What it would look like in terms of wins and losses right away was to be determined. But the Chicago Bears hired Ben Johnson as their head coach in January of 2025 to set a tone and create a culture like the one he left in Detroit.
Surprisingly to those who may have dismissed him as a "mad scientist" offensive mind who couldn't command a room as a head coach, Johnson got that done in Year 1 on the way to a division title and a playoff win. That success is also absolutely sustainable in a way Bears' fans have not seen since the peak of Mike Ditka's tenure as the head coach.
As they eye what it will take to sustain success and take the next step to a deeper playoff run down the road, this will be an interesting offseason for the Bears. But unlike some recent offseasons, it will be interesting for all the right reasons, with fewer overall questions.
Bears' beat writer perfectly sums up how things are different this offseason
In their way too-early 2026 power rankings after Super Bowl LX, ESPN asked each of its beat writers to describe the team they cover's upcoming offseason in three words.
The Bears come in at No. 11 in those power rankings, for what it's worth, but beat writer Courtney Cronin nailed the three-word summary of their offseason outlook.
"Quiet-ish, for once."
"This is one of the quieter offseasons for the Bears in recent history. Sure, they'll have to find a new assistant general manager, offensive coordinator and running backs coach, but they don't have to make franchise-altering moves ahead of next season. The Bears have the right coach-quarterback pairing with Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams. They established a winning culture that they can build off next season. There's work to be done on the roster, notably with the pass rush, in free agency and the draft, but this is setting up to be a drama-free offseason."
Cronin apparently wrote that paragraph before the Bears hired Eric Studesville as their new running backs coach. However, the news that they will promote passing game coordinator Press Taylor to offensive coordinator came on Super Bowl Sunday.
Cronin's three-word description of the Bears' offseason is only reinforced by having those two coaching staff moves already taken care of.
Having the right head coach and quarterback pairing in place is obviously huge to setting that quieter offseason template, and it's something the franchise hasn't had in a meaningful way since Ditka and the peak of Jim McMahon's run under center. Longtime Bears fans will remember that the coach-quarterback dynamic was quite turbulent at times, while Johnson and Williams have a good working relationship that feels like it will last.
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The ability to have a "quiet-ish" offseason often starts with things done before it begins. The hiring of Johnson a little over a year ago looks like a stabilizing move for the Bears. And with that, relatively quiet offseasons may become the norm.