Following a disastrous 5-12 season in 2024, new Bears head coach Ben Johnson is tasked with establishing a new culture and standard within the organization. Going back to his introductory press conference, Johnson promised a new level of accountability that was sorely missing under former head coach Matt Eberflus last season.
“We will set the standard on what it looks like and shouldn’t look like. It’ll be on us as a coaching staff to call guys out, and repeat offenders will need to be made an example of.”
There were plenty of moments where a lack of accountability failed the team last season. The most painful one is the hail marry loss against the Washington Commanders, where cornerback Tyrique Stevenson was caught taunting the crowd instead of trying to defend the pass, ultimately tipping the ball to a wide receiver, Noah Brown. That game derailed the season as they lost ten straight games. Ebeflus was fired the day after Thanksgiving.
In a recent interview with "Mully & Haugh" on 670 The Score, Johnson said 2025 isn’t just about wins and losses. He is focused on laying the foundation for a new identity.
"It's going to be our physical nature, we need to be poised under pressure, we need to be detailed schematically and fundamentally, and I think the results will take care of itself. It's really that buy-in of what we've been talking about since the Spring to training camp, that needs to show up for us over the course of the season. We're going to just get better and better, we'll be playing our best football in December and January if we get that done."
Every player is playing for their future in 2025
As Johnson and his coaching staff focus on molding the team this season, they will also focus on the future by evaluating which players will be part of their future. Johnson is building a team in his image. And players are all auditioning for their jobs.
One player, who has the most to prove, is left tackle Braxton Jones, who becomes a free agent next offseason. He missed the entire OTAs and did not look good in pre-season. Johnson still named him the starter, but he had better not be resting on his laurels, or he could be replaced after the bye week (Week 5) by either Ozzy Trapilo or Theo Benedict if he is not getting the job done.
Other players who are free agents after this season include both safeties—Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker. Brisker has a massive question about his health after missing 12 games with a concussion last year, which was his third concussion in his career. Byard, 32, has said he would like to finish his career in Chicago. But given his age, there is a strong chance he might have to settle for a one-year deal or go elsewhere in 2026.
I can also include players like Tremaine Edmunds, Montez Sweat, and Andrew Billings, players who were acquired when Matt Eberflus was still the head coach. They must prove their value to Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen if they want to stay beyond this season, or they could become a salary cap casualty.
And then, there is quarterback Caleb Williams. After experiencing such a disconnect and a disastrous season himself, Williams faces immense pressure to live up to his expectations and end the Bears' QB drought. It did not help that a Substack article by Tyler Dunne came out late Friday, painting him a negative picture on Williams and everything that happened to him last season.
Still, Johnson would not have taken the Chicago job if he thought Williams was not coachable or was not any good. But now, Williams must earn Johnson's long-term trust, and it begins Week 1 against Minnesota.
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Many players will be evaluated not just on talent, but on fit, mindset, and growth. What happened last season does not concern Johnson at all. We will find out which players rise to the challenge and who will be left behind.