DJ Moore has experienced his fair share of offensive coordinators throughout his career. His eighth season in the NFL will feature yet another offensive play caller in head coach Ben Johnson.
Johnson’s offensive mind provides plenty of potential for how he can impact Moore’s career, but the veteran wide receiver is still trying to figure out what vision the first-year head coach has for him.
So, that’s why in Year 8, Moore has devoted all of his attention to solely learning the nuances of Johnson’s scheme.
“Right now I don’t have goals because I’m still learning everything and I don’t even know if I’m going to touch the ball as much as I did some years or if I’m going to be used the same way,” Moore said.
That’s a good problem to have as a receiver if the team has pass-catching options, and the 2025 Bears have plenty of players who will help make Caleb Williams' job a little easier this upcoming season.
The Bears used their first two draft picks on tight end Colston Loveland and wide receiver Luther Burdern III. Rome Odunze is going into Year 2. Cole Kmet is primed to bounce back after a down season in 2024, and the same could be said for D’Andre Swift.
Moore has led the team in targets the past two seasons, and that may still be the case after his first year with Johnson, but it likely won’t be as wide of a gap. In 2023, Moore was targeted 136 times, and Kmet finished second with 90. Last season, Moore ended with 140 targets, and Keenan Allen was behind him with 121.
DJ Moore's role in the Bears' offense will likely look different
With the weapons the Bears have, the ball should be spread around. That’s why it makes sense for Moore to wonder how Johnson will use him.
Moore has lined up in the slot, at times, during OTAs and in mandatory minicamp, something that he didn’t primarily do last season. However, Johnson said on Tuesday that they’re currently “moving guys around” and once training camp starts, the team will start “honing in and having them (offensive weapons) master certain routes and their route tree.” Johnson called where players line up at this point a “free-for-all.”
Like many, including Moore, the intrigue on how the veteran wide receiver will be utilized must wait, and that also creates excitement for what lies ahead.
“I don’t know, you’re going to have to wait for the season to see,” Moore said. “You can’t give away too much, because we’re doing a lot right now. Throwing in a lot. You’re going to have to wait and see.”