The NFL finally made it — to training camp. How the league makes it to Week 1, much less the Super Bowl, amid the COVID-19 pandemic is a complicated question. But Dan Wiederer and Brad Biggs lay out the most daunting issues facing the voluminous operation. Will larger meeting rooms and getting creative in between actual football practice be enough to avoid the issues that have befallen Major League Baseball? The NFL figures to be on defense until February. Speaking of defense, the Bears will...

Although the Bears halted their offseason program weeks ago, there’s still plenty for Dan Wiederer and Brad Biggs to discuss. They sift through what they learned from Bears coaches, especially the ones hired fairly recently. You’ll have to excuse the coaches if they’ve been a bit vague — there’s only so much they can learn via Zoom call. Dan and Brad — and Bears fans, no doubt — can’t wait to find out if there really is an open competition at quarterback or if Mitch Trubisky has had his shot....

Dan Wiederer and Brad Biggs are joined by colleague Colleen Kane to discuss and process the emotional and personal talks with Bears players Danny Trevathan, Allen Robinson and Akiem Hicks and coach Matt Nagy this week. And later, after the 1st week of OTAs, breaking down what Nagy had to say about the QB competition — once they are allowed back on the field — and what the Bears still need to improve upon.

Dan Wiederer doesn’t have Brad Biggs with him on this edition of Bear Download, so he’s brought reinforcements: Jeff Dickerson of ESPN Chicago and Dionne Miler of ABC-7. First, Dan and Jeff discuss who has the edge in the team’s quarterback battle — if there’s an edge to be had. Next, they get into the difficulties the NFL faces in returning to the field in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, including whether players can breathe through masks suitable for Cobra Commander (“G.I. Joe”...

Schedule alert! Dan Wiederer and Brad Biggs can’t just sit around and NOT discuss how it all lines up for the Bears in 2020 — even if there’s a possibility it gets thrown into upheaval by the coronavirus pandemic. For now, the duo breaks down the schedule from (seemingly soft) start to (brutal-on-paper) finish. Dan and Brad lay out the games they’re most looking forward to, which stretch will test the Bears most, which opponent might throw the team for a loop and which road trips hold the...

With Dan Wiederer and Brad Biggs’ boat party on hold (they want to get out of the house, too!) and no Bears minicamp in sight, they forge ahead with another shelter-in-place edition of the Bear Download podcast. First up: discussing whether the team got better at each offensive position group — your poll answers included! Dan and Brad then transition to That’s Just Stupid, in which they hopefully put to rest the discussion of whether the Bears should have picked up quarterback Mitch...

The 2020 NFL draft is in the books, which means Dan Wiederer can stop running all over his house while the Bears make their picks, and Brad Biggs is free of a certain analyst who makes him scratch his head. GM Ryan Pace emerged with seven selections, and Dan and Brad dive into analysis on the latest Bear Download podcast. Much of the spotlight shines on the Bears’ second-round picks, tight end Cole Kmet and cornerback Jaylon Johnson — two positions that desperately needed upgrades. As for...

Dan Wiederer and Brad Biggs are — like the rest of the NFL — working from home in preparation for the 2020 draft. They preview the upcoming draft from a Bears perspective and address the positions most in need of an upgrade (cornerbacks, anyone?). They dig through general manager Ryan Pace's draft history and the decision to release Trey Burton before opening up Brad's mailbag.

The Bears have been busy this offseason. Maybe not Khalil Mack trade-busy, but busy nonetheless. That gives Dan Wiederer and Brad Biggs plenty to discuss — while social distancing, of course — on the Bear Download podcast. They waste no time assessing the “open competition” at quarterback, though Brad believes all signs point to Nick Foles as the starter. The Bears will look to bolster their offense via the draft, of course, but even that will be completely different because of the...

Dan Wiederer and Brad Biggs are working from home — and socially distancing — as the NFL goes ahead with free agency despite the further outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. The guys discuss the Bears' biggest move — acquiring quarterback Nick Foles — and what that means for Mitch Trubisky and the offense. They break down GM Ryan Pace's other moves, including Leonard Floyd's departure and Robert Quinn's signing, a surprise move for Jimmy Graham and where else the Bears need to improve....

Dan Wiederer and Brad Biggs look ahead to free agency and what the Bears and general manager Ryan Pace have in store. They begin with discussing the impending decision regarding Leonard Floyd, talk about positions to improve and the need for Pace to get the offseason right. Brad opens up his mailbag to discuss Mitch Trubisky's fifth-year option before they break down the shopping spree at quarterback that will happen across the NFL this offseason. They finish by crowning ... the Eagles?

Bears coach Matt Nagy joins the show as Dan Wiederer and Brad Biggs hit the road for the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. Nagy discusses the team's struggles last season, the new coaches on staff, the backup quarterback search and areas Mitch Trubisky needs to improve. Dan and Brad then discuss their conversation with Nagy and look at the run game, what tight ends might be available in the draft and which positions are up for grabs on the defense.

The NFL combine is less than a week away and Dan Wiederer and Brad Biggs break down what to expect from the event. They take a long look at the Bears quarterback situation and question the notion a marquee free agent — say, Tom Brady or Philip Rivers — would be willing to join the team even if the Bears decide Mitch Trubisky is no longer the starter. They discuss other positions of need, Brad opens up his mailbag in a new segment and the two crown a former Bears defensive coordinator.

Super Bowl LIV is in the books, and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes left quite an impression — again. Rich Campbell and Dan Wiederer gather in a hotel lobby, of all places, and break down the big game and how Mahomes' brilliance has the Chiefs in the NFL driver's seat. Naturally, Rich and Dan segue into the Bears' plans with Mitch Trubisky and the questions about his ability to handle everything asked of him. Then they mash up this episode's Crown 'Em and That's Just Stupid segments as...

Rich and Dan break down a newsy offseason week, starting with Matt Nagy's changes to his offensive coaching staff. They break down the arrivals of coordinator Bill Lazor, quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo and the promotion of passing game coordinator Dave Ragone. They wonder how all the new coaches' responsibilities will fit together and how the new group will affect the 2020 offense. They question Anthony Davis' attire and rooting interest on the Lambeau Field sideline for the divisional...

Rich Campbell and Dan Wiederer are going strong with the Bears’ season in the rear-view mirror, and they dive into the team’s kicker situation to sort out what the team accomplished with the search that led to Eddy Pineiro’s encouraging — if not convincing — 2019. Then they pivot, replacing "y" with “ie,” to examine the Bears’ decision to make Eddie Jackson the NFL’s highest paid safety. In That’s Just Stupid, they welcome Patriots coach Bill Belichick back to the podcast in honorary...

After the Bears' disappointing 2019 season — a “regression,” as GM Ryan Pace called it — Chairman George McCaskey, President Ted Phillips, coach Matt Nagy and Pace offered their evaluations. Some were more forthcoming with details than others. Rich Campbell and Dan Wiederer dive into where the Bears go from here. (Get ready for LOTS of talk about the offense’s struggles.) After Dan’s lightning-fast recap of the Week 17 win over the Vikings and some cracking 3-word reviews, they examine five...

Rich Campbell and Dan Wiederer are in the Halas Hall coat closet to preview the meaningless finale against the Vikings. They marvel at the anticlimactic Week 17 matchup before turning their attention to the crucial conversations awaiting general manager Ryan Pace and coach Matt Nagy next week. They look ahead to what Pace and Nagy must consider in their postseason evaluation of the offense and, specifically, quarterback Mitch Trubisky. Rich self-reports a bratty, particular approach about...

The morning after the Bears were whipped 26-3 by the Chiefs, Rich Campbell and Dan Wiederer sift through the wreckage. They recap one of the more depressing nights at Soldier Field in recent memory, including how the Bears' sloppiness and Chiefs' offensive prowess helped mark the gap between the Bears and a legitimate Super Bowl contender. They take stock of the lopsided Mitch Trubisky-Patrick Mahomes matchup and question folks who insist on lowering the bar for the Bears quarterback. They...

The eliminated Bears have vowed to sprint through the finish line, and that's exactly what Rich and Dan are doing as well. From the Halas Hall coat closet, they preview Sunday night's game against the Chiefs. They examine how the Chiefs' partnership of coach Andy Reid and MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes contextualizes the Bears' offensive struggles — from unproven coach Matt Nagy to inconsistent quarterback Mitch Trubisky and an inferior supporting cast. They spotlight the Bears' lack of long...

The Bears are officially out of the playoff hunt after losing to the Packers 21-13 on Sunday. Rich and Dan are at Lambeau Field to break down the offense’s return to reality. They discuss another one-touchdown performance and the offense’s inconsistency as a whole. They analyze Mitch Trubisky’s latest uneven performance as Dan worries that he could be leading the Bears to QB purgatory. They put a stamp on a deeply disappointing decade for the Bears — especially compared with the Packers’...

The Bears are riding a three-game winning streak headed into Sunday’s game against the Packers. Is a playoff miracle possible? Rich and Dan take a quick jaunt down memory lane. Specifically, they compare the 2019 Bears to the 2012 Redskins and Vikings, two teams that staged improbable runs to reach the postseason. Next, they examine how the Bears have managed to stay afloat and what they can take from their recent surge even if they miss the playoffs. In That’s Just Stupid, they plead for...

The Bears beat the Cowboys 31-24 on Thursday night and now have a winning record for the first time in 8 weeks. Rich and Dan slept a few hours before rallying for their review Friday morning. They examine a team that didn't crumble after a 4-game losing streak, a team that seems to thrive playing from behind, or at least out from under the weight of expectations. They dissect quarterback Mitch Trubisky's latest exceptional game, specifically how his legs brought his play to life in a way...

The Bears enter December "in the hunt," and Rich Campbell and Dan Wiederer try to figure out what that means. They preview Thursday night's game against the Cowboys by setting the stage for a daunting four-game run that features matchups against three first-place teams and another occupying a wild-card spot. They identify Bears players they'll closely watch over the final four weeks, including Roquan Smith, Anthony Miller and Mitch Trubisky. They look ahead to Akiem Hicks' potential return in...

The Bears beat the Lions 24-20 on Thursday, and Rich and Dan dig in from Ford Field. First up: Mitch Trubisky’s first late-fourth-quarter, winning touchdown drive and the seeds it plants for his future. Of course, that drive goes hand in hand with the continued evolution of Anthony “Mr. Clutch” Miller. Sure, the strong performances came against David Blough (er, Jeff Bluhhh?) and the lowly Lions, but it’s all an upgrade from the mopey wins against the Lions and Giants earlier in November....