There were numerous great moves made by Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles this offseason, but the first major one he made will have significant implications for the franchise for a long time.
Pro Football Focus writer Dalton Wasserman named each NFC team's best offseason move. For the Bears, it was the hiring of head coach Ben Johnson, who is ready to turn around the worst offense in football last year.
"The Bears made a slew of offseason moves, particularly on offense, that should significantly improve their team. All were borne out of new head coach Ben Johnson's vision.
The offensive line could be an elite unit after picking up Drew Dalman, Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson. Additional receiving weapons were added in Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III. The onus is now on quarterback Caleb Williams to improve upon a mediocre rookie season. Johnson has set up his supporting cast properly in order for him to do so."
Johnson's impact on the Bears in 2025 and beyond
Many Bears fans would agree that the impact of Johnson's hiring is already being felt.
First, the offseason moves were made with the addition of three new interior offensive linemen and three offensive players selected with the team's first three picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. The other is the developmental plan for quarterback Caleb Williams, as Johnson coaches him hard on making quicker decisions and taking fewer sacks.
For the season, Johnson is going to bring a whole new creative way of playcalling. The Detroit Lions over the last three seasons have been one of the best offenses in the NFL because of the different ways Johnson uses his tight ends, running backs, and wide receivers for more than what their primary role is.
Another important aspect of Johnson is the winning culture he brings. Chicago hasn't made the postseason in the last four years and needs someone with playoff experience to demonstrate what a winning team looks like.
Johnson was the perfect man for the Bears' job, and the team already feels different than it has in the last few years. This is a roster constructed to play at the level they should, instead of always being the "offseason champions."
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That attitude won't fly under Johnson, and the players on the team are aware of it. This is a new Bears team that the fan base can get behind and have the confidence to believe they will win games.