The Charter: A Chicago Bears Podcast

Ruthie Polinsky and Clay Harbor break down the Bears’ back-and-forth loss to the 49ers, starting with a pick-six that set the tone and a scoring frenzy that saw the game tied five different times. They dive into the biggest takeaways from the performance, including defensive struggles, an offense that found its rhythm in San Francisco, and why the Bears ultimately couldn’t complete the comeback. The duo also hands out game balls an...

Ruthie Polinsky and Clay Harbor break down the Bears’ overtime thriller against the Packers, highlighting a wild comeback that reshapes the NFC playoff picture. They dive into the biggest takeaways from the win, what it says about the team’s resilience, and hand out game balls after one of the most dramatic performances of the season.

The conversation then widens to the full NFC playoff landscape before getting “Wired In” with a de...

Ruthie Polinsky and Clay Harbor break down the Bears’ win over the Browns, focusing on what it means to take care of business with the playoff picture coming into sharper focus. They discuss the key takeaways from the performance, hand out game balls and examine how this win fits into the Bears’ path down the stretch. With the Bears in strong playoff position, they also outline potential clinch scenarios and break down what still n...

Ruthie Polinsky and Clay Harbor dive into the Bears’ 28-21 loss to the Packers. They break down how a resilient second-half surge shows the team’s true identity. They examine what the second-half dominance on both sides of the ball says about the Bears’ playoff push, and what controlling their own destiny really looks like with three of the final four at home.

They also take a wide-angle look at the NFC picture — including the Bear...

Ruthie Polinsky and Clay Harbor break down the Bears–Eagles Black Friday clash. They examine how a healthier defense could change C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s role, who’s primed for a breakout performance, and how Ozzy Trapilo fits the Bears’ OL equation going forward.

They also discuss what Caleb Williams needs to deliver four clean quarters, how the Bears can force the Eagles into mistakes, and ways Chicago can take advantage of the Ph...

Ruthie Polinsky and Clay Harbor preview Bears–Steelers in Week 12 as Chicago looks to improve to 8–3 on the season. They talk through the latest on Aaron Rodgers’ injury, whether we’ll see him or Mason Rudolph, and how much that actually affects the matchup. Clay breaks down what Caleb Williams and the Bears offensive line will need to handle from Pittsburgh’s pass rush, and how injuries at linebacker could factor into the Steelers...

Ruthie Polinsky and Clay Harbor are back on The Charter and they look back at what’s changed for the Bears since Week 1. They break down a more consistent run game, Caleb Williams settling in, and how Ben Johnson’s approach has shaped the offense. They also talk through the challenges of facing Brian Flores’ defense, J.J. McCarthy’s development, and how the Bears can handle Minnesota’s playmakers while dealing with their own injuri...

Ruthie Polinsky and Clay Harbor get you ready for Sunday’s matchup. The crew breaks down why this game is crucial for the Bears’ playoff chances, how Ben Johnson’s offense has built confidence in the run game, and why Darnell Wright’s growth has been a key part of that success. Clay explains what makes the Giants’ defensive front dangerous, the plan to handle Brian Burns, and how the Bears’ physical style could set the tone early.

The Bears sign C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Ruthie Polinsky and Clay Harbor break down what his arrival means for a banged up defense. We dive into why this addition could inject attitude into the locker room, how his connection with Dennis Allen helps him fit fast, and what kind of spark he can bring right away in Cincinnati. Then we turn to the Bengals matchup: Joe Flacco availability, defensive line pressure problems, red zone failures...

Ruthie Polinsky and Clay Harbor break down the stakes for Chicago heading into Week 8 against the Ravens. They discuss the defense’s breakout performance this season and what Caleb Williams needs to clean up after a shaky outing vs. the Saints. The crew hits on Tremaine Edmunds’ renewed play, Colston Loveland’s growing role, why the run game is finally rolling, and how Ben Johnson’s leadership is setting the tone. Plus: what a win ...

Ben Johnson called out the Bears’ practice habits—Ruthie Polinsky and Clay Harbor explain why that matters and how it translates vs. the Cowboys. We cover Caleb Williams’ progression, the OL’s path to keeping him clean, where Dallas can be attacked, and whether Chicago can build momentum into the bye. Plus, Matt Eberflus’ zone tendencies, Dak’s command at the line, injury context in the secondary, and the Tom Brady broadcast/owner ...

Ruthie Polinsky and Clay Harbor diagnose the Bears’ Monday night collapse against Minnesota—penalties, late-game defense, and Caleb’s accuracy—before flipping the page to a hostile trip to Detroit. They dig into what Jaylon Johnson’s return unlocks for Dennis Allen, why silent count and cleaner pre-snap ops are non-negotiable, how interior pressure can rattle Jared Goff, and what Ben Johnson must change in his Detroit homecoming. P...

The Charter kicks off the season as Ruthie Polinsky and Clay Harbor break down Week 1 for the Chicago Bears. They start with Thursday night’s opener before diving into the Bears-Vikings matchup: how Chicago’s offensive line holds up against a disruptive front, why cadence can be a weapon against disguised looks, and what the defense must do to slow down Minnesota’s run game and a first-time starter at quarterback. They also hit on ...

Ruthie Polinsky, Clay Harbor, and David Haugh are joined by ESPN’s Courtney Cronin on The Big Pro Football Show to react to a stunner in the NFC North: the Green Bay Packers have acquired Micah Parsons from the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for two first-round picks and DT Kenny Clark, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. After breaking down what this blockbuster means for the Bears and the division, we turn to ...

The Bears’ preseason clash with the Chiefs gave us plenty to unpack. Ruthie Polinsky, Clay Harbor, and Alex Shapiro break down the sloppiness from the starters, the wake-up call for the defense, and what stood out from Caleb Williams, D'Andre Swift, and the offensive line. Then Ruthie shares her exclusive sit-down with the Bears QB2 after his big weekend that included a contract extension and throwing the first pitch at the White S...