Dennis Allen says he’s extremely confident in the Chicago Bears defensive line and believes it could be one of the deepest position groups on the roster—but Bears fans have every reason to ask whether “deep” actually means “dangerous.”

On today’s Chicago Bears Central, Haize breaks down the pressure on Montez Sweat, Dayo Odeyingbo, Austin Booker, Grady Jarrett, Kentavius Street and Jordan van den Berg after Chicago traded Gervon Dexter. Allen has praised both Street and van den Berg, but after the Bears finished near the bottom of the NFL in pass-rush and run-stop win rate last season, this group still has plenty to prove.

Plus, could Ryan Poles still trade for another edge rusher? Josh Sweat is one intriguing possibility after recording 12 sacks in 2025.

Also:

👀 Kyler Gordon was spotted training amid his calf rehab.

💰 Ryan Poles confirms a D’Andre Swift extension is something Chicago will consider.

🎙️ Chicago Bears Central with Haize.

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Is Caleb Williams finally about to end the Chicago Bears’ quarterback curse for good?

After setting Chicago’s single-season passing record with 3,942 yards, 27 touchdowns and only seven interceptions, Caleb enters Year 3 just 58 yards removed from the first 4,000-yard passing season in Bears history. But the bigger leap may be leadership, accuracy and complete command of Ben Johnson’s offense.

Haize also breaks down whether Chicago should extend D’Andre Swift after his career-best 1,087 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, plus why the Bears’ injury-hit secondary may be the REAL Week 1 concern with Coby Bryant out and Kyler Gordon starting the year on PUP.

🔥 Caleb’s next leap

💰 Should Swift get paid now?

🚨 Is the secondary Chicago’s biggest weakness?

🛡️ Who must step up for Dennis Allen?

🎙️ Chicago Bears Central with Haize.

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The Chicago Bears continue reshaping their roster heading into Week 1, and there are some BIG questions surrounding Ryan Poles’ decisions.

On today’s Chicago Bears Central, Haize discusses the expected return of fan-favorite linebacker Jack Sanborn, who would give Chicago needed depth after initially carrying only four linebackers.

We also debate whether trading Gervon Dexter for Clark Phillips III and a 2027 fifth-round pick made an already-questionable defensive line even riskier. The move puts significantly more pressure on Jordan van den Berg, Grady Jarrett, Austin Booker, Dayo Odeyingbo and Chicago’s young interior depth.

Plus:

🏃 Did Chicago make the right call keeping Roschon Johnson over Salvon Ahmed?

⚡ Did Zavion Thomas force his way into a legitimate offensive role after exploding for 140 yards and a 97-yard touchdown against Tennessee?

🎙️ Hosted by Haize

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The Chicago Bears have officially revealed their initial 53-man roster for the 2026 NFL season—and Ryan Poles and Ben Johnson made some surprising decisions. But the biggest takeaway might be that Chicago is NOT finished building this roster.

On today’s episode of Chicago Bears Central, Haize breaks down the biggest winners, losers, surprises and potential waiver-wire additions after the Bears finalized their initial 53.

Several young players turned impressive summers into NFL roster spots.

Undrafted rookies Jayden Loving, Hayden Large and Skyler Thomas all survived final cuts, along with defensive lineman Jamree Kromah and veteran defensive tackle Kentavius Street.

But Chicago also made some unusual roster-construction decisions.

🚨 ONLY FOUR LINEBACKERS?!

The Bears enter the initial roster carrying just four linebackers after moving on from Jack Sanborn, Jon Rhattigan, Wayne Matthews III and Antonio Grier, while Ruben Hyppolite II was waived with an injury designation.

That almost screams:

ANOTHER MOVE IS COMING.

And one name jumps off the waiver/free-agent list:

🔥 Tyrel Dodson.

Dodson is just 27 and is coming off a season with 129 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, five sacks, three pass breakups, a forced fumble and an interception. Given Chicago’s linebacker numbers and injury concerns, he could make immediate sense for Dennis Allen’s defense.

🎯 FIVE WIDE RECEIVERS — FOUR TIGHT ENDS

Ben Johnson’s offensive philosophy is also becoming clearer.

Chicago kept only:

Rome Odunze

Luther Burden III

Kalif Raymond

Zavion Thomas

Jahdae Walker

at wide receiver.

But they carried four tight ends, with undrafted rookie Hayden Large joining Colston Loveland, Cole Kmet and Sam Roush. Large’s blocking impressed enough that Chicago protected him rather than risk losing him.

That tells us something about how Ben Johnson wants this offense constructed.

Multiple tight ends are not a specialty package. They’re part of the identity.

😳 SALVON AHMED OUT — ROSCHON JOHNSON SURVIVES

One of the most debated decisions involves the running-back room.

Despite an impressive preseason, Salvon Ahmed did not make the initial roster, while Roschon Johnson survived after entering camp as a potential cut candidate.

Was Chicago prioritizing Roschon’s physicality, blocking and special-teams value?

And should Ryan Poles now look at another explosive runner on waivers?

Former Cowboys back Jaydon Blue is one name worth watching.

👀 MALIK MUHAMMAD JUST WON A HUGE OPPORTUNITY

Kyler Gordon will begin the season on reserve/PUP with Noah Sewell and Shemar Turner, meaning Gordon will not be part of Chicago’s early-season secondary.

That could open the door for rookie Malik Muhammad to become Chicago’s starting nickel.

After a strong preseason, Muhammad now has an opportunity to prove he can handle one of the most demanding positions in Dennis Allen’s defense.

💎 UNDRAFTED ROOKIES WON BIG

Jayden Loving. Skyler Thomas. Hayden Large.

Three undrafted players did exactly what every camp long shot dreams of doing:

They forced the Bears to keep them.

Loving beat out more experienced competition at defensive tackle, while Thomas played his way onto the roster with a strong finish to preseason.

But remember:

This is the INITIAL 53.

Coby Bryant and Hayden Large are expected candidates for injured reserve, and Ozzy Trapilo could potentially join them, creating roster openings for waiver claims or free-agent additions.

And there are several intriguing available players Chicago could investigate:

👀 Reddy Steward — CB

⚡ Jaydon Blue — RB

🛡️ Sean Murphy-Bunting — CB

🧱 Colby Wooden — DT

💥 Sam Williams — DE

🔥 Tyrel Dodson — LB

Haize breaks down what the initial roster tells us about Ryan Poles, Ben Johnson and Dennis Allen, where Chicago still needs help, and which available players could make the Bears better immediately.

🎙️ Chicago Bears Central

Hosted by Haize

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The Chicago Bears’ final roster cuts are underway—and Ryan Poles and Ben Johnson are making some BIG decisions before Chicago gets down from 90 players to its initial 53-man roster.

On today’s episode of Chicago Bears Central, Haize reacts to the latest Bears cuts, the fallout from the Gervon Dexter trade, the surprising decisions at left tackle and running back, and which players could still be fighting for the final few roster spots.

And Bears fans…

Things got real FAST.

Chicago has already moved on from several notable players, including:

❌ Salvon Ahmed

❌ Kiran Amegadjie

❌ Jedrick Wills Jr.

❌ Terell Smith

❌ Scotty Miller

❌ JP Richardson

❌ Caden Barnett

❌ Anthony Johnson Jr.

❌ Jon Rhattigan

❌ Mason Murphy

❌ William Wright

❌ Marlen Sewell

And that comes on top of Chicago already trading Gervon Dexter Sr. to the Atlanta Falcons for cornerback Clark Phillips III and a fifth-round pick.

🧱 THE LEFT TACKLE BATTLE JUST CHANGED COMPLETELY

After an entire summer of debating:

Braxton Jones.

Kiran Amegadjie.

Jedrick Wills Jr.

Theo Benedet.

Eventually Ozzy Trapilo.

Chicago has now released both Amegadjie and Wills.

That makes the Bears’ plan much clearer.

Braxton Jones appears positioned to open the season protecting Caleb Williams’ blind side while Chicago waits for Ozzy Trapilo to complete his recovery.

After all the uncertainty, did Jones ultimately win the competition—or simply survive everyone else?

🏃 SALVON AHMED IS OUT

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Chicago Bears football may be going through an identity crisis—and Bears fans might have to embrace it.

For generations, Chicago has been defined by defense. Monsters of the Midway. Linebackers. Pass rushers. Physical football.

But the 2026 Bears?

This team is being built around OFFENSE.

On today’s episode of Chicago Bears Central, Haize breaks down why the face of this era isn’t going to be the next Brian Urlacher, Julius Peppers or Khalil Mack.

It’s Caleb Williams.

And around Caleb, Ryan Poles and Ben Johnson have assembled arguably the deepest collection of offensive talent Chicago has seen in years: Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III, Colston Loveland, Cole Kmet, D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai, with proven veterans across much of the offensive line.

This isn’t just August hype either.

In Ben Johnson’s first season with Caleb, Chicago scored 441 points—the third-most in franchise history—and ranked second in the NFL with 127 explosive plays.

That means the next step isn’t proving Chicago can make explosive plays.

It’s becoming efficient.

Ben Johnson has already identified the areas that need another jump: route detail, ball placement, catching the football and consistently getting the primary receiver open.

And Luther Burden III could be the swing piece that ties everything together.

Burden gives Chicago quick-game juice, yards-after-catch ability, motion flexibility and another way to punish defenses that focus too heavily on Rome Odunze or the Bears’ tight ends.

So Bears fans may need to adjust to a very different reality:

Chicago can still be physical. It can still run the football. Defense still matters.

But this era belongs to Caleb Williams—and the Bears may finally be built to dictate games offensively instead of waiting for the defense to save them.

Then we flip to the biggest concern.

🚨 Is the Bears defense already getting TOO injured before Week 1?

Coby Bryant underwent knee surgery and is expected to miss four to six months. Kyler Gordon’s availability remains uncertain. Austin Booker is week-to-week with a groin injury. Gervon Dexter has dealt with a hamstring issue, while Marcus Davenport has still been working through his ramp-up process.

That means Dennis Allen may already need bigger contributions from players Chicago originally hoped would be depth pieces.

Haize breaks down why:

🛡️ Xavier Woods needs to provide stability next to Dillon Thieneman.

🔥 Dillon Thieneman may have to mature faster than originally planned.

👀 Malik Muhammad II could be thrown into an important nickel role if Gordon isn’t ready.

💥 Dayo Odeyingbo and Daniel Hardy may need bigger pass-rush roles if Booker misses time.

💎 Jordan van den Berg has gone from preseason darling to potentially necessary defensive-line depth.

And THAT creates the bigger debate:

The Bears don’t necessarily need an elite defense if this offense becomes what we believe it can be.

But Chicago absolutely cannot have a defense that forces Caleb Williams to score 35 points every Sunday just to survive.

🎙️ Chicago Bears Central

Hosted by Haize

#ChicagoBears #CalebWilliams #BenJohnson #LutherBurden #RomeOdunze #ColstonLoveland #DillonThieneman #JordanVanDenBerg #BearDown

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The Chicago Bears are finally getting healthier at exactly the right time—and Luther Burden III is BACK on the practice field.

On today’s episode of Chicago Bears Central, Haize breaks down Burden’s return, what it could mean for Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson’s offense, the latest Bears 53-man roster bubble battles, the still-unsettled left tackle situation and why the Atlanta Falcons could become a legitimate trade destination for Gervon Dexter Sr.

Let’s start with the good news.

After missing multiple weeks with a groin injury, Luther Burden III returned to practice and participated in individual work as Chicago ramps toward the regular-season opener against Carolina.

And Burden wasn’t alone.

🔥 Darnell Wright returned after Tuesday’s injury scare

🛡️ Tyrique Stevenson was back in full

🎯 Tyson Bagent returned fully

💪 Elijah Hicks worked with the first-team defense

📈 Keyshaun Elliott returned after being activated from PUP

For a Bears team that spent much of training camp watching injuries pile up, getting key players back now is a massive development.

But Burden could mean even more.

Is Luther Burden the player who truly UNLOCKS this offense?

Chicago already has an impressive offensive core around Caleb:

Rome Odunze.

Luther Burden III.

Colston Loveland.

Cole Kmet.

D’Andre Swift.

Kyle Monangai.

Burden gives Ben Johnson something different.

He can work from the slot.

He can create after the catch.

He can become Caleb’s quick-game answer.

And with Rome stretching defenses outside while Loveland and Kmet attack linebackers and safeties inside, Burden could become the chess piece that makes Chicago incredibly difficult to defend.

The question?

He missed valuable camp time.

How quickly can the chemistry and conditioning catch back up?

And could Burden actually become Caleb Williams’ most important weapon by midseason?

Then we get into the final roster battles.

👀 Salvon Ahmed may have played his way onto the roster.

Kyle Monangai’s injury created an opportunity, and Ahmed has taken advantage with his burst, receiving ability and versatility.

Meanwhile:

✅ Jack Sanborn appears safely inside the bubble

✅ Kentavius Street could grab the final DT spot

❌ Skyler Thomas may be headed toward the practice squad

❌ Dontae Manning still has work to do

❓ Marcus Davenport could surprisingly find himself on the outside looking in

Then there’s the position Bears fans STILL can’t stop discussing:

🧱 LEFT TACKLE.

Braxton Jones currently appears to have the inside track, but Chicago also has Jedrick Wills Jr., Kiran Amegadjie, Theo Benedet and eventually Ozzy Trapilo as potential answers.

That sounds like depth.

But does Chicago actually have a tackle Ben Johnson completely trusts protecting Caleb’s blind side?

And finally…

🚨 Could the Atlanta Falcons make a serious run at Gervon Dexter?

Dexter is only 24 years old, started all 17 games last season and produced a career-high six sacks.

But he’s entering the final year of his rookie contract.

Atlanta suddenly makes sense because new Falcons GM Ian Cunningham knows Dexter extremely well from his time in Chicago, while Atlanta has a legitimate need along the defensive front.

If the Bears don’t plan on extending Dexter, could Cunningham call his former boss Ryan Poles and make an offer Chicago can’t refuse?

And what would the Bears need back to justify weakening an already-questionable defensive line?

Haize breaks it ALL down on today’s Chicago Bears Central.

🎙️ Hosted by Haize

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The Chicago Bears are entering the final stretch of the preseason with legitimate NFC contender expectations—but injuries, roster uncertainty and Gervon Dexter trade talks are creating some HUGE questions.

On today’s episode of Chicago Bears Central, Haize breaks down everything coming out of the Bears’ final open training camp practice, debates whether Chicago is a legitimate NFC heavyweight or one of the NFL’s biggest regression candidates, and takes a deeper look at what trading Gervon Dexter Sr. would actually mean for Ryan Poles’ defensive-line gamble.

Tuesday’s practice once again came with injury concerns. Darnell Wright left after having the same elbow that suffered a torn UCL last season examined, while Dexter also exited practice with a trainer.

But Dexter’s situation became considerably more interesting because reports of his exit came on the same day Chicago was reportedly involved in trade discussions surrounding the young defensive tackle.

And who stepped into first-team work after Dexter left?

🔥 Jordan van den Berg.

The rookie has been one of Chicago’s biggest camp and preseason standouts, and Ben Johnson called him a “beast” and said he is “firmly in the mix.” Van den Berg worked alongside Grady Jarrett with the starting defense Tuesday.

The offensive line remains unsettled as well.

Braxton Jones continues receiving first-team left tackle reps, even though Ben Johnson acknowledged Chicago still isn’t completely settled on who will start Week 1 in Carolina. Ozzy Trapilo was in pads but had not yet progressed into team drills.

Meanwhile, two offensive playmakers continue trending upward.

🏃 D’Andre Swift ripped off several productive runs and scored a 14-yard red-zone touchdown, with observers describing him as one of Chicago’s best players throughout camp.

🎯 Rome Odunze also had a strong practice, connecting with Caleb Williams for a touchdown on third-and-1 and a 30-yard conversion on third-and-10.

Then we get into the BIGGER conversation:

Are the Chicago Bears actually ready to contend for the NFC—or are they being set up as one of football’s biggest regression stories?

Chicago enters the season with legitimate expectations after winning the NFC North and building one of football’s most explosive offenses. NFL.com placed the Bears 10th in its preseason power rankings, with injuries among the biggest reasons Chicago wasn’t even higher.

But there’s another side.

Ben Johnson himself has acknowledged the Bears are being viewed as a major regression candidate. Chicago also won seven games after trailing in the final two minutes last season, an incredible accomplishment but also one that may be difficult to repeat.

The Bears now have contender problems.

Caleb Williams is no longer being judged like a developing quarterback.

The offense needs to become more efficient—not just explosive.

The defense has to overcome injuries.

And the trenches need to prove they can survive against playoff-caliber opponents.

Then there’s Gervon Dexter.

Dexter is entering the final year of his rookie contract after producing 44 tackles, six tackles for loss and a career-high six sacks in 2025. If Chicago doesn’t view him as a long-term core player, moving him now could allow Ryan Poles to extract value before facing an expensive contract decision.

But trading him could make Chicago’s biggest roster concern even worse.

The Bears have bodies along the defensive line.

What they may NOT have is enough proven difference-makers.

Moving Dexter would increase the burden on Grady Jarrett, Neville Gallimore, Jordan van den Berg, Kentavius Street and Shemar Turner, while putting even more pressure on Montez Sweat, Austin Booker and Dayo Odeyingbo to generate disruption.

So the question isn’t simply:

What can Chicago get for Gervon Dexter?

It’s:

Can a team trying to win the NFC afford to make its biggest weakness even weaker?

🎙️ Chicago Bears Central

Hosted by Haize

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The Chicago Bears aren’t the fun little rebuilding story anymore. Expectations have changed—and Caleb Williams is now being asked to lead a team with legitimate championship aspirations.

On today’s episode of Chicago Bears Central, Haize breaks down four questions that could determine just how high Chicago’s ceiling really is in 2026.

First, Caleb Williams has no excuses—but does he have enough to cover up the Bears’ remaining flaws?

Chicago went 11-6 and won the NFC North last season while Ben Johnson’s offense scored 441 points, the third-most in franchise history, and generated 127 explosive plays, second-most in the NFL.

The foundation is real.

Caleb has Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III, Colston Loveland, Cole Kmet, D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai around him, and his sack rate dropped dramatically from 10.0% to 3.8% under Johnson.

But there’s another side.

His completion percentage fell from 62.5% to 58.1%, Chicago faces an extremely difficult schedule, and some of last season’s late-game magic and defensive turnover production may be difficult to duplicate.

The question is no longer:

Can Caleb Williams become good?

It’s:

Can Caleb become the quarterback who covers up imperfections when a Super Bowl-caliber team needs him to?

Then we turn to Ryan Poles.

💥 Did the Bears gamble too heavily on internal development along the defensive line?

The national conversation focuses heavily on pass rush, but Haize argues Chicago’s bigger concern may actually be the run defense.

The Bears allowed 134.5 rushing yards per game and 5.0 yards per carry last season.

Why does that matter to the pass rush?

Because Montez Sweat, Austin Booker and Dennis Allen’s pressure packages become far less dangerous when offenses constantly live in second-and-short and third-and-manageable situations.

Chicago is betting heavily on internal improvement from players such as:

🔥 Gervon Dexter Sr.

💥 Austin Booker

🧱 Grady Jarrett

⚡ Dayo Odeyingbo

👀 Jordan van den Berg

🎰 Marcus Davenport

🐻 Montez Sweat

And van den Berg might be the most fascinating player of them all.

Is his impressive summer evidence that Chicago found another legitimate defensive-line contributor—or are Bears fans getting swept away by preseason hype?

Then there’s the running-back room.

🏃 Can Roschon Johnson or Salvon Ahmed actually be trusted if D’Andre Swift or Kyle Monangai miss time?

Monangai’s hyperextended knee has made the depth conversation more important.

Roschon offers size, physicality, special-teams value and familiarity—but injuries and Monangai’s emergence completely changed his offensive role last season.

Ahmed has arguably been the more exciting camp story, flashing explosiveness and averaging 6.6 yards per carry during preseason, but he hasn’t played a regular-season NFL game since 2023.

The Bears don’t need RB3 to become a star.

They need someone who can keep Ben Johnson’s offense functioning without forcing Caleb into obvious passing situations every possession.

And finally:

🎯 Is Rome Odunze ready to become Chicago’s true No. 1 receiver?

Odunze says contested catches are one of his areas of expertise, and after battling through a foot injury last season, the former first-round pick is embracing the challenge of winning one-on-one opportunities outside.

At 6-foot-3 with his size, catch radius and chemistry with Caleb Williams, could 2026 be the season Rome separates himself from an extremely talented Bears receiving room?

Haize breaks it ALL down on Chicago Bears Central.

🎙️ Hosted by Haize

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The Chicago Bears suffered an ugly 27-9 preseason loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, and while the result itself doesn’t matter much, several developments absolutely DO.

On today’s episode of Chicago Bears Central, Haize breaks down the biggest takeaways from Chicago’s second preseason game, including the continued problems at left tackle, another impressive showing from rookie defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg, the growing injury concerns in the secondary, and a potentially important contract decision involving D’Andre Swift.

The Bears failed to score a touchdown, converted just 2-of-14 third downs and committed 11 penalties in a frustrating night in Cincinnati.

Caleb Williams and Chicago’s starting offense only played one 10-play series. Williams finished 2-of-5 for 28 yards, connecting with Rome Odunze and Colston Loveland before the drive stalled and ended with a field goal. The starting unit wasn’t spectacular, but it also wasn’t the biggest problem of the night.

That distinction belongs to LEFT TACKLE. 😬

Braxton Jones returned to the starting lineup but struggled with power rushes and committed a costly holding penalty. Theo Benedet also had problems in pass protection, and Kiran Amegadjie didn’t provide much relief later in the game. With Ozzy Trapilo still working his way back from a ruptured patellar tendon, Chicago still doesn’t have a comfortable short-term answer protecting Caleb Williams’ blind side.

But there was one huge positive:

🔥 Jordan van den Berg continues to look like one of Chicago’s best young finds.

The rookie defensive tackle generated consistent pressure, chased plays outside the pocket, commanded double teams and finished with three tackles. His impact went well beyond the box score, and he continues strengthening his case for a legitimate role in Dennis Allen’s defensive-line rotation.

Haize also discusses which players may be falling toward the bottom of the roster after rough outings, including mistakes from Miller Moss, J.P. Richardson and a secondary that struggled badly against Cincinnati’s reserves.

And the injury news isn’t helping.

Tyrique Stevenson is officially week-to-week, putting his Week 1 availability into question. With Coby Bryant already expected to miss four to six months and Kyler Gordon still unavailable, Chicago currently has just Jaylon Johnson and rookie Dillon Thieneman completely healthy among its projected secondary starters.

There’s also a major development surrounding Ozzy Trapilo. Bears insider Brad Biggs believes Chicago could place Trapilo on injured reserve when the initial 53-man roster is finalized because he still hasn’t progressed beyond limited practice work enough to be game-ready. The encouraging part is that both the Bears and Ben Johnson remain pleased with his recovery.

Finally:

💰 Could D’Andre Swift be the next Bear to get paid?

Swift enters the final year of his contract after rushing for 1,087 yards and nine touchdowns while helping Chicago finish third in the NFL at 144.5 rushing yards per game last season. Brad Biggs identified Swift as a player to watch if the Bears pursue another extension before Week 1.

On today’s show:

😬 Why the left tackle situation is becoming Chicago’s biggest concern

🎯 What to make of Caleb Williams’ lone preseason drive

🔥 Jordan van den Berg continuing to look like a draft steal

📉 Which roster-bubble Bears hurt themselves in Cincinnati

🚨 Tyrique Stevenson’s week-to-week injury

🛡️ How depleted the Bears secondary has become

🏥 Why Ozzy Trapilo could begin the season on IR

💰 Whether Chicago should extend D’Andre Swift now

👀 What actually matters from a 27-9 preseason loss

🎙️ Chicago Bears Central

Hosted by Haize

Podcast Links: https://linktr.ee/ChiBearsCentral

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