The hiring of Ben Johnson as the head coach on January 21, 2025, was a key decision that the Bears made. Johnson, who was the Lions’ offensive coordinator, has a wealth of experience and led one of the NFL’s best offenses in recent years. His hire hopes to energize the Bears’ offense and eliminate coaching turnover, for at least a few years.
The offensive coordinator, Declan Doyle, was previously the tight ends coach on the staff of the New Orleans Saints and Denver Broncos. The general expectation is that his varied background will help add to an array of offensive plans.
To shore up the offensive line and protect quarterback Caleb Williams, the Bears traded with the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams, respectively, for veteran guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson. Thuney, a six-time Pro Bowler, is expected to be a building block of the line.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Bears have accumulated the stop units with the additions of Grady Jarrett, Shermar Turner, and Dayo Odeyingbo. These are guys who will hopefully help the team get better, particularly when it comes to rushing the passer and playing defense in general.
Quarterback Caleb Williams, the first selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, is ready to explode in a big way. Though a difficult first season, Williams has professed his loyalty to the Bears and his ability to help drive the team to victories. Coach Ben Johnson is working on Williams’ mechanics – everything from his body language to his huddle cadence – as he gets him ready for his first season of significant playing time.
Looking at the schedule the Bears will face in 2025, key games will include match ups against the Cowboys, the Saints, and division foes Packers and Vikings. These games will be important in gauging where the team stands in the NFC North. Check out the entire schedule by ESPN here!
It’s a new beginning for the Chicago Bears – a new coaching staff and a new roster – perhaps Playoff ready and willing if quarterback and coaches have anything to say about it, but the Bears upcoming season is going to be a hard one. Still, there will be a ton to look forward to this year as the team aims to get back to being relevant in the NFL.
Sources
https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/schedule/_/name/chi
https://www.chicagobears.com/