Given the offseason the Chicago Bears have had, there is excitement for the 2025 season being one where the team returns to contention.
After three consecutive losing seasons, the arrival of Ben Johnson as the team's head coach seems to have brought back a sense of optimism from the fanbase that even exceeded that of when they selected Caleb Williams with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Season.
The expectation is that Johnson's arrival will lead to Williams firmly answering the question of being the Bears' franchise quarterback in 2025. Ryan Poles has ensured that Williams will be protected. The three biggest moves the Bears made this offseason were on the offensive line with the additions of Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, and Jonah Jackson.
Of course, the question that prevails over everything is how the offseason moves will translate to on-the-field success in September. One anonymous NFL executive questioned how the Bears' offseason would translate to wins next season. In a poll completed by The Athletic, the executive suggested the Bears may only win eight games in 2025 but that still would be considered an improvement.
A three-game improvement is likely the floor of expectations for Johnson and the Bears in 2025. The Bears finished the 2024 season with a record of 5-12. An 8-9 finish in 2025 would certainly mark an improvement for the Bears and suggest that the team is headed in the right direction. However, an 8-9 record likely means the Bears would once again miss the playoffs.
Does Ryan Poles need the Bears to make the playoffs in 2025?
Along those lines, let's squash one idea right now, Poles does not need the Bears to reach the playoffs next season in order to save his job. This offseason has proved that Poles and Johnson are indeed aligned. If anything, Poles is going to get a contract extension before the start of the season. This means that we may be at a point at this same time next year where Poles is still the general manager despite the Bears having yet to reach the playoffs under his tenure. As long as the arrow is pointing in the right direction, that wouldn't be a bad scenario either.