

The Charter: A Chicago Bears Podcast
Chicago Sports Network
The Charter Podcast is where you can find everything you need to know about the Chicago Bears. Our team of Ruthie Polinsky & Clay Harbor bring you postgame reaction, interviews, and game previews. We’ll provide you with latest and have some fun along the way. New episodes available every Thursday throughout the season.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 22, 2025 • 47min
ESPN's and Former GM Mike Tannenbaum on NFL draft week preparations
Ruthie Polinsky, Clay Harbor, and Alex Shapiro are joined by ESPN Insider and former NFL General Manager Mike Tannenbaum. They discuss how NFL teams approach draft week, weighing the differences between roster needs vs best player available, and how the framework for draft day trades come together. Mike also touches on the communication needed between an first year head coach and their GM and what more do the Bears need to address.

Apr 17, 2025 • 32min
Top 30 Visits and Skill Players to Target
Ruthie Polinsky, Clay Harbor, and Alex Shapiro bring you this episode of The Charter podcast. We explain the NFL Top 30 visits and Clay's first hand experience with some pre-draft visits of his own. Also, after analyzing how the Bears will address the offensive and defensive lines all off season, we highlight key skill position players for the Bears to target in the later rounds of this year's NFL draft.

Apr 15, 2025 • 54min
Kyler Gordon extension and our 4-pick player pool draft
On the latest episode of The Charter Ruthie Polinsky, Alex Shapiro, and Clay Harbor give their thoughts on the extension of Kyler Gordon. The Bears made Gordon the highest paid slot corner in the NFL. They predict how he fits in Dennis Allen’s defensive scheme, the message it sends the locker room, and who is next in line for new money. Then, Clay and Alex build their best 4-pick mock draft for the Chicago Bears picking from a pool of players we believe will be available for Chicago to select.

Apr 11, 2025 • 45min
Caleb Williams and Jaylon Johnson are embracing all challenges from new coaching staff
Ruthie Polinsky, Alex Shapiro, and Clay Harbor tackle this episode of The Carter podcast! They react to the quotes from Halas Hall coming from players like Jaylon Johnson, Tremaine Edmunds, and Caleb Williams. Ben Johnson seems to be installing confidence with his coaching style and getting buy-in from established veterans. Can this energy and focus carryout through OTA's and into training camp? Jaylon Johnson is looking forward to challenging new play style and identifying the priorities from Caleb Williams.

Apr 8, 2025 • 30min
Bears that need to make an impression early in offseason workouts
Ruthie Polinsky, Alex Shapiro, and Clay Harbor are back on the latest episode of The Charter podcast. As the Bears are entering the first phase of the NFL offseason program, Clay walks us through the benefit of getting an early start thanks to having a new head coach. Also, the kind of habits and impressions that can be established not only by young talent but by incoming veterans. Who are the Bears that need to establish themselves?

Apr 3, 2025 • 38min
Answering Your Voicemail and Bears Setting Sights on Arlington Heights
Ruthie Polinsky, Alex Shapiro, and Clay Harbor are back together on the latest episode of The Charter podcast. They react to the latest from the NFL annual league meetings including the vote to ban the tush push stays alive. We also talk about the comments made by Bears President Kevin Warren and Chairman George McCaskey about the future of the team in Arlington Heights. We finally open up the mailbag and answer your questions!

Apr 1, 2025 • 24min
Teams Vote on Rule Changes at Annual League Meetings
Ruthie Polinsky is back and she joins Alex Shapiro on the latest episode of The Charter podcast. They bring you the latest from the NFL Annual League Meetings in Palm Beach, Florida. The annual coaches photo dropped but looks a bit different from years past. We also debate about the potential banning of the tush push, expanded replays, playoff seeding, and much more on the future of the NFL.

Mar 27, 2025 • 33min
What We Learned from College Pro Days
On the latest episode of The Charter, Clay Harbor and Alex Shapiro bring you the latest updates from several potential draft targets attending their school pro day. We talk about Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, and Will Campbell's arm growth. SMU's Brashard Smith and Texas' Jaydon Blue chances of being Chicago draft picks. Also the Bears attendees at the Ohio State pro day.

Mar 24, 2025 • 40min
Buy or Sell: Expectations for the new look Chicago Bears
Join Alex Shapiro and Clay Harbor on the latest episode of The Charter! Thirty days from the NFL draft, they discuss the latest news, including the signing of special teams ace Nick McCloud. Plus, a fun "buy or sell" segment tackles bold predictions for the upcoming season: Will Caleb Williams throw for 4,000 yards? Will DJ Moore and Rome Odunze each hit 1,000 receiving yards? Clay shares insights from his playing days, revealing the intense pressure of the pre-draft process. Finally, they debate the chances of a new stadium breaking ground by year's end.

Mar 20, 2025 • 39min
With the 10th overall pick the Chicago Bears select...
Ruthie Polinsky, Clay Harbor, and Alex Shapiro narrow down our bracket for the Bears 10th overall selection. With all the additions in free agency, the Bears have opened up paths to multiple options. Tune in to the latest episode of The Charter podcast and see who will be crowned the champion!


