You’re driving down the Kennedy, the lake is looking gray, and the Bears are about to kick off. You reach for the dial. If you haven't checked in a couple of seasons, you might be surprised to find nothing but static or a news report where the game used to be. Things changed recently in the Chicago radio world, and if you want to hear Jeff Joniak’s legendary "Touchdown, Bears!" call, you need to know exactly where to point your antenna.
Honestly, there is nothing like the sound of Bears football on the radio. Even with the massive TVs we have now, the radio broadcast carries a certain grit that feels like Chicago.
What Radio Station Is The Chicago Bears On Right Now?
The short answer: ESPN Chicago 1000 AM is the official flagship home for the Chicago Bears.
Since the 2023 season, the team moved its primary broadcast from the long-standing WBBM to WMVP (ESPN 1000). This wasn't just a minor tweak; it was a massive multi-year deal that shifted the entire "Home of the Bears" branding to the Good Karma Brands station.
If you are in the city or the immediate suburbs, you’ll find the game at:
- AM 1000 (Primary signal)
- 100.3 FM HD2 (For those with HD radio receivers who want that crisp FM sound)
It’s worth noting that AM 1000 is a "clear channel" station. This means it has a massive 50,000-watt signal. During the day, it covers the Chicagoland area easily. At night? You can sometimes pick up the Bears broadcast as far away as Iowa or Michigan because of how those AM waves bounce off the atmosphere. Kinda cool, right?
🔗 Read more: Buddy Hield Sacramento Kings: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
The Bears Radio Network: Where to Listen Outside Chicago
Not everyone is listening from a high-rise in the Loop. If you’re out in the cornfields of Central Illinois or up in the Wisconsin woods, you don't have to rely on the AM 1000 signal alone. The Bears Radio Network is actually a massive web of affiliate stations.
Here is where you can catch the game if you're traveling:
Illinois Affiliates
- Peoria: WMBD 1470 AM / 100.3 FM
- Rockford: WKGL 96.7 FM
- Springfield: WFMB 1450 AM / 92.3 FM
- Bloomington: WJBC 93.7 FM
- Kankakee: WVLI 92.7 FM
- Champaign: WDWS 1400 AM
Indiana & Beyond
- South Bend/Elkhart: You can usually catch the bleed-over from the Chicago signal, but check local AM listings.
- Fort Wayne: WGL 1250 AM
- Quad Cities: KBOB 1170 AM
For our Spanish-speaking fans—the "Gritando por los Bears" crowd—you’ll want to tune into Latino Mix 93.5 FM. Omar Ramos and Miguel Esparza handle the calls there, and frankly, their energy is unmatched when the defense comes up with a big takeaway.
💡 You might also like: Why the March Madness 2022 Bracket Still Haunts Your Sports Betting Group Chat
Why the Move to ESPN 1000 Mattered
For years, WBBM was the voice of the Bears. When the switch to ESPN 1000 happened, it changed the "vibe" of the game day coverage.
ESPN 1000 doesn't just play the game. They basically turn the entire day into a Bears marathon. You’ve got Marc "Silvy" Silverman, Dionne Miller, and former Bears linebacker Lance Briggs leading the pre-game festivities. They start hours before kickoff. If you want to hear about the specific blocking schemes or why the rookie quarterback is struggling with his reads, this is where the nerds (and the legends) hang out.
Post-game is usually hosted by John Jurkovic and Peggy Kusinski. If you’ve never heard "Jurko" after a tough loss to the Packers, you haven't lived. It’s pure, unadulterated Chicago emotion.
Voices in the Booth: Joniak and Thayer
The real reason most people ask "what radio station is the Chicago Bears on" is because they want to hear the duo of Jeff Joniak and Tom Thayer.
Joniak has been the voice of the team since 2001. His voice is synonymous with the modern era of Bears football. He's fast, he's excitable, and he has a vocabulary that would make an English professor sweat.
📖 Related: Mizzou 2024 Football Schedule: What Most People Get Wrong
Next to him is Tom Thayer, a member of the 1985 Super Bowl team. Thayer isn't there to give you fluff. He’s there to tell you that the right guard missed his assignment. He sees the game through the eyes of an offensive lineman, which gives the broadcast a level of technical depth you just don't get on the national TV broadcasts. Jason McKie often joins them on the sidelines to give updates on injuries and the mood on the bench.
Streaming the Game: The Digital Catch
Can you listen online? Yes, but there are some "gotchas."
If you’re in the Chicago market, you can usually stream the broadcast through the ESPN Chicago App. However, NFL broadcasting rights are notoriously tight. If you are outside the geographical "market" of the station, the stream might be geo-blocked during the actual game.
Here are your best bets for digital listening:
- NFL+: This is the league’s official subscription service. It lets you listen to the home or away radio feeds for every single game on your phone or tablet.
- SiriusXM: If you have a satellite radio subscription, the Bears are always on. The home feed is typically on channel 805 or 228, but it shifts around, so check the "NFL Play-by-Play" menu.
- The Bears Official App: Sometimes they offer a local-only radio stream, but again, your GPS needs to show you’re in the Chicagoland area.
Actionable Tips for Sunday Afternoon
If you’re planning to listen to the game this weekend, here is your checklist to make sure you don't miss a snap:
- Check the Kickoff Time: If it's a noon game, the pre-game show on AM 1000 usually starts as early as 9:00 AM.
- Sync the Radio to the TV: This is a pro move. Many fans mute the TV (because they can't stand the national announcers) and turn on Joniak and Thayer. Because digital TV has a delay, you might need a radio app that lets you "pause" the audio to sync it up with the picture on your screen.
- Battery Check: If you’re using an old-school transistor radio at Soldier Field (a classic move), bring spare AA batteries. The cold weather in Chicago kills batteries faster than a Jay Cutler interception killed a drive.
- Download the App Now: Don't wait until 11:55 AM to try and download the ESPN Chicago or NFL+ app. The servers get hammered right before kickoff.
The Bears are a part of Chicago's DNA. Whether they're 12-0 or 0-12, that radio broadcast is the heartbeat of the city on Sundays. Now you know exactly where to find it.