David Kaplan

David Kaplan established one of Chicago’s longest-running sports talk partnerships, co-hosting ‘Sports Central’ on WGN (AM) with former Chicago Bears star Tom Waddle for over a decade, a show which quickly became top-rated in the market. Kaplan’s career in sports began beyond broadcasting, serving as an assistant coach for the Northern Illinois University men’s basketball team from 1982 to 1986, followed by roles as a scout for two NBA teams, the Indiana Pacers and the Seattle SuperSonics. Transitioning into media, he started his broadcasting career at WMVP-AM before joining WGN (AM) as a sports reporter in 1995. His television presence expanded significantly with ‘Chicago Tribune Live’ on Comcast SportsNet (CSN) from January 2008, a program for which he earned an Emmy Award in November 2009 for Best Interview Program.

He currently co-hosts ‘Kap and J. Hood’ on ESPN 1000 and hosts ‘The Football Aftershow’ following Chicago Bears games. Additionally, Kaplan maintains a popular YouTube channel, ‘The REKAP,’ where he provides post-game analysis for various Chicago teams, further extending his reach to fans. Across his distinguished career, he has garnered a total of three Emmy Awards for his television work.