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Forward Progress - A Chicago Bears Podcast

312 Sports
Chicago Bears
NFL
Caleb Williams
Ben Johnson
Detroit Lions
Minnesota Vikings
Montez Sweat
Jaylon Johnson
Braxton Jones
Kyler Gordon
DJ Moore
Dallas Cowboys
Philadelphia Eagles
Ford Field
JJ Mccarthy
Jalen Johnson
Kevin O'connell
Dude Wipes
Jaquan Brisker
Special Teams

When it comes to Chicago Bears talk, Dan Bernstein and Matt Abbatacola have been setting the agenda for decades. Now, they’re bringing that same unflinching insight — and Sunday-afternoon passion — to Forward Progress. From breaking down Bears game plans with analytical precision to unleashing the raw emotion every fan feels when the season’s on the line, Dan and Matt deliver the perfect balance o... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes150Founded7 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
SportsFootball

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Artwork for Forward Progress

Latest Episodes

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... more

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 offensiv... more

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 Chica... more

0:00 Bears Audio

25:00 Mel Kiper

29:00 Curtis Allen

31:00 International NFL Game

Ben Johnson and Ryan Poles took the podium at the NFL Combine today, and two major storylines jumped out: their clear enthusiasm for quarterback Tyson Bagent, and Po... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Contact Information
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Recent Guests

Ryan Poles
General Manager of the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
Episode: Is Ryan Poles fighting for Bears draft picks? Tyson Bagent is a top 32 QB in the league
Ben Johnson
Offensive Coordinator who evaluated Tyson Bagent
Chicago Bears
Episode: Is Ryan Poles fighting for Bears draft picks? Tyson Bagent is a top 32 QB in the league
Kevin Fishbain
Senior Writer for The Athletic
The Athletic
Episode: Kevin Fishbain, Senior Writer The Athletic - Chicago Bears
Clay Harbor
Former NFL tight end and insider; 9-year NFL veteran
Episode: Clay Harbor - NFL Insider | 9-year NFL veteran
Carmen Vitali
Expert in NFL matters and coverage for FOX Sports and Marquee Network
FOX Sports, Marquee Network
Episode: Carmen Vitali, FOX Sports Radio and Marquee Network
Herb Howard
Bears Beat reporter from The Bigs Media
The Bigs Media
Episode: Herb Howard - The Bigs Media / Chicago Bears beat reporter
Bill Huber
NFL and Green Bay Packers beat reporter for Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Episode: Bill Huber - SI.com Green Bay Packers beat reporter
Chris Easterling
Covers the Cleveland Browns for the Akron Beacon Journal
Akron Beacon Journal
Episode: Chris Easterling, the Akron Beacon Journal - Chicago Bears | Cleveland Browns
Scott Bair
Contributor at Marquee Sports Network and host of the Chicago Football Show
Marquee Sports Network
Episode: Scott Bair - Marquee Sports Network | The Chicago Football Show

Hosts

Dan Bernstein
Host of Forward Progress with a strong background in sports analysis and commentary, known for his insightful perspectives on the Chicago Bears.
Matt Abbatacola
Co-host of Forward Progress, offering his enthusiastic and humorous takes on Chicago Bears' football and sports news.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 205 ratings
  • Poor audio

    Not that it’s a terrible thing but you can hardly hear Matt Abatacola. He’s the weak link on the show anyways. It sounds very amateurish with Dan coming in loud and clear with obvious professional equipment and Matt must have the Temu version of Dans equipment. Not that Matt adds that much anyways but the sound discrepancy is horrible.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Kairook
    United States3 months ago
  • super duper postgames

    matthew and daniel are puddin on the rizz

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JMalAnthony
    United States4 months ago
  • WSCR Who?

    Somebody told me about The Score when I was home from college back in the summer of 1992. I’ve been a Scorehead ever since. However, since Dan and Matty reunited, I can count the number of times I’ve listened to The Score on one hand.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JerryInSBend
    United States4 months ago
  • Professionals Please

    Really enjoy the show and the regular rotation of professional journalists. But nothing is more aversive on here than the blatant nepotism of putting your kid on the air despite having no professional credentials. It’s insulting to your guests who have worked the beat honestly and your audience who wants to hear experienced sports thoughts.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    #DJR
    United States4 months ago
  • Not for me

    If you hate the bears and over analyze every press conference…you will love this show

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    DanSte12
    United States5 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The insightful analyses of team strategies and players are frequently highlighted as strong points of the show.
Overall, the podcast has a strong following among dedicated sports fans who enjoy a mix of humor and deep sports insight.
Some feedback indicates concerns regarding audio quality during episodes, which has been noted by certain listeners.
Listeners appreciate the humorous banter and authenticity of the hosts, bringing a much-valued perspective to Chicago Bears and NFL discussions.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#84
United States/Sports/Football
Apple Podcasts
#223
United Kingdom/Sports/Football
Apple Podcasts
#220
France/Sports/Football
Apple Podcasts
#234
Germany/Sports/Football
Apple Podcasts
#64
Finland/Sports/Football
Apple Podcasts
#73
Israel/Sports/Football

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Chicago Bears player evaluation and roster moves this offseason
Q: Do the Bears think Kyle Monangai is a number one back?
Probably not.
Clay Harbor - NFL Insider | 9-year NFL veteran
Q: What has stood out to you the most in Caleb Williams' progression this year?
Clay highlights Caleb's increased comprehension of the offense and his ability to identify coverages and make the right calls at the line of scrimmage as areas of significant growth.
Clay Harbor - NFL Insider | 9-year NFL veteran
Q: How much does playing in cold weather impact a team that generally doesn't play in these conditions?
Clay Harbor shares that playing in cold conditions can significantly affect a team's performance as it's difficult to simulate cold weather in practice, which can lead to discomfort for warm-weather players.
Tim Jenkins - All Things QB / NFL Analyst
Q: What can the Bears do and how can players like Johnson and Kyler Gordon, where even not at their best, they're still better than the next guy up, be effective in this game?
They will need to blend disguises and exotic pressures to overcome the limitations from injuries.
Matt Miller, ESPN NFL Draft Analyst and NFL Insider
Q: What do you think happens with these quarterbacks coming out in 2026 and the teams that have a need for quarterback?
The Raiders are likely to take Fernando Mendoza, and other teams could also look into quarterbacks from the upcoming draft class as they have significant needs.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Forward Progress

What is Forward Progress about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A podcast focused entirely on the Chicago Bears, engaging listeners with in-depth discussions about game plans, player evaluations, and the latest news surrounding the team. Hosts provide a mixture of analytical insights and passionate commentary, appealing to both diehard Bears fans and casual listeners. Episodes often cover significant topics such as player trades, draft prospects, and coaching decisions, all framed within the broader context of the NFL. The lively banter between the hosts adds a layer of humor and relatability, making it an entertaining listen for anyone interested in Chicago football.

Where can I find podcast stats for Forward Progress?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Forward Progress. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Forward Progress and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Forward Progress get?

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What are the audience demographics for Forward Progress?

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How many subscribers and views does Forward Progress have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Forward Progress has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Forward Progress?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Forward Progress:

1. Dan Bernstein Unfiltered
2. Organizations Win Championships: A Chicago Bulls Podcast
3. House of L podcast
4. Spiegel & Holmes Show
5. Hoge & Jahns: a show about the Chicago Bears

How many episodes of Forward Progress are there?

Forward Progress launched 7 months ago and published 150 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Forward Progress?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Forward Progress?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Forward Progress from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Forward Progress?

Recent guests on Forward Progress include:

1. Ryan Poles
2. Ben Johnson
3. Kevin Fishbain
4. Clay Harbor
5. Carmen Vitali
6. Herb Howard
7. Bill Huber
8. Chris Easterling

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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