Four consecutive years without a postseason appearance would be enough for a team to start feeling the pressure of needing to find success. The Chicago Bears are at that point.
NFL.com original content editor Tom Blair shared his list of the 11 teams facing the most pressure entering 2025. The Bears were ranked 10th, as there's more pressure to see their first overall pick from last year perform well, versus winning games.
"The Bears seem to be in better shape than at any time in recent memory, with new head coach Ben Johnson bringing convincing confidence to a job that no one since Lovie Smith has kept for more than four seasons. It is easy to see, in retrospect, why excitement around last season might have been premature, given the subsequent critical failures in play-calling and pass protection. Between the experience Williams gained, Johnson's proven ability to get the most out of a QB and the substantial improvements made to the offensive line, it will not be shocking if Chicago puts together a winning record for just the second time since 2012, Smith's last year in town.
The flip-side scenario is what earns the Bears a spot here: If Williams can't show tangible signs of positive development in a more favorable environment, or if there are signs Johnson can't fully translate his past success as a coordinator to the top job, the gloomy specter of yet another restart could begin to drift into view. If Williams and Johnson are able to take that possibility completely off the table at any point this season, Chicago fans will get to experience a true sense of peace and security for the first time in generations."
Johnson and Williams are the key to relieving the pressure from the Windy City
Bears general manager Ryan Poles would love nothing more than to see Johnson and Williams hit it off from Year 1 and start winning. Poles has had a losing season each year he's been GM, and Williams was supposed to be the one to break the streak. It didn't happen in 2024.
There are plenty of reasons to believe this year will be different with Williams. Better offensive line, younger weapons to throw to and grow with, and an offensive genius at head coach is all more than enough to believe the turnaround begins in 2025.
While most Bears fans want to see the playoffs next to the 2025 Bears' name, progress would work just as well. The Detroit Lions didn't make the playoffs in Johnson's first year as offensive coordinator in 2022, but they showed enough progress to believe things would turn around and look what happened: NFC Championship appearance in 2023 and NFC Divisional Round appearance in 2024.
Sometimes, progress takes time to develop, and that might well be the case for the Bears in 2025. Patience is key and while it may not quite be there for Bears fans, everyone can agree that Williams shining bright with a respectable record of 7-10 through 10-7 would be considered a good season.
Read more: ESPN reporter shares cold hard truth about Bears' impact on NFC playoff picture
It's 2026 that will be a massive season for Chicago where more pressure will come.