Forward Progress - A Chicago Bears Podcast

0:00 Ben Johnson 10:22 AJ Brown 13:50 Minnesota Vikings 22:35 Rams 25:45 Mock Drafts At the NFL league meetings, NFC coaches gathered for their annual breakfast, where Ben Johnson addressed two key areas of concern for the Bears: dropped passes by the wide receivers and ongoing uncertainty at left tackle. With the NFL Draft just weeks away, all eyes are on how Chicago plans to address those needs....

In this episode, Dan opens Forward Progress dives into the latest updates surrounding the Chicago Bears’ stadium situation and what it means for the future of the franchise. We’re also joined by The Athletic’s Dan Durkin, who brings expert insight into the Bears’ offseason moves so far. We discuss key roster decisions, areas still needing improvement, and how the team is positioning itself heading...

In this episode, Dan breaks down how the NIL era has changed NFL evaluations of draft prospects in the positive and the negative This is in reference to an article out of The Athletic that mentions quotes by many league executives, including Ryan Poles. Dan dives into his comments, offered insight into how NFL teams—especially the Chicago Bears—are navigating this new era for the good and bad. Mak...

In this episode, Dan is joined by ESPN's senior NFL writer Kalyn Kahler to break down some of the biggest stories shaping the NFL right now. We dive into the ongoing debate around the controversial “tush push” play and whether the league could actually move to ban it. Kalyn shares insight into how teams and the competition committee are approaching the rule—and what it means for the future of shor...

In this episode, Dan dives into the Chicago Bears quarterback’s latest headline—his push to trademark the nickname “Iceman” and what it could mean for his brand moving forward. From NIL dominance in college to building a business empire in the NFL, Caleb is showing he’s thinking bigger than just football. Share your thoughts in the comments! Dan also goes through some news and notes related to Wil...

Dan started Monday's Forward Progress discussing Bears head coach Ben Johnson's surprise appearance at the Blackhawks game last night, and fans couldn’t get enough. Also, new Bears defensive back Coby Bryant has his eyes on some legendary numbers, two that aren't exactly surprising. Could Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s contract shape the future payday for Rome Odunze? With young wide receivers resetting the...

How would you rate the Chicago Bears off-season so far? Sun-Times Bears reporter Patrick Finley gives his perspective. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

0:00 Bears defense 13:00 QBs on the move 18:10 Aikman 23:54 NFL rule changes The Bears’ current depth chart says one thing. The draft board might say another. Chicago has six bodies listed at defensive tackle, which raises a simple question with about twenty complicated follow‑ups: will Ryan Poles and Ben Johnson actually draft a defensive tackle — or is the focus strictly edge rusher and safety?...

0:00 Bears 21:15 Maxx Crosby 29:30 Colts The Chicago Bears keep tweaking the roster, but the big questions are still unanswered. The Bears added depth to the defensive line by signing free agent James Lynch to a one‑year deal — a move that makes sense… and still raises questions. Meanwhile, we’re already looking ahead: who is the third wide receiver in the Bears’ 2026 offense? And more importantly...

0:00 Dillon Thieneman 10:35 Ian Cunningham 13:00 Edholm Power Rankings 21:30 DJ Moore 23:05 UFL Rules The Chicago Bears offseason chaos rolls on, and this time it starts with Brad Biggs’ latest mock draft from the Chicago Tribune. Biggs has the Bears taking Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman, and Dan is already out—citing a very specific Bears history at the position that he wants absolutely no part o...

0:00 Bears Left Tackle 9:15 Duvernay 12:15 Bears Stadium 18:20 Turnover Differential 34:40 Around the NFL The Chicago Bears offseason is officially shifting gears, and the battles are starting to take shape. At left tackle, it looks like Braxton Jones vs. Jedrick Wills Jr. for the starting job — and unless the Bears draft a tackle early, one of those two will be protecting the quarterback in Week...

0:00 Bears 31:25 DJ Moore 32:35 Josh Sweat 39:25 NFL Notes Four key pieces of the Chicago Bears’ 2025 secondary—a group that helped deliver 11 wins and an NFC North title—are no longer on the roster. All four signed one‑year deals elsewhere, with Kevin Byard earning the biggest contract at $9 million. That tells you everything about how the league viewed the Bears’ defense heading into 2026… despi...

0:00 Maxx Crosby 14:45 Kyler Murray 17:45 Bears 22:15 Devin Bush 25:00 Kedrick Wills Jr. The Chicago Bears have added former top‑10 pick Jedrick Wills Jr. to the left tackle competition, taking a swing on a high‑ceiling reclamation project who sat out all of 2025 to fully rehab and reset. With multiple tackles now battling for the job, should fans trust the coaching staff to sort out the position...

0:00 Crosby 19:20 Bears 29:30 Around the NFL The Chicago Bears continue their second wave of free‑agency moves, adding depth, speed, and competition across the roster. And with the Maxx Crosby deal falling through in Baltimore, it might be the perfect time for Ryan Poles to call Las Vegas and find out what the All‑Pro edge rusher would cost now. If the price has dropped, Chicago should absolutely...

0:00 Bears 27:00 Around the league 40:00 Mike Evans Day One of the NFL’s legal tampering period is in the books, and it’s time to break down what the Chicago Bears did—and what still needs to be done. We take a close look at Chicago’s early free‑agency moves, how the front office approached roster construction, and what to expect as the second wave of free‑agent signings begins. We also say farewe...

The Chicago Bears are staying busy as NFL free agency kicks off. Chicago has re‑signed linebacker D’Marco Jackson and edge rusher Daniel Hardy, keeping key depth pieces in place for the 2026 season. The Bears also announced a deal with New England, acquiring starting center Garrett Bradbury in exchange for a 2027 5th‑round pick—another move to solidify the offensive line as the front office ramps...

0:00 NFL Free Agents 8:30 DJ Moore 28:20 NFL Rankings - NFL.com Looking back on DJ Moore’s time with the Chicago Bears, it somehow feels like he was here longer than just three seasons. While his best statistical years came in Carolina, DJ delivered strong production in Chicago — including his career‑best receiving yardage among all WRs in the NFL in 2023 with Justin Fields at quarterback. The Bea...

BREAKING NEWS: The Chicago Bears have traded wide receiver DJ Moore and a 2026 fifth‑round pick to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a 2026 second‑round pick. It’s a stunning move that reshapes both teams’ immediate futures and adds another major storyline to the Bears’ offseason. We’ll break down what this trade means for Chicago’s offense, how the Bears plan to replace Moore’s production, and wh...

Carmen Vitali of FOX Sports Radio joins the show to break down the shocking retirement of Chicago Bears center Drew Dalman and what his decision means for the team moving forward. Carmen shares her insight on what could have motivated the five‑year veteran to walk away from millions of dollars and a division‑winning roster, and how the Bears can pivot as they reshape their offensive line. We also...

Breaking news out of Chicago: Bears starting center Drew Dalman, only 27 years old and entering the second year of his three‑year deal with the defending NFC champions, has announced his retirement from the NFL. This is a major surprise and an early offseason curveball for the Bears’ front office as they prepare for free agency and the draft. We’ll continue to track this developing story, what led...

0:00 Madrid 12:30 Atlanta Falcons 15:35 Jordan Reid new mock draft 27:20 NFL dates 30:00 CJGJ 33:00 Jonathan Greenard We dive into the growing possibility that the Chicago Bears could face the Atlanta Falcons in Madrid as part of the NFL’s nine international games scheduled for 2026. And honestly? We’re all for it — in fact, we think the Bears should move to Spain before they even consider moving...

0:00 Bears Combine Notes 16:00 NFL FAs 21:00 Pavia 26:00 David Montgomery 32:45 Tremaine Edmunds In today’s episode, we break down everything you need to know from the 2026 NFL Combine and highlight several prospects the Chicago Bears could target in the draft. With roster dominoes already starting to fall around the league — trades, cuts, surprise moves — we take a look at which upcoming NFL free...

0:00 Introduction 5:00 Salary Cap 8:30 Combine Notes 23:30 Combine Performances- Day 1 30:00 NFLPA Team Report Cards 38:00 Should Dan, or shouldn't he? 44:40 Guess who said it The NFLPA Team Report Cards were somehow leaked—and guess what? The Green Bay Packers finished dead last in the NFC North. Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphins claimed the No. 1 overall spot, with the Minnesota Vikings right behind...

0:00 Bears offseason needs 22:10 DJ Moore 27:00 NFL replay issues As the Chicago Bears continue shaping their 2026 roster, we break down the team’s biggest offseason needs—starting with the secondary, defensive line, linebacker group, and offensive tackle positions. Which areas should be the top priority? And how should the Bears address them through free agency, the draft, or both? We also dive i...

0:00 Tremaine Edmunds 10:00 Kyle Monangai 15:15 Bears run game 30:30 Top 100 FAs 33:10 John Franklin-Myers The Chicago Bears have officially given veteran linebacker Tremaine Edmunds permission to seek a trade, signaling that his future in Chicago is all but decided. We break down what this means for the Bears’ roster, cap strategy, and defensive identity moving forward. Rutgers star running back...