Expectations for the 2024 season for the Chicago Bears were high, but they quickly crumbled as the offense became the worst in the league, and the team finished with a 5-12 record.
Entering the 2025 season, the vibe is different in Chicago. Ben Johnson is the new head coach, the Bears have retooled the interior offensive line, and new young weapons have been added on offense. All of a sudden, there is hope in the Windy City on offense, but some are not buying into them just yet.
CBS Sports writer Jared Dubin and the rest of the staff ranked all 32 teams' offensive triplets. Chicago's combination of Caleb Williams, D'Andre Swift, and D.J. Moore was not enough to move the needle as they were ranked 22nd.
"We got from the team with some of the most variance in the league to one with some of the least variance. It's pretty incredible to be this high up the list and only be ranked 21st, 22nd or 23rd on every single ballot. It's notable that this represents a drop from where the Bears were a year ago, which is clearly due to the change in perception around Williams, who struggled pretty badly at times during his rookie season thanks in part due to the circumstances around him but also in part due to his own issues with holding onto the ball too long. This is a big year for him and the rest of the Bears under new coach Ben Johnson, who should put them in better position to succeed."
Is this Bears' 2025 offense better than some might think?
The media is definitely being more cautious in sharing their excitement for the Bears' offense. This was the same unit that had Williams and Swift in the backfield, while Moore, Rome Odunze, Keenan Allen, and Cole Kmet made up the pass catchers. That didn't mean things would go well for the offense in 2024.
Chicago was ranked last in total offense, averaging 284.6 yards per game, and allowed a league-high 68 sacks. The Bears also struggled to run the ball, averaging only 102 yards per game, which ranked 25th in the NFL.
All those offensive weapons they had, and it didn't pan out. The team didn't have a 1,000-yard receiver, Swift averaged under four yards a carry for the first time in his career, and Williams looked like a rookie quarterback taking hit after hit.
It's okay to be somewhat excited about this offense with the biggest moves being Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, and Jonah Jackson being added as new starting offensive lineman. Rookies Colston Loveland, Luther Burden III, and Ozzy Trapilo all look to be instant impact players in Year 1.
Most importantly, Johnson is there to bring his brand of slick offense to Chicago. He has been hard at work with Williams and getting him in the right spot to improve upon his rookie season.
Read more: Second important domino fell for Bears in rookie concerns before training camp
The media is not ready to believe in the Bears after being burned by their offseason moves year after year. 2025 truly feels like it could be different for Chicago, and it will be able to show it off when September comes around for that Week 1 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings.