Dan Wiederer

23 June

Now’s your chance … BEARS MAILBAG QUESTIONS. (And quite honestly, how about some non-Bears questions, too?) Drop them in the slot. Reply here or e-mail takethenorthpod@gmail.com 📭🏈📩📭

nytimes.comBen Johnson still dialed in as Bears end minicamp, break for summerThe Bears coach led an impressive turnaround in 2025. Now, his players can't wait to see what's in store for an encore.

15 June

Rarely a day passed this spring where someone inside Halas Hall didn’t praise Ben Johnson. For his elite football acumen. Or his direct and truthful communication style. Or his unrelenting and contagious work habits. The Bears have momentum. www.nytimes.com/athletic/735...

nytimes.comColston Loveland's emergence continues as Bears push through minicamp

10 June

📈 Arrow up for Bears TE Colston Loveland. 🗣️ New praise for Darnell Wright 🎯 Ball location. Ball location. Ball location. A constant priority for Caleb Williams. 🏈 A focus on fundamentals is driving the D-line. MINI-CAMP ROUNDUP www.nytimes.com/athletic/734...

nytimes.comInside Caleb Williams’ Madden arrival: another ‘stepping stone’ honor for the Bears QBLanding on the cover of Madden 27 is just the precursor for much bigger goals, the Bears quarterback says.

5 June

At the Madden 27 cover shoot in L.A., there was a push to recreate Caleb Williams’ magical fourth down throw to Rome Odunze from the Bears’ playoff win. Caleb added a Jordan-esque twist. To be like Mike. Fun. Bold. And perhaps a self-given push for QB1. www.nytimes.com/athletic/733...

nytimes.comWhat's next for Caleb Williams and the Bears offense? A mission to level up

21 May

The 2025 season presented an encouraging breakthrough for Caleb Williams and the Bears offense. But the stair climb must continue. “That was a good stepping stone for me. But that wasn’t the last stepping stone.” www.nytimes.com/athletic/729...

14 May

Bears schedule. What does it all mean? www.nytimes.com/athletic/727...

nytimes.comBears rookie minicamp: Does Logan Jones have the inside track to start at center?

11 May

Notes, nuggets, insight from a packed weekend of Bears rookie camp: www.nytimes.com/athletic/726...

11 May

nytimes.comHow Chicago Bears plan to maximize rookie speedster Zavion ThomasThe Bears say there was a consensus to draft Thomas. “We all have a vision for how this guy could really help us," coach Ben Johnson said.

7 May

The Bears are convinced Zavion Thomas’ speed, instincts and play style are game-changing. Now comes the task of creating his ideal niche. www.nytimes.com/athletic/725...

7 May

6 May

🚨RELEASED🚨 No one attacks a mock schedule quite like this. My maximum-theater wish list for the Chicago Bears’ 2026 schedule. www.nytimes.com/athletic/725...

6 May

‪— The opener isn’t where you think it should be.‬ ‪— The rivalry clashes with Green Bay have to wait.‬ ‪— Think big stage: prime time and holidays galore.‬

youtu.beHow will the Bears draft picks fit into Ben Johnson's team identity? | The Offseason - Ep. 11YouTube video by FOX 32 Chicago

2 May

For your weekend viewing enjoyment … 🏈 The skinny on the Bears’ 2026 draft class. 🎞️ @BigAntHerron glides through some Malik Muhammad tape. 🏟️ It’s May now. Is THIS the month for cementing a stadium location? THE OFFSEASON w @CassieCarlsonTV youtu.be/_xgzimyEi18?...

nytimes.comBears' roster has undergone major change. Now, how will they get better?

30 Apr

The Bears have spent almost as much time this offseason repairing their roster as they have improving it. After a wave of changes, the next step now is creating improvement. www.nytimes.com/athletic/724...

nytimes.comChicago Bears’ draft class steered by Ben Johnson’s vision for the team he desiresIn a quest to find players with passion, toughness and aptitude, Johnson and Bears GM Ryan Poles attacked the 2026 draft in a direct way.

27 Apr

“We’re looking for high-level competitors. (We’re after) guys who, if you took football away, they’d really not know what to do with themselves.” The story and the construct of the 2026 Bears draft class starts here. www.nytimes.com/athletic/723...

nytimes.comBears 2026 NFL Draft takeaways: Good value in Round 1, but what about D-line?

26 Apr

With the NFL draft concluded, @kfishbain.bsky.social unpacks the Bears activity throughout the weekend. 🏈 Best value pick 🏈 Most surprising selection 🏈 Biggest question 🏈 Remaining needs www.nytimes.com/athletic/723...

26 Apr

Open exercise ... If you had been in charge at Halas Hall each time the Bears were making a pick in this draft, how would your class have been assembled? Go. 1-25: 2-57: 3-69: 3-89: 4-124: 5-166: 6-213: (will revisit this in the offseason of 2030)

Your 2026 Chicago Bears draft class ... 1-25: S Dillon Thieneman 2-57: C Logan Jones 3-69: TE Sam Roush 3-89: WR Zavion Thomas 4-124: CB Malik Muhammad 5-166: LB Keyshaun Elliott 6-213: DT Jordan Van Den Berg

CHICAGO BEARS KEY ROSTER ADDITIONS (and Losses) OFFENSE QB: X RB: X WR: Raymond, Zavion Thomas (DJ, OZ, Duvernay) TE: Roush (Smythe) OL: Bradbury, Logan Jones, Wills (Dalman) ****

CHICAGO BEARS KEY ROSTER ADDITIONS (and losses) DEFENSE EDGE: X (Robinson) DT: Gallimore, Street, Jordan Van Den Berg (Billings) LB: Bush, Keyshaun Elliott, Sanborn (Edmunds, Ogbongbemiga) S: Bryant, Dillon Thieneman, Cam Lewis (Byard, Brisker, Owens) CB: Malik Muhammad (Wright, CJGJ, McCloud)

nytimes.comChicago Bears go offense with all 3 picks on Day 2: Time to trust Ben Johnson?The Bears still need help on defense, but they added three players who could be long-term contributors at center, tight end and receiver.

ICYMI ... As the Bears acknowledge their defensive needs, they used three Day 2 picks in the draft on offense. @kfishbain dives in with the inital thoughts ... www.nytimes.com/athletic/722...

nytimes.comChicago Bears select Iowa center Logan Jones with the 57th pick of the 2026 NFL DraftThe Bears made a statement by picking Jones in the second round, but they'll likely want a veteran center in front of Caleb Williams in 2026

The first of three Bears picks tonight is Iowa center Logan Jones ... The early skinnny: www.nytimes.com/athletic/722...

nytimes.comNFL Draft 2026 tracker, live updates: TV channel, Round 1 order, best available players, latest news and analysisFollow our live coverage of the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft tonight

24 Apr

NFL Draft LIVE BLOG from Team @TheAthletic ... www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv...

youtube.comLIVE 2026 NFL Draft: Round 1 CoverageYouTube video by The Athletic Football Show

24 Apr

The NFL draft is underway. So is @TheAthletic live show with analysis and discussion galore. www.youtube.com/live/b4zZYz5...

nytimes.comChicago Bears are eager for the NFL Draft. Will they pass the big test?From needs on the defensive and offensive lines to identifying "competitors," the Bears understand their opportunity this weekend.

23 Apr

⏱️🏈 Draft day has arrived. One last Bears primer on: — Planning for the early runs at EDGE and OL — Corner help needed? — Positions of need — What the Bears are targeting most with the draft class www.nytimes.com/athletic/721...

nytimes.comHow did Ryan Poles' first Bears draft turn out? A comprehensive review of the 2022 class

21 Apr

Four years after Ryan Poles assembled his first draft class as Bears GM, @kfishbain.bsky.social and I have done a deep dive to assess every pick. (We also retroactively included grades for the picks made by Phil Emery and Ryan Pace — 2012-2021.) ANALYSIS www.nytimes.com/athletic/720...

21 Apr

Ahead of the NFL Draft … big Athletic event this afternoon/evening in the city. The first 100 fans who show up starting at 4 PM will get a hard copy of The Beast, and a chance to ask draft questions. Plenty of good insight to be had. Matt Forte as the headliner.

youtube.comWhat position are we most comfortable with the Bears taking at No. 25? | Take The North, Ep. 467YouTube video by 104.3 The Score

15 Apr

🗣️🎙️🏈👂📺 😕 Grote has edge rusher anxiety. 🌟 The Bears draft opportunity is intriguing. ⛳️ A short Masters review. And much more … TAKE THE NORTH www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lsz1...

nytimes.comAfter an eventful March, Bears GM Ryan Poles seeks exclamation point in the draft

15 Apr

March was a real slalom course for Bears GM Ryan Poles as he dealt with a surprise retirement, two trades, the signings of nine newcomers and the exits of 12 players who started at least once last year. Now: the draft. The challenges just keep coming. www.nytimes.com/athletic/719...

nytimes.comBears’ George McCaskey thrilled with dream season, even Ben Johnson’s F-bombsThe Bears' chairman is typically averse to curse words, but 2025's viral moments, especially from wins over the Packers, made him smile.

8 Apr

Of all the exhilaration that the 2025 Bears season provided, George McCaskey might have been the most delighted fan in Chicago. His thoughts on all the magic, all the viral content and that “F—- the Packers!” punctuation in January. www.nytimes.com/athletic/717...

8 Apr

nytimes.comBears have not given up hope of receiving compensatory picks for Ian Cunningham's move

1 Apr

Ryan Poles, George McCaskey and Kevin Warren recently visited Roger Goodell in NY to state their case for the comp picks they believe they deserve for Ian Cunningham's hiring as Atlanta GM. As of right now, they don't believe a final ruling has been made. www.nytimes.com/athletic/716...

Dan Wiederer reposted

Kevin Fishbain

@kfishbain.bsky.social

31 Mar

Ben Johnson spoke with reporters at the league meetings in Arizona. Story from @danwiederer.bsky.social on what what the Bears head coach had to say about the offense’s room for improvement, a new center and next steps for Caleb Williams

nytimes.comBears’ Ben Johnson knows his offense has a lot of work to do and can’t wait to get started (Gift Article)Johnson had kind words for center Drew Dalman, who retired at age 27, and said replacement Garrett Bradbury will "fit us like a glove."

1 Apr

nytimes.comWhy the Chicago Bears view Coby Bryant as a tone-setter for a defense in fluxBears coaches will be “hyper-alert” for any signs of complacency or entitlement when the offseason program begins.

1 Apr

🏈 Coby Bryant: “trained killer” 🏈 Complacency and entitlement: NO ENTRANCE 🏈 Draft opportunities are coming 🏈 “We still have Al Harris.” 📝 Nuggets from the NFL spring meetings 🏜️ www.nytimes.com/athletic/716...

31 Mar

nytimes.comBears’ Ben Johnson knows his offense has a lot of work to do and can’t wait to get startedJohnson had kind words for center Drew Dalman, who retired at age 27, and said replacement Garrett Bradbury will "fit us like a glove."

31 Mar

G’morning from AZ 🌵 From O-line flux to a focus on fundamentals to another push for Caleb Williams, Ben Johnson is eager to propel the Bears offense forward again. www.nytimes.com/athletic/715...

Ben Johnson on the missed catch moments for Rome Odunze in '25: "That’s something we’ll talk about. I don’t think that was a thing for him coming out. I don’t want to speak that into existence. That’s something we’re going to emphasize in the spring: getting back to basics."

Ben Johnson has had limited exposure to new safety Coby Bryant but has already identified the "it factor" in the headliner of the Bears free agent class. "The way he plays the game is what we want our defense to look like."

Asked Ben to expand on Coby Bryant's play style ... "The best defenses usually have two or three trained killers who are tone setters who can really elevate the play of everyone around them. ... If he sees somebody, he's looking to light them up."

Ben Johnson, this AM, on the DJ Moore trade: "Shoot, I got a little emotional when the trade happened. He came in and he made his rounds saying goodbye to the coaches and Ryan (Poles) and his crew. It hurts because I viewed him as one of the leaders. Yet the business is the business. (cont.)"

More Ben on DJ: "We had to make some decisions in terms of the salary cap and things of that nature. I think the best thing for him is, he’s going to a great situation. He’s got a history with Joe Brady. I think he’s very excited to play with another talented quarterback in Josh Allen."

nytimes.comNFL beat writer 2026 mock draft 2.0: How far could Jeremiyah Love slide?If Love doesn't go in the top five, there aren't many teams with a glaring need at running back. Could he become Derrick Henry's successor?

19 Mar

The menu of options at No. 25 continues to be promising. Another mock draft offers the Bears a look at another defensive standout. Have a look … www.nytimes.com/athletic/712...

Dan Wiederer reposted

Mike Sansone

@mikesansone.bsky.social

12 Mar

What's up with the Bears? @danwiederer.bsky.social breaks it down in his latest free-agency reset. www.nytimes.com/athletic/710...

nytimes.comThe Chicago Bears’ new free-agent class has big goals — and a sense of humorThursday's newcomer introductions at Halas Hall came with a balance of ambition and levity for a retooling Bears team.

13 Mar

There were introductions Thursday at Halas Hall … Bryant, Bush, Raymond, Gallimore. (And Bradbury over Zoom.) Talk a little, learn a lot. Bears. www.nytimes.com/athletic/711...

nytimes.comFor Caleb Williams and the Bears offense, ill-timed sloppiness remains the constantA day full of struggle left the Chicago Bears offense with a sobering reality check. Their rut may be deeper than they realized.

27 Oct 2025

A costly INT. Two intentional grounding penalties. More operational sloppiness. Red zone hiccups. Only one TD drive across nine possessions. Sunday was not Caleb Williams’ finest hour leading a sputtering Bears offense.

nytimes.comBears can’t contain Ravens QB Tyler Huntley as their takeaway magic runs outDown two starters, the Bears defense didn't do enough to affect Lamar Jackson's backup as their takeaway streak — and win streak — ended.

27 Oct 2025

With a basket of readymade excuses, the Bears’ defense didn’t choose any after Sunday’s loss. That group also didn’t make enough plays to secure win No. 5 … From ⁦‪Kevin Fishbain.

nytimes.comChicago Bears Intel: Will early fourth-down hiccups temper Ben Johnson’s aggressiveness?The Bears hope to be an aggressive and productive fourth-down offense. But the early returns have lagged.

23 Oct 2025

Chicago Bears Intel … — What to make of the fourth down hiccups through six games. — Are the stumbling Ravens one punch away from toppling? — What’s next for Ozzy Trapilo?