The Chicago Bears are expected to be better in 2025, and Fox Sports agrees.
The team that picked 10th overall and had a 5-12 record came in much closer to the average, with the 17th-highest ranking according to their initial power rankings.
Chicago Bears are already moving up in power rankings
"The Bears did everything they could this offseason to make sure they’d get the most out of franchise quarterback Caleb Williams. They hired Ben Johnson, the offensive genius from Detroit. They spent big to completely revamp their offensive line. They drafted tight end Colston Loveland in the first round. They still have some defensive issues that could hurt them. But their season will really be about one thing: Is Williams as good as they think he is, or not?"Ralph Vacchiano
The team obviously had one of the better offseasons, according to most sports followers. They added three starters along the interior, new skill players for Caleb Williams to throw to, and the culture and play calling should improve due to the new head coach.
When you consider that Williams is a former number one overall pick entering year two in this environment, it is easy to get excited about the Bears.
However, Bears fans have heard and seen the hype before. There is optimism within the fanbase, but it remains guarded because we know what August optimism leads to.
More than that, while 17th is a jump up from their 2024 finish, they also still sit in last place in the division. The Minnesota Vikings are 15th, the Detroit Lions are ninth, and the Green Bay Packers shot all the way up to the number five slot.
So, while the team is expected to be in a better position, their division is saying otherwise. The good news is that Detroit and Minnesota are down from their finishes last year. The Vikings have a big question at quarterback, and the Lions just went through their brain drain.
Read more: What was once a liability is now a position of strength for Bears
However, optimism is high for the Packers, who have shot into the top five. It will be interesting to see if the rankings were not as strong on the drops as expected and whether or not the two risers can live up to expectations.