For most Chicago Bears fans, the 2025 season was a dream come true. Not for Bears head coach Ben Johnson.
The Bears finished the season 11-6, winning the NFC North, and beating the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Wild Card. While speaking to the media at the NFL Combine, Johnson did not accept that as a good thing, as he is focused on improving on the shortcomings of the 2025 campaign.
“We fell short of our ultimate goal, which was the championship," Johnson said via CHGO. "We didn’t do enough. We have to do more than we did last year.”
Ben Johnson is not satisified with just making the playoffs for Bears
This is honestly the kind of mentality the Bears needed in their head coach. Of course, Johnson has appreciated the run the team went on in the last month of the 2025 season, but he understands that the team has more to do to reach the Super Bowl.
Chicago's first focus this offseason is to create some cap space, as they are $4 million under the cap and must make some tough decisions. These could include cutting linebacker Tremaine Edmunds or trading veteran players like tight end Cole Kmet and wide receiver DJ Moore.
After that, Johnson and Bears general manager Ryan Poles have to focus on fixing the defense, as they are losing four starters in the secondary to free agency and need to add an elite edge rusher. They have been linked to names like Maxx Crosby and Trey Hendrickson in rumors, but they need the money to land those types of guys.
Read more: Bears fans now know where Ryan Poles stands with team facing cap problems
Johnson knows this offseason will be tougher than last year's, as expectations are higher than ever. He and the Poles have to add players to the roster to make them Super Bowl contenders in 2026.