You’re stuck in I-90 traffic. The sun is setting over the skyline, and the lake breeze is kicking up, but you don't care about the view because the kickoff is three minutes away. You reach for the dial. That crackle of the airwaves, the sudden burst of crowd noise, and the familiar cadence of a voice that sounds like home—that’s the Chicago Bears radio broadcast. It’s a ritual. Even in an era where you can stream every single snap on a 5G phone or watch in 4K on a massive screen, the radio remains the heartbeat of the Monsters of the Midway.
It’s about more than just scores. It’s about the specific way a play is described before the referee even signals the result.
Where to Find the Chicago Bears Radio Broadcast Right Now
If you are looking for the game, you need to know the signal. For years, the Bears have called ESPN 1000 (WMVP-AM) their primary home. It’s a partnership that solidified the station's identity as the go-to spot for Chicago sports talk and live play-by-play. When the team moved over from WBBM, it felt like a massive shift in the city’s media landscape.
You can hear it across the Midwest. The reach of a 50,000-watt clear-channel station is nothing to sneeze at. On a cold, clear night, people have claimed to pick up the Bears game as far away as Tennessee or the Great Plains. It’s a bit of a localized miracle.
But what if you aren't near a traditional radio?
Technology has kind of changed the game here. You’ve got the Bears Official App, which usually streams the local call if you are within the geographic market. If you are outside the "blackout" zone, things get a little trickier due to NFL broadcasting rights. That’s where SiriusXM comes in. They carry the home and away feeds for every single team. Then there is NFL+, the league’s own subscription service that gives you access to the local radio calls on your devices.
Honestly, the "how" is easy. The "who" is why we stay.
The Voices in Your Ear: Thayer and Joniak
You can't talk about the Chicago Bears radio broadcast without mentioning Jeff Joniak and Tom Thayer. They are the gold standard.
Jeff Joniak is the "Touchdown, Chicago!" guy. His voice has a kinetic energy that makes a three-yard plunge into the line sound like a game-winning Super Bowl moment. He’s been at this since 2001. Think about that for a second. He has narrated the entire career arcs of Brian Urlacher, Devin Hester, and Jay Cutler. He was there for the 2006 Super Bowl run. He’s seen the bad seasons, the "retooling" years, and the flashes of brilliance.
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Then you have Tom Thayer.
Thayer isn't just some guy who likes football. He was an offensive lineman for the 1985 Super Bowl XX champions. He lived it. When he talks about a "holding" penalty or a missed blocking assignment, he isn't guessing. He’s seeing the game through the goggles of a guy who used to bang heads with Hall of Famers. His analysis is dense. Sometimes it's incredibly technical, focusing on hand placement or footwork that most fans would never notice.
They have this weird, perfect chemistry. Joniak provides the high-octane narrative, and Thayer provides the "salt of the earth" grit. They don't always agree, and that’s what makes it feel real. It feels like two guys sitting at a bar in Beverly or Arlington Heights just talking shop.
The Technical Wizardry Behind the Mic
Radio is harder than TV.
In television, the announcer can stop talking. The picture tells the story. On the Chicago Bears radio broadcast, silence is the enemy. If Joniak stops talking for five seconds, people start checking their tuners to see if the signal dropped.
The spotters are the unsung heroes here. They sit in the booth with binoculars, pointing at jersey numbers so the announcers can identify who made the tackle on a pile-up of twenty humans. There is a producer in their ear, a statistician feeding them "last time this happened" facts, and an engineer making sure the crowd noise doesn't drown out the commentary.
It’s a choreographed dance in a very small, very cramped room.
The Bears Radio Network: A Massive Reach
It’s not just Chicago. The "Bears Radio Network" is a massive web of affiliate stations stretching across Illinois, Indiana, and into parts of Wisconsin and Iowa.
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- KANKAKEE: WFAV 92.7 FM
- PEORIA: WZPN 101.1 FM
- SPRINGFIELD: WMAY 92.7 FM
- ROCKFORD: WXRX 104.9 FM
This network ensures that whether you're downstate on a farm or in a high-rise in the Loop, the Bears are accessible. It’s a regional glue. People in small towns listen to the same broadcast as the guy sitting in his SUV on the Dan Ryan.
Why We Still Listen (The "Sync" Method)
Here is a pro tip that real die-hards use: The "Sync."
A lot of fans think the national TV announcers—no offense to them—don't really get Chicago. They might mispronounce a name or lean too heavily on tired tropes about "tough weather" and "linebacker history."
So, fans mute the TV. They turn on the Chicago Bears radio broadcast.
The problem? The delay. Digital TV signals are usually 10 to 30 seconds behind the live radio feed. It’s frustrating. You hear Joniak scream about a touchdown while the kicker is still lining up on your TV screen.
To fix this, people use "delay" apps or specialized radio hardware that lets you pause the radio signal for a few seconds to perfectly match the TV picture. When you get it right, it’s the ultimate viewing experience. You get the high-def visuals of a billion-dollar TV production with the soulful, biased, passionate commentary of the local guys who actually care if the Bears win.
The "Spanish" Broadcast Option
We have to acknowledge the growth of the Spanish-language broadcast. This isn't just a secondary feature; it's a massive part of the fan base. TUDN Radio Chicago (WRTO-AM 1200) has been a vital link for the Latino community.
Football is global now. The energy in the Spanish broadcast is often on an entirely different level. Even if you don't speak the language, listening to a big play called in Spanish is an experience. The passion is universal.
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The Ghost of Broadcasters Past
You can't appreciate today's Chicago Bears radio broadcast without tipping your cap to the legends.
For a long time, Wayne Larrivee was the voice. "There's a dagger!" was his catchphrase when a game was iced. Before him, you had the legendary Jack Brickhouse, who was the voice of Chicago sports for decades. These men didn't just call games; they were the architects of how we perceive the team's history.
When you listen to the radio now, you’re hearing echoes of all those guys. It’s a lineage. Jeff Joniak knows he’s sitting in a seat that belongs to the city, not just the station.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Broadcast
People think radio is dying. They are wrong.
In the sports world, radio is actually thriving because it's the only "eyes-free" medium. You can't watch a game while you're painting your garage or driving to your kid's soccer tournament.
Another misconception: that the radio guys are just "homers."
While it’s true that local announcers are paid to be the voice of the team, Joniak and Thayer are notoriously honest when the team is playing like garbage. They aren't afraid to call out a bad trade, a missed tackle, or a questionable coaching decision. That's why fans trust them. If they just sugarcoated everything, nobody would tune in during the losing streaks.
Actionable Steps for the Best Listening Experience
If you want to make the most of the next game day, here is what you should actually do:
- Download the ESPN 1000 App: This is the most direct way to get the local pre-game and post-game shows, which are often just as entertaining as the game itself.
- Invest in a "Radio Delay" App: If you plan on syncing the radio to your TV, search for apps like "Audio Delay" or "SiriusXM" settings that allow for buffering.
- Check the Pre-game Timeline: The broadcast doesn't start at kickoff. The pre-game show usually starts two to three hours early. It’s where you get the real injury updates and weather reports from the sidelines at Soldier Field.
- Don't Skip the Post-game: This is where the "Locker Room" show happens. Hearing the raw, unfiltered press conferences from the coach and players immediately after a win or loss is something you usually miss if you just flip the TV channel to a different game.
The Chicago Bears radio broadcast is a living, breathing part of the city’s culture. It’s the soundtrack of Sunday afternoons in the fall. Whether the team is 12-0 or 0-12, those voices will be there, painting a picture of the struggle on the grass.
Next time the game is on, try turning off the TV volume. Give the radio a chance. You might find that the game feels a lot bigger when you have to imagine the distance of the pass for yourself.