The Chicago Bears had some clear priorities during the 2025 offseason. Setting quarterback Caleb Williams on a better track was the obvious one, but just as important was an overall resetting of the culture.
The hiring of Ben Johnson as head coach, away from the division rival Detroit Lions to boot, will hopefully accomplish both of those things. The early returns are promising.
Johnson has made it clear, however obviously, that he will not just look to replicate the offense he ran in Detroit. That said, some core things can (and should?) be replicated. The overhaul of the Bears' interior offensive line was an easy one, in an effort to have a strong offensive line like the Lions have had.
There's also a solid argument that the Bears have a deeper group of skill position talent than the Lions do.
Bears get the final piece of Ben Johnson's offense in 2026 mock draft
Johnson coming to Chicago felt like very bad news for one of the Bears' biggest investments in 2024 free agency. Johnson's first year as the Lions' offensive coordinator was also D'Andre Swift's last season in Detroit, with a lesson learned about trying to give Swift workhorse-style volume. That lesson culminated in Lions' head coach Dan Campbell basically throwing in the towel before Swift was traded.
The Bears clearly made some effort to add a running back of note this offseason, it just didn't come to fruition and to everyone's credit they didn't force it. It definitely feels like something that will revisited next offseason, even if Swift performs well as the lead back this season.
Bleacher Report has rounded up their scouts-Brandon Thorn, Daniel Harms, Dame Parson and Matt Holder, for the site's first 2026 mock draft. The order was determined (in reverse order of course) by DraftKings' current Super Bowl odds.
With the 16th overall pick in the mock, the Bears took Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.
"The Chicago Bears feature plenty of talent in their backfield. However, no one on the roster is the same caliber of runner or playmaker as Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love."
"Head coach Ben Johnson, who previously served as the Detroit Lions' offensive coordinator, again moves on from D'Andre Swift with a more explosive playmaker."
"Love would be a great fit inside Johnson's offense," Parson said. "He presents the Bears with a three-down running back, who lowers his shoulder upon contact with defenders and has homerun-hitting, top-end speed."
"Most expect the Bears' passing attack to be improved with their new head coach/play-caller scheming things up for quarterback Caleb Williams and Co. Their rushing attack is the concern, though. Besides, Love is a dynamic pass-catcher out of the backfield. As such, he could be Johnson's next version of Jahmyr Gibbs."
Love had a breakout season for Notre Dame as a sophomore in 2024, with 1,125 yards (6.9 yards per carry) and 17 touchdowns on the ground. A less than fully-evolved Fighting Irish puts a cap on his raw production as a pass catcher, but he averaged 8.5 yards a catch with two receiving touchdowns last year. The evaluations of him show a three-down skill set he will take with him to the next level.
Read more: Bears' second-round pick is back at practice for first time since early in camp
Love is, at this early point, widely seen as the best running back eligible for the 2026 draft. If the Bears can get him in the middle of the first round next April, that would be a huge win. And more importantly, Johnson would have the final piece he needs to fully optimize his offense heading into Year 2 of his tenure in Chicago.