Take The North: A Chicago Bears Podcast

We officially know the entire 2026 Bears schedule! Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote break down their initial thoughts. It's a schedule that certainly looks challenging right now. How will the Bears handle the step up in competition in year two of the Ben Johnson era? 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 what rookie receiver Zavion Thomas' role could be for the Bears in 2026. 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 rookie cornerback Malik Muhammad, who was working at the nickel position for most of rookie minicamp. 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 offensive coordinator Press Taylor, who shares how he envisions rookie tight end Sam Roush fitting into the offense in 2026. 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 rolls on, Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote have another edition of Listen To This! The guys hear from new Bears offensive coordinator Press Taylor, who spoke during rookie camp. How does he envision his new role with the team? And how does he think rookies like tight end Sam Roush and receiver Zavion Thomas will factor into the offense this 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

Our own Dan Wiederer, while co-hosting with Matt Spiegel on 104.3 The Score in Chicago, reacted to rumors trickling out about the Bears' schedule 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 hear from Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, who shares what he thinks of rookie safety Dillon Thieneman, the team's first-round draft pick. 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 defensive coordinator Dennis Allen explain how he believes he can coach his unit better in 2026. 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 highlights from Bears rookie camp was hearing from defensive coordinator Dennis Allen for the first time since the NFL Draft. Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote hear Allen explain exactly how he and the rest of the defensive staff can coach better in the upcoming season. How do they plan to get more out of a defensive line group that was subpar 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

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss an extremely important topic. Bears rookie center Logan Jones will be wearing No. 54 this season. He'll be the first Bears player since Hall of Fame linebacker Brian Urlacher retired to wear the number. Is this OK?! 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. How long does he think it will take rookie center Logan Jones to become the starter? 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 observations from the first day of Bears rookie 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

We've gotten our first view of this Bears rookie class on the turf at Halas Hall! Dan Wiederer tells Mark Grote what he observed from the first day of rookie minicamp. Was there anything to take away from the day? Also in this episode, head coach Ben Johnson was asked what the path is for rookie center Logan Jones to be the starter. Could he eventually take over the job 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 hear from former Bears receiver Allen Robinson, who offers more insight on head coach Ben Johnson's mentality. 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 former Bears receiver Allen Robinson, who reflects on what happened to the organization after a successful 2018 season. How can this version of the Bears avoid the same downfall? 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 much the Bears rookie class will contribute 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

As we get set for Bears rookie minicamp this weekend, Mark Grote and Dan Wiederer are wondering what kind of impact this rookie class will have on the team in 2026. The Bears' rookies in 2025 had a huge impact on the season. Can we expect that level of play from this new group? Also in this episode, former Bears receiver Allen Robinson offered a lot of great perspective in a recent interview on 104.3 The Score in Chicago. The guys hear Robinson describe the level of competitiveness Bears coach Ben Johnson has ... and we might not have seen anything yet. 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 discuss what they hope to learn when the Bears host rookie camp this weekend. 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 discuss the Bears' defensive linemen. The coaches simply need to make the best of what they have at this point. 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 previews for Adam Studzinski his wish list for the 2026 Bears schedule. 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 will soon get to see their rookies on the field for the first time as they host rookie camp. Dan Wiederer and Adam Studzinski, who pinch hits for Mark Grote in this episode, ponder what they hope to learn over the weekend. How obvious will receiver Zavion Thomas' speed be? Will safety Dillon Thieneman look the part? And we will get to speak with defensive coordinator Dennis Allen for the first time since the NFL Draft. How's he planning to get more out of his defensive line this season? Finally, the NFL schedule release is right around the corner. Wiederer has a preview of his annual wish list for the Bears' schedule! 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 Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic discuss if they believe the draft class the Bears added this year will help them build sustained success for the first time since the 1980s. 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 Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic talk through what all the Bears have lost and/or need to replace from their 2025 squad. 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 Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic discuss whether the Bears have a better roster now compared to their 2025 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 is joined by Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic for this one as we continue breaking down what we think of the Bears after they added their 2026 draft class. Is this Bears roster better now than it was after the 2025 NFL Draft? Fishbain thinks it might be. And how will this draft help build sustained success? That's something this franchise hasn't truly had since the mid-1980s. 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 interesting tidbits they've learned about the players the Bears drafted. 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 Mike Mulligan and David Haugh on Chicago's 104.3 The Score as we continue discussing the Bears' draft class. How might this 2026 class help the Bears more in the future than it will in this upcoming 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 examine the Bears' pass rushers as the roster currently stands. Head coach Ben Johnson proclaimed he and his assistants will coach the group better this year, which will help them be more productive. How so? 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 2026 NFL schedule release, a tentpole event of the offseason, occurs in mid-May. Audacy Original podcast It's Always Gameday In Buffalo chatted with one of the men who's at the center of planning the NFL's broadcast schedule in a wide-ranging conversation that all football fans will enjoy.  It's time for one of our favorite episodes of the year! Sal and Matt are joined once again by the vice president of NFL broadcast planning Mike North. They discuss the Bills' home opener in the new stadium, how the NFL is looking at Patrick Mahomes' status in the early season, the decision around no more Monday Night Football doubleheaders, Fridays no longer being considered a short week, holiday matchups, growing the game with an expanded international schedule, who North thinks is the juiciest Bills opponent this year and much more! 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

Now that the NFL Draft is over, Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote take a step back and examine the Bears' roster a little closer. What have we learned about their draft picks? And without adding a significant piece to the defensive line room, how does head coach Ben Johnson think that group will improve in 2026? 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 look at the Bears' full 2026 draft class. How do we feel about this group? Is it OK that they didn't draft a defensive lineman sooner than did? 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 head coach Ben Johnson describe the type of player he was looking for in this NFL Draft. 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 whether the Bears have improved since their playoff loss against the Rams. 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 answer your Bears questions! 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

David Haugh and Dan Wiederer answer Bears questions from listeners! 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 producer Adam Studzinski take Bears questions from listeners! Submit future questions to [email protected] or @TakeTheNorthPod on Twitter. 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