Take The North: A Chicago Bears Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Ben Johnson is clearly eager to start working with Caleb Williams Feb 26, 2025

Show notes

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote hear what Bears head coach Ben Johnson said when describing his favorite attributes of quarterback Caleb Williams. It's obvious Johnson is excited to work with Williams.

Will Ryan Poles be aggressive in free agency? Feb 26, 2025

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Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote try to decipher Bears general manager Ryan Poles' answer when he was asked about how he'll approach free agency. Poles and the Bears have plenty of cap space — will they hesitate to use it to get key additions?

[FULL EPISODE] Ryan Poles & Ben Johnson speak at the NFL Combine Feb 25, 2025

Show notes

The NFL Combine is here! Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote are on location in Indianapolis to bring you reaction to what Bears head coach Ben Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles had to say to begin the festivities. Johnson offered us more about why he's really looking forward to working with quarterback Caleb Williams. And how aggressive is Poles willing to be when free agency kicks off? Also in this episode, Johnson's former colleague in Detroit — new Jets head coach Aaron Glenn — brought us thoughts on what he likes most about Johnson as a coach.

Bears beat writers face a challenge over the next few months Feb 22, 2025

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Dan Wiederer and guest Rich Campbell dive into the challenges that come with covering an NFL team, specifically the Bears. How do you make sure you're not selling too much optimism?

Can Ben Johnson add culture-building to his offensive expertise? Feb 22, 2025

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Dan Wiederer and guest Rich Campbell discuss what a head coach and a team need to succeed in the NFL. Can new head coach Ben Johnson find all the right ingredients with the Bears?

Sometimes you have to write stories you don't want to while covering the NFL Feb 22, 2025

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Dan Wiederer and guest Rich Campbell reflect on the Bears' failures in the 2019 season. That led the two of them to write a story after the season dissecting the Bears' evaluation of the quarterbacks in the 2017 draft class. Wiederer explains an idea for a different story he'd hoped to write but couldn't because of how it all played out.

[FULL EPISODE] Former Bears reporter Rich Campbell offers a history lesson amid Chicago's excitement Feb 21, 2025

Show notes

Dan Wiederer brings in a former Tribune colleague for a bit of a history lesson in this episode. Former Bears reporter Rich Campbell saw a lot in his time covering the team, including what turned out to be tons of false hope. Wiederer and Campbell reflect on that in what has become an exciting Bears offseason. What can we learn from those past experiences? Also in this episode, the pair exchange memories of the Virginia McCaskey, the late Bears matriarch whom they had a chance to interview prior to the 2019 season.

Latest '1920 Football Drive' episode gave us some nice Bears nuggets Feb 20, 2025

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Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss what we learned in the latest episode of the Bears' YouTube series "1920 Football Drive." Quarterback Caleb Williams has definitely pinpointed something he really likes about head coach Ben Johnson.

NFL free agency can be full of landmines Feb 20, 2025

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As Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss the possibility of Chiefs guard Trey Smith reaching free agency, they remind listeners how volatile NFL free agency can be.

Whom do draft experts have the Bears taking at No. 10 overall? Feb 20, 2025

Show notes

Dan Wiederer and Mark Grote discuss whom draft expert Daniel Jeremiah thinks the Bears will select when they're on the clock at No. 10 overall in the NFL Draft. Does he have the Bears selecting an offensive lineman? Do we agree with his choice?