "Chess Piece" strategy and why you can't coach 4.2 speed. • [00:08:30] THE ASYMMETRIC ADVANTAGE: The "Google/Android" move—how flipping the field with Xavian Thomas changes the Bears' math. • [00:11:00] BUILT ON GRIT: Why Logan Jones and Sam Roush are the "dawgs" that will keep the Bears' rushing attack in the Top 3. • [00:14:00] 2026 IS THE YEAR: Why the Super Bowl window isn't five years away—it's opening RIGHT NOW at Soldier Field. Stop listening to the spreadsheets and start looking at the tape. We don't care about draft grades; we care about WINS. BEAR DOWN! ️ #ChicagoBears #NFLDraft2026 #CalebWilliams #XavianThomas #DillonThieneman #BenJohnson #RyanPoles #BearsNation #NFLDraftGrades #BleavNetwork #SoldierField #ChicagoSports Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Episode #219 | Chicago Bears Almost Made HUGE Draft MistakeIn Episode #219 of The BFTV Podcast, Dave and Ficky hand out their official grades for the Bears' 2026 NFL Draft class and unpack the near-miss that almost derailed Chicago's entire weekend. How close did Ryan Poles come to a decision that could've haunted this franchise — and did he ultimately recover?The guys also break down rookie predictions for the new Bears class, recap the full draft from top to bottom, and react to the latest breaking news coming out of the league.If you want the complete post-draft debrief — grades, bold predictions, and the honest fan take — Dave and Ficky wrap it all up in one essential episode.BEAR DOWN
Join Jeff Joniak and Tom Thayer as they break down everything you need to know about the Bears' 2026 draft class, featuring a one-on-one interview with general manager Ryan Poles.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mike Mulligan and David Haugh discussed the worst draft picks of Bears general manager Ryan Poles' tenure in Chicago.
Mike Mulligan and David Haugh were joined by Dan Wiederer of The Athletic to discuss how the NFL Draft played out for the Bears and to share insight on their new additions to the roster.
The 2026 NFL draft selections by Ryan Poles and Ben Johnson were flawless. After some chatter about Dan's hair, the boys of Zero Doinks go over this crop of future Super Bowl champion rookies and look at the complete roster that is shaping up for the unstoppable Bears.
FATU!!! After Raw's main event this week, joined by Cobra, we talk about the Fatu vs Roman build going into Backlash in two weeks and how far the feud will go. We break down how the NFL Draft went for Da Bears and Cobra's Steelers and our thoughts on each of the picks, as it seems that Ryan Poles and Ben Johnson went best player available. We end the show with other football news including more details emerging on the Diana Russini-Mike Vrable saga and Brandon Sorsby betting investigation.
Matt Spiegel and Laurence Holmes discussed how the Bears are counting on their returning defensive linemen to step up in 2026 after they didn't select an edge rusher in the NFL Draft.
Big Sal from Peshtigo cannot let it go — and honestly, why would he? The Chicago Bears just walked into the 2026 NFL Draft with a broken pass rush and a prayer, and walked out with three tight ends, a gadget receiver, and a sixth-round defensive tackle. Pack Nation, this is not a bit. This actually happened. The Bears traded UP in Day 2 for their THIRD tight end while ranking near the bottom of the league in sacks — Big Sal has the fishing tackle box analogy that will haunt Ryan Poles in his sleep Ninety-five percent of Bears fans hated the draft — and Big Sal calls it what it is: North Korea numbers, but against your own team Meanwhile, Gutey sat patient with picks 52 and 84, and the Packers get to face this Bears roster TWICE a year with Micah Parsons on the edge and Jonathan Gannon in the film room Ryan and Kullen are LIVE on the Day 2 stream — get in the war room with Pack Nation and watch the real picks roll in It is a beautiful morning to be a Packer fan. Smash subscribe, drop five stars, and go tell a Bears fan — gently — what they did to themselves. GO PACK GO! #Packers #ChicagoBears #NFLDraft2026 #LetMeTellYouSomething #BigSal #PackNation #GoPackGo #NFLDraft #GreenBayPackers #DraftDay #BearsDraft This episode is brought to you by PrizePicks! Use code PACKDADDY to get started with America's #1 fantasy sports app. https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/PACKDADDY To advertise on this podcast please email: ad-sales@libsyn.com Or go to: https://advertising.libsyn.com/packernetpodcast Help keep the show growing and check out everything I'm building across the Packers and NFL world: Support: Patreon: www.patreon.com/pack_daddy Venmo: @Packernetpodcast CashApp: $packpod Website: https://nfldraftgrades.com/ My Board: https://nfldraftgrades.com/board/83a18c42-7a0b-4590-8d1b-453e49840d02
Big Sal from Peshtigo cannot let it go — and honestly, why would he? The Chicago Bears just walked into the 2026 NFL Draft with a broken pass rush and a prayer, and walked out with three tight ends, a gadget receiver, and a sixth-round defensive tackle. Pack Nation, this is not a bit. This actually happened. The Bears traded UP in Day 2 for their THIRD tight end while ranking near the bottom of the league in sacks — Big Sal has the fishing tackle box analogy that will haunt Ryan Poles in his sleep Ninety-five percent of Bears fans hated the draft — and Big Sal calls it what it is: North Korea numbers, but against your own team Meanwhile, Gutey sat patient with picks 52 and 84, and the Packers get to face this Bears roster TWICE a year with Micah Parsons on the edge and Jonathan Gannon in the film room Ryan and Kullen are LIVE on the Day 2 stream — get in the war room with Pack Nation and watch the real picks roll in It is a beautiful morning to be a Packer fan. Smash subscribe, drop five stars, and go tell a Bears fan — gently — what they did to themselves. GO PACK GO! #Packers #ChicagoBears #NFLDraft2026 #LetMeTellYouSomething #BigSal #PackNation #GoPackGo #NFLDraft #GreenBayPackers #DraftDay #BearsDraft This episode is brought to you by PrizePicks! Use code PACKDADDY to get started with America's #1 fantasy sports app. https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/PACKDADDY To advertise on this podcast please email: ad-sales@libsyn.com Or go to: https://advertising.libsyn.com/packernetpodcast Help keep the show growing and check out everything I'm building across the Packers and NFL world: Support: Patreon: www.patreon.com/pack_daddy Venmo: @Packernetpodcast CashApp: $packpod Website: https://nfldraftgrades.com/ My Board: https://nfldraftgrades.com/board/83a18c42-7a0b-4590-8d1b-453e49840d02
Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson met with reporters at Halas Hall in Lake Forest on Saturday to recap the 2026 NFL draft. Here are three of the most interesting things the Bears said Saturday.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/shaw-local-s-bears-insider-podcast--3098936/support.
Leila Rahimi, Marshall Harris and Mark Grote discussed how Bears general manager Ryan Poles hasn't proved to be adept at building a strong defensive line in his Chicago tenure.
Leila Rahimi, Marshall Harris and Mark Grote reacted to Bears general manager Ryan Poles' comment about drafting with scheme fit in mind.
In the final hour, Leila Rahimi, Marshall Harris and Mark Grote were joined by Herb Howard of The Bigs to react to the Bears selecting Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman at No. 25 overall in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday evening. Later, Rahimi, Harris and Grote reacted to Bears general manager Ryan Poles' comment about drafting with scheme fit in mind.
Leila Rahimi, Marshall Harris and Mark Grote opened their show by reacting to the Bears selecting Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman at No. 25 overall in the first round of the NFL Draft on Thursday evening. Later, they discussed how Bears general manager Ryan Poles hasn't proved to be adept at building a strong defensive line in his Chicago tenure.
Episode #217 | Chicago Bears NFL Draft 2026 LIVE - Round 1In Episode #217 of The BFTV Podcast, Dave and Ficky go live for the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft and react in real time to the Bears selecting Dillon Thieneman at pick 25. Was this the pick Bears fans were hoping for, or did Ryan Poles just throw everyone a curveball?The guys also break down all the wild moments from Day 1 of the draft — the surprises, the steals, and the head-scratchers that had the football world buzzing.Strap in for the most electric episode of the year — raw, live, and completely unfiltered Bears draft reactions from the most passionate fans in Chicago.BEAR DOWN
Drafting at 25 doesn't have the sex appeal of prior years, but it may be the most important one we've had in the Ryan Poles era, Marc Silverman writesBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/shaw-local-s-bears-insider-podcast--3098936/support.
Jeff Joniak and Tom Thayer preview what to watch for from the Bears during this weekend's NFL Draft after general manager Ryan Poles and assistant general manager Jeff King met with the media on Tuesday.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles and assistant general manager Jeff King met with reporters at Halas Hall in Lake Forest on Tuesday a couple days before the start of the NFL draft. Here are four of the most interesting things the Bears said Tuesday.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/shaw-local-s-bears-insider-podcast--3098936/support.
The Chicago Bears hold the No. 25 overall pick in the first round of next week's NFL draft. But could general manager Ryan Poles trade up or down from that spot? Here are some possible options for Poles to make a trade in the first round.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/shaw-local-s-bears-insider-podcast--3098936/support.
In the final hour, Leila Rahimi and Marshall Harris discussed how Bears general manager Ryan Poles has high expectations for defensive lineman Shemar Turner as he looks ahead to the 2026 season. After that, Marquee Sports Network play-by-play announcer Alex Cohen joined the show to discuss the Cubs' come-from-behind win against the Pirates on Sunday and to preview the upcoming stretch for Chicago.
In the Best of the Bears this week, Chicago Sports Network analyst Clay Harbor joined the Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show to discuss if the Bears could trade back from No. 25 overall in the NFL Draft; Matt Spiegel and Laurence Holmes discussed the collaboration between general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson and how that has helped elevate the organization; and Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk joined the Mully & Haugh Show to discuss the latest NFL headlines, including Giants defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence's trade request.
In the Best of the Bears this week, Chicago Sports Network analyst Clay Harbor joined the Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show to discuss if the Bears could trade back from No. 25 overall in the NFL Draft; Matt Spiegel and Laurence Holmes discussed the collaboration between general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson and how that has helped elevate the organization; and Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk joined the Mully & Haugh Show to discuss the latest NFL headlines, including Giants defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence's trade request.
Big Sal from Peshtigo sat down on a perfectly good Wednesday, got sent a link, and now none of us can have nice things. A Chicago Bears YouTube channel dropped a video claiming Ryan Poles "sent a message" this offseason — and Sal watched every single minute of it so you didn't have to. The verdict? It's not analysis. It's optimism in a trench coat. Hayes from Bears Central calls Devin Bush — the guy Pittsburgh walked away from — one of the most underrated signings of the offseason. Sal has thoughts. Loud ones. Shamar Turner played five games and recorded six total tackles. Ryan Poles says he was supposed to be right there with the rest of the rookie class. He was not right there. The video argues T.J. Edwards should stay AND that Devin Bush is the future. Sal explains, slowly, why you cannot do both. One man. One lane. And the Green Bay Packers are waiting at Lambeau — twice — while Chicago hits the loading screen. Subscribe, leave a rating, and pass this one to every Bears fan in your life. They need it. This episode is brought to you by PrizePicks! Use code PACKDADDY to get started with America's #1 fantasy sports app. https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/PACKDADDY To advertise on this podcast please email: ad-sales@libsyn.com Or go to: https://advertising.libsyn.com/packernetpodcast Help keep the show growing and check out everything I'm building across the Packers and NFL world: Support: Patreon: www.patreon.com/pack_daddy Venmo: @Packernetpodcast CashApp: $packpod Website: https://nfldraftgrades.com/ My Board: https://nfldraftgrades.com/board/83a18c42-7a0b-4590-8d1b-453e49840d02
In the final hour, Matt Spiegel and Laurence Holmes held the Ben's Vision segment, with a focus on the collaboration between Bears general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson. They listened to Poles' recent comments on the topic in which he noted it's easier to attract free agents to Chicago with Johnson in charge. After that, the guys reacted to a baseball brawl Tuesday night that involved two former Chicago players.
Matt Spiegel and Laurence Holmes held the Ben's Vision segment, with a focus on the collaboration between Bears general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson. They listened to Poles' recent comments on the topic in which he noted it's easier to attract free agents to Chicago with Johnson in charge.