On the eve of the 213rd meeting between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers, ESPN Chicago’s Marc Silverman is locked in for another classic. Superlatives such as “surprising” or “incredible” could easily define what the Bears’ run this season has meant for a city hungry for new life from its beloved football franchise. Every snap, touchdown, and comeback victory is a tale Silverman has used to revitalize the longest-running sports talk show in Chicago radio history.
“It’s been incredible, and for my own sanity we needed it,” explained Silverman, co-host of Waddle & Silvy on ESPN Chicago since February 2007. “Expectations change a lot of ways in how you approach things. An 11-6 season in Philadelphia is not as much fun as it is for the Chicago Bears fans this year.”
At 54, Silverman has witnessed a lifetime of highs and lows in the ‘Second City.’ He joined ESPN Chicago when the station launched in 1998 and has seen championships come home in baseball and hockey. Still, reclaiming the echoes of the Bears’ glory days forty years ago remains paramount for Chicago sports fans.
For Silverman, this season is different. It marks the first playoff season with ESPN Chicago serving as the franchise’s flagship radio station.
“This year, every step of the way there’s been a wake-up call saying, ‘Oh my God, we’re the radio home of the Bears. There’s no replacing it,’” said Silverman. “This has been one of my favorite years talking sports in Chicago.”
Owning The Moment
Since acquiring the broadcast rights from Audacy in late 2022, ESPN Chicago has worked to fully integrate the Bears brand into the station. Weekday talent appearing on game-day programs, with unique access points and a digital strategy to own every moment of the Bears experience for fans.
Silverman embraced the chance to connect with the audience in new ways. He now hosts the network’s pregame and halftime shows, bringing elements of the weekday programming he’s built for over a decade into the Bears’ broadcasts.
“From the moment Good Karma Brands got the team, we will be who we are and do our jobs. There’s absolutely no difference in approach coming from me,” noted Silverman. “Never once have I heard from my bosses or the franchise that I needed to change my approach to the network programming.”
One of those integrations was the addition of fans calling in with feedback during halftime. A step Silverman says has created a more engaged listening experience than ever before.
“The broadcast is for the fans to begin with. Let’s work in the fan at halftime,” he said. “This is original content. We’re not just reading a score or playing a highlight. We are providing fans something original, and it’s one of my favorite things I get to do.”
A Second City Success Story
Silverman’s journey to 2026 has been shaped by hard work, some luck, and opportunity. When the station opened in 1998 to compete with 670 The Score, the brand faced an uphill climb against a proven opponent. He began hosting solo on weekends and was elevated to middays in 2004 with former Chicago Sun-Times columnist Jay Mariotti. After a short-lived run with the former columnist, he was paired with ESPN Chicago host Carmen DeFalco.
“I thought we had something special with myself and Carmen. I truly thought if allowed the opportunity, we would have been big. However, at the time for the station, it just wasn’t the right fit,” Silverman explained. “[Tom] Waddle came at the perfect time for me.”
Following just over two years alongside DeFalco, Silverman was paired with former Bears wide receiver Tom Waddle in 2007. The chemistry was instant, and the show moved from evenings to middays, eventually reaching afternoon drive in 2013. Now for over a decade, Waddle & Silvy has been the consistent voice of Chicago sports fans on their commute home.
“It’s still eye-opening. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t appreciate the fact we’ve been trusted to do what we do,” said Silverman. “You owe it to the fans first and foremost. I get to do a sports talk show in afternoon drive in my hometown, which was always my dream.”
The key is balance: knowing your lane and playing to your strengths. That’s how Silverman creates content along with Waddle while keeping the show fresh. Not every day is easy, and working with the same partner has its challenges, especially when Waddle & Silvy followed the popular Afternoon Saloon program featuring Dan McNeil, John Jurkovic, and Harry Teinowitz.
“Mac, Jurko, and Harry legitimized our station. We always chased 670 The Score, but we weren’t playing on a level playing field all the time,” Silverman explained. “I have always felt pressure, including stepping in for the ‘Afternoon Saloon.’ But if you’re self-aware and care, if you want to be successful, you absolutely feel the pressure.”
Since taking afternoon drive, Waddle & Silvy achieved ratings success that at some points drew the daypart ahead of their longtime competitor. However, when Good Karma Brands ended traditional Nielsen ratings use, the report card may have changed, but Silverman’s competitive spirit never did.
“Of course you want to compete. I compete with myself,” he noted. “There are certain times, ratings or not, when you walk into a full bar of people who are going out of their way to see your show. People who started listening to you years ago—that’s something you can’t measure. You feel it.”
Silverman prefers not to dwell on traditional metrics, believing radio is no longer the same business it was. His goal is to create content that connects with anyone, anywhere, anytime.
“From a content standpoint, it’s never been easier to get us. It’s no longer just an audio medium. You have to be everywhere,” he said.
#SilvyStrong
No moment better illustrates this connection than Silverman’s lymphoma diagnosis in 2020. As the world shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic, sharing his condition drew support from sports fans worldwide. #SilvyStrong became a source of inspiration, not just a trend.
“A lot of people look at social media solely in a negative light. Those messages on social media picked me up. I would be in the chair during chemo sessions reading tweets,” Silverman said. “It helped me appreciate relationships more, and I care a lot more. I’ve always had perspective with my life, but those messages gave me a lot of faith in humanity in a time where maybe a lot of people were questioning that.”
In October 2020, Silverman announced his cancer was in full remission. Since then, he has dedicated himself to guiding others fighting the same battle, offering encouragement and support. He used the experience to build new relationships in the industry.
Now, over five years later, Silverman is enjoying life more than ever—watching his children witness the climb of what may be another Chicago dynasty and thriving in a company he never wants to leave.
As the Bears prepare to face the Packers tomorrow night for only the third time in the postseason, Silverman has found renewed purpose, leading fans worldwide through this journey.
“Having the most fun possible with our fans continuing to do this is what I love,” he explained. “I love this craft more than ever. What’s left to accomplish? Everything. We’re at the decade mark. It’s time to talk about another championship moment, and being a guide for fans during those years is the most rewarding thing ever.”
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John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.
