The Chicago Bears, who finished 5-12 and last in the NFC North in 2024, are poised to take a big step forward in 2025, but winning the offseason doesn’t always translate to the field. Chicago’s success this season will depend on the answers to these three questions.
Can Ben Johnson live up to the hype?
The Bears knew they had to bring in a head coach who could help QB Caleb Williams realize his sky-high potential, and there was no better option out there than Johnson. The Detroit Lions ranked fifth or better in points per game and yards per game in all three years with Johnson calling the shots. Chicago hopes he can bring that magic to an offense that hasn’t ranked in the top 10 in both categories since 2013.
The pieces are in place for Johnson to turn this offense around in Year 1. Williams is up for a breakout second season, D’Andre Swift (959 yards rushing in 2024) is great at breaking big runs when he gets in the open field and the pass-catching trio of DJ Moore (966 yards receiving in 2024), Rome Odunze (734 yards receiving in 2024) and rookie tight end Colston Loveland has a ton of upside.
General manager Ryan Poles did an excellent job building this offense. Now it’s up to Johnson to unlock its potential.
How will the new-look offensive line perform?
Another focal point this offseason was improving an offensive line that allowed a league-high 68 sacks in 2024. Poles got to work early, trading for guards Jonah Jackson (formerly Rams) and two-time All-Pro Joe Thuney (formerly Chiefs) and signing center Drew Dalman (formerly Falcons) in free agency. That veteran trio will help shore up the interior and give Williams enough time to operate in the pocket.
Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright will likely bookend the line at the tackle spots. Along with the solid starting group, the Bears have key depth pieces in center Doug Kramer Jr., guard Ryan Bates and rookie second-round tackle Ozzy Trapilo. This is a much-improved offensive line on paper, but it must pan out on the field for Chicago to reach its potential on offense.
Can the defense be a top-10 unit under Dennis Allen?
Allen, the former Saints and Raiders HC, isn’t cut out to be a head coach in the NFL (26-53 record), but all 32 teams would love to have him as their defensive coordinator. The 52-year-old transformed the New Orleans Saints defense from the worst in the league to one of the best in seven years as DC.
This won’t be an easy task for Allen in Year 1, as Poles focused mostly on improving the offense this offseason. The Bears added former Falcons DT Grady Jarrett (2.5 sacks in 2024), ex-Bears DE Dayo Odeyingbo (three sacks in 2024) and second-round DT Shemar Turner (only sacks in four seasons and 43 games at Texas A&M) to beef up the defensive line, but the secondary didn’t get any love. Relying on safety Kevin Byard, CB Tyrique Stevenson and oft-injured safety Jaquan Brisker could come back to bite the Bears in 2025.
