Longtime WBBM sports director Jeff Joniak has departed WBBM and will join ESPN 1000 as an on-air contributor.
Joniak spent more than two decades at Audacy-owned all-news WBBM in the sports department.
His move to ESPN 1000 coincides with the station securing the radio rights to the Chicago Bears. Joniak will embark on his 23rd season as the radio voice of the franchise later this year.
Former Bears radio play-by-play broadcaster Jack Brickhouse spent 24 seasons in the team’s radio booth, which currently sits as the franchise record.
“I’m thrilled that Tom (Thayer) and I will continue as the Bears play-by-play team,” Joniak told the Daily Herald. “It’s an exciting new opportunity.”
The report from the Daily Herald claims Joniak will “gradually” pick up more duties at ESPN 1000.
The station recently celebrated its deal with the Bears by hosting an entire day’s worth of programming centered around the new partnership.
WBBM was previously the radio home of the Bears since 2000.
