There is no offense that is as young as the Chicago Bears' unit that is getting as much attention as they are.
The hype around the Bears' offense in 2026 is real, and everyone is buying into the idea that they'll be one of the elite units for the next five years. ESPN NFL writer Bill Barnwell has a different take on it, as he ranked all 32 offensive playmaker groups in the league and put the Bears almost right in the middle at 15.
"This is a young group with real upside, but I also get the sense that it wouldn't be quite as appealing or productive with a less compelling playcaller."
Bears' young offense still has a lot to prove
The only issue with this Bears offense that has writers like Barnwell so hesitant is that they have only had this kind of success for one year. In 2024, they were among the worst offenses in the NFL, but Bears head coach Ben Johnson completely changed it last year as they were ranked sixth in total offense.
A major reason for the success was the improvement of the offensive line, which is not mentioned in Barnwell's article, which focused only on wide receivers, tight ends, and running backs. That line, led by Joe Thuney, the recently retired Drew Dalman, and Darnell Wright, helped pave the way for the offense to be third in rushing and go from allowing 68 sacks in 2024 to 24 in 2025.
Speaking of that running game, credit still needs to go to D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai for the season they had. They combined for over 1,700 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground, leading a backfield that has a bright future.
Colston Loveland was the top receiver on the team last year despite being a rookie and a tight end. Loveland has to prove he can sustain the success, but some NFL players believe he's a top-20 talent, so the future is bright for him.
Rome Oduzne was on pace to be over 1,000 yards before his foot injury that cost him the last month of the regular season. Give him a full year of being healthy, and he's got a chance to explode in Year 3.
Luther Burden III got a lot of attention during Bears OTAs, with Johnson stating that he is buying into the hype train around his second-year receiver. Burden's speed makes him a threat in the passing game as he looks to build off the 652 yards and two touchdowns he had last year.
Read more: Bears OTAs gave first warning about a failed offseason bet
Youth is the biggest thing holding everyone back from giving the playmakers on offense the love they deserve. 2026 is the year to silence that doubt and have everyone buy into the hype.
Add us as a preferred source on Google