The excitement level in the Windy City is high with the Chicago Bears after the offseason they had, but one NFL reporter cautions fans to not get ahead of themselves.
USA Today NFL reporter Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz ranked the 18 NFL teams that didn't make the postseason last year and determined which ones have the best chance to get there in 2025. The Bears were around the middle at eighth, but Middlehurst-Schwartz warns of jumping the gun on the offseason excitement.
"There's little question that a new day is ahead in Chicago, with a franchise that has been out of alignment for nearly two decades now appearing to be in sync with its Ben Johnson-Caleb Williams pairing. The most pressing question is how quickly will the various new parts find their groove in working together? Chemistry and culture can't be microwaved, so there could be some friction as the roster tries to move on from rampant dysfunction and a new coaching staff finds its footing. Above all, the competition in the NFC North is too formidable for Chicago to simply take the division by storm. Staying in the wild-card hunt isn't out of the question if Williams makes a substantial leap, but optimism here should center on what's possible down the line rather than what could be at hand right away."
What should the 2025 goal be for the Bears?
While playoffs would be nice for the Bears, it may not be the most realistic possibility. This Bears team hasn't been to the playoffs in four seasons and has continued to burn fans with great offseason moves that haven't panned out.
The addition of Ben Johnson as head coach was the most critical move made in the offseason, but it doesn't solve everything the Bears need. They went out and brought in four key offensive linemen either through the NFL Draft, free agency, or trade. Those players, including Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, Jonah Jackson, and Ozzy Trapilo, are being evaluated to help the Bears average more than 102 yards per game and prevent 68 sacks again.
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams got plenty of help with the investment on the offensive line and young offensive weapons, with Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III being selected in the draft. If Johnson can only get through to Williams about his issues with holding onto the ball for too long, that would be helpful.
Even the defense has undergone a transformation, as it is going through changes under new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, with the additions of Grady Jarrett, Dayo Odeyingbo, and rookie Ruben Hyppolite II to the starting lineup. The Bears need to address their depth issues on the defensive line and at linebacker to determine if they have enough players to carry them through the 17-game season.
It's easy to get overly excited about the Bears, given their improvement from last year's 5-12 season. As Bears fans know, they have been burned by the "offseason winners" time after time. Expectations this season should be to see improvement.
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If the Bears get better in 2025, then they are on the right track.