Bears' revamped offensive line showing positive returns for 2025 NFL season

After the Chicago Bears’ 2024 NFL season concluded, one of the first issues that had to be addressed was the offensive line. 

Caleb Williams was sacked a league-high 68 times for a loss of 466 yards during his rookie season. To ensure that wouldn't happen again, General Manager Ryan Poles and Head Coach Ben Johnson identified players they believed would help keep Williams upright and also provide stability for a unit that had been inconsistent. 

How has the 2025 Bears revamped offensive line done so far

The Bears added center Drew Dalman, right guard Jonah Jackson, and left guard Joe Thuney to go with right tackle Darnell Wright and left tackle Braxton Jones, who, through the first four weeks, has been inconsistent and now is reported to be benched for the Week 6 matchup against the Washington Commanders, according to The Chicago Tribune's Brad Biggs.

The 2025 version of the Bears' offensive line has experienced its growing pains through the first four weeks, but the unit has shown improvement over last year. According to “The 33rd Team,” the Bears have cut their sack allowed rate in half, from 10.7% (last in the NFL) in 2024 to 5% (11th in the NFL) in 2025. 

That's a drastic improvement, and the offensive line deserves credit, but so does Williams. 

The second-year quarterback has looked more comfortable in the pocket and has also made quicker decisions, which has limited the sacks to seven this season. In the Week 3 win over the Dallas Cowboys, Williams wasn't sacked for the first time in his career. 

Williams has also helped his offensive line with his escapability from pressure. Regardless of the game, Williams ability to evade rushers has kept the sack total low. 

With the Bears back from the week 5 bye, the offensive line will look different from the one that did in the victory over the Raiders. Against Las Vegas, Theo Benedet started at right tackle in place of an injured Wright, but then Benedet replaced Jones at left tackle, and Ozzy Trapilo filled in at right tackle late in the second quarter. 

Benedet will likely start at left tackle, and if Wright is healthy, he will return to his starting spot on the right side. So the offensive line unit will have to adjust. 

One benefit to the group is that more time has passed since being in Johnson's offense. Having time on task and a bye week to reset should prove beneficial for an offensive line that has had to adjust since the group was assembled through free agency and the draft. 

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The early returns on the offensive line have been positive, and that needs to continue as the Bears prepare for the remainder of the 2025 NFL season.