"He originally joined WBBM's sister station 670 The Score after several years in Buffalo."
His move to ESPN 1000 coincides with the station securing the radio rights to the Chicago Bears.
The franchise's deal with FOX 32 expires after the current season.
The news also signals the end of the franchise's relationship with WBBM. The Audacy-owned station had been the radio flagship for the Bears since 2000.
“I’ll be retiring from full-time management at the end of January, stepping down as WBBM’s Brand Manager/News Director,” Gleason said in a memo to staff
In addition to serving as morning co-anchor on KNX, Helton also works as the station's Senior Political Correspondent.
According to BIA Advisory Services, WTOP billed $70 million in 2021, slightly less than double second-place 102.7 KISS-FM in Los Angeles at $43 million.
Gleason recently announced his retirement and will be stepping down in a little less than five months and has been with WBBM since November 2005
Sources tell the Sun-Times the decision has been made that WBBM, after airing the Bears since 2000, are giving up the rights.
"No further details are available at this time. Feder writes that the Bears are not even committed to a timeline to announce a new deal."