Where would the Chicago Bears be without Ben Johnson?
According to Courtney Cronin and the team of NFL writers at ESPN, the Bears would be well below average if it were not for him. In their recent power rankings poll, the Bears came in at number 16. They noted Ben Johnson as the most important offseason addition.
"The Bears are a competent, well-coached football team under Johnson. The results aren't always there, as red zone efficiency and penalties continue to be a problem. But Chicago put together a four-game win streak, and it has buy-in that feels different than other seasons. Johnson has preached accountability, which he has demonstrated in his honest reflection on decisions and calls that didn't work. That's a breath of fresh air as the culture shifts inside Halas Hall."Courtney Cronin
Bears are competitive in 2025 due to Ben Johnson
For a team that was picking in the top ten last season, being average is not a bad start for a first-year head coach. As Cronin mentions, it is impossible to watch the Bears and not see that Johnson is having an impact on the style of football that they play. If it were just on Johnson, the Bears may have taken an even bigger step.
However, Johnson is the obvious best offseason addition because a lot of the other ones have not hit. Joe Thuney has been reliable as expected, but a left guard can only do so much. That is especially true when neither Drew Dalman nor Jonah Jackson has quite lived up to expectations. Those were supposed to be their game-changing moves.
The draft picks have not quite hit yet, either. Colston Loveland has not only been overshadowed by Tyler Warren, but now by Mason Taylor, Harold Fanin, and Orande Gadson are having bigger rookie season breakouts.
Luther Burden looks electric when he plays, but he does not see the field nearly enough to make an impact. Speaking of seeing the field, Ozzy Trapilo had an injury to a tackle position and still cannot play. Shemar Turner was not playing due to performance early in the season, but once he started to come along, he got banged up.
Kyle Monangai is another rookie who is starting to come around, but not making nearly enough impact to say that he was a strong offseason addition.
The only other offseason addition helping the team so far is Dennis Allen, but, of course, he was hired by Johnson.
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The Bears' hiring Johnson and Allen and signing Thuney have helped this team get out of the top ten pick conversation. Now they need the rest of the roster to come through.