Alright, Bears fans. Let’s just get this out of the way up top: I like what they’ve tried to do this offseason. The front office went big with Ben Johnson. They injected talent into a disastrous O-line. They’ve got Caleb Williams as their QB of the future. For once, this doesn’t look like a half-assed reset.
But optimism without realism is just another flavor of delusion.
The 2025 Chicago Bears could be turning a corner — but it’s a corner filled with black ice, blind spots, and 18-wheelers going full speed in the opposite direction. If you’re already penciling this team into the playoffs, you’re ignoring a mountain of red flags that say “slow the hell down.”
Here are five hard truths about what this team still has to overcome — even if you’re cautiously hopeful like I am.
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Offensive Line: New Parts, Same Old Panic
Let’s not gaslight ourselves about what happened last year. The Bears didn’t just struggle up front — they got their quarterback mangled. Chicago led the NFL in sacks allowed (68) and ranked dead last in total offense, per NFL.com. This wasn’t a blip. From 2022–2024, only the Giants gave up more sacks. That’s three straight years of having turnstiles where linemen should be.
Yes, they signed Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson, and Drew Dalman. That’s legit talent. But offensive lines don’t click overnight, and this group is entirely rebuilt from the inside out. They’ve never played a snap together. They’re protecting a second-year QB. And oh yeah, they’re facing the seventh-toughest schedule in the NFL, according to Sharp Football Analysis.
Throwing bodies at the problem isn’t the same as building a wall. Chemistry matters. Timing matters. And the Bears are basically betting their entire season on a line that hasn’t proven a damn thing together yet.
This Schedule Doesn’t Blink
Hope is nice. Strength of schedule doesn’t care.
The Bears’ 2025 schedule is a heavyweight gauntlet. According to ESPN, their opponents combined for a .571 win percentage last year. Eleven of those teams had winning records. Seven won 12 or more games. They face ten playoff teams, including a back-half matchup with the defending champs, Philly.
They open with the Vikings and Lions in back-to-back weeks — welcome to the fire, Ben Johnson. Oh, and let’s not forget that teams with a top-seven schedule difficulty usually drop 2–3 wins below projections, even with experienced coaches. The Bears? New coach. New coordinators. New schemes.
You don’t get grace periods in this league. This schedule eats teams alive—and it’s going to test whether Chicago’s rebuild is real or just rearranged furniture in a burning house.
Toughest Strength of Schedule for the 2025 NFL Season, per Sharp Football Analysis
NFC North: The League’s New Thunderdome
We can’t talk about the Bears without talking about the NFC North — because right now, it’s the NFL’s version of the SEC.
Last season, the Lions, Vikings, and Packers went a combined 40-11. That’s not just good — it’s historic. They also went 28-3 against teams outside the division. That’s straight-up dominance.
Meanwhile, Chicago? 5-12. Again.
Even if they make legit progress and finish 9-8, they could still land in fourth place. That’s how stacked the North is right now. All three rivals have continuity at QB and/or coaching. All three have defined identities. The Bears? They’re building theirs from scratch, again.
That’s not a knock on the process — it’s just reality. Climbing out of a hole is tough enough. Climbing while everyone else is sprinting past you? Brutal.
Ben Johnson’s Head Coaching Debut: A Lot to Juggle
Bears fans should be all too familiar with this story: hotshot coordinator becomes head coach, everyone claps, and two seasons later he’s walking out the door to a chorus of boos. Since Lovie Smith left in 2012, Chicago has been through five head coaches, none lasting longer than four seasons.
Enter Ben Johnson. The hottest coaching prospect to hit Chicago since… maybe ever. But let’s not forget: this is his first time steering the whole ship.
Calling plays is one thing. Running an entire organization is another. Johnson now has to manage the offense, the locker room, the media circus, injuries, staff dynamics, in-game decisions — and he’s doing all that while installing new offensive and defensive schemes alongside brand-new coordinators in Declan Doyle and Dennis Allen.
That’s a lot on the plate, especially with a fanbase and ownership group known for having all the patience of a toddler in traffic.
History shows that first-time head coaches usually need a season (or more) to adjust to the job. The Bears’ track record of coaching turnover only magnifies the pressure. If Johnson doesn’t win early, the drumbeat starts fast in Chicago. That’s a dangerous environment for a rookie head coach trying to build something long-term.
Former Chicago Bears’ Head Coaches from 2004-2024
Culture Takes Time, and the Bears Are Still Reeling
This is where it gets real. The issues with the Bears go beyond just scheme or personnel. They’re cultural. They’re foundational.
This team lost 10 straight games after Week 8 last year. Ten. That doesn’t happen just because of bad playcalling or weak pass rush. That happens when a team breaks mentally. That’s a culture issue.
Zoom out even more: the Bears have made the playoffs once in the last eight seasons. They haven’t won a postseason game since 2010. They’ve had three winning seasons in the past 12 years. This isn’t just a rough patch — it’s been the identity of the franchise for over a decade.
Even with high picks and massive cap space, the returns have been disappointing. The front office has whiffed on draft picks, swung and missed in trades, and turned over coaches like socks. Rebuilding a roster is hard. Rebuilding a culture? That’s even harder.
Oct 13, 2024; London, United Kingdom; Chicago Bears coach Matt Eberflus talks with side judge Chad Hill (125) against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second half during an NFL International Series game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Final Verdict
Here’s the twist: I actually believe in where this team is headed.
I like Ben Johnson. I think Caleb Williams has star potential. I love the guts it took to tear it down and build again, instead of doubling down on mediocrity. The Bears could be setting the foundation for something real — something that actually lasts more than a flash in the pan.
But we’ve seen this movie before. Promising coach. Young QB. Offseason buzz. And then? It all falls apart because the deeper issues never got fixed.
I’m not saying this season will be a disaster. I’m not writing it off. But I am saying the mountain they’re trying to climb is massive, and anyone pretending otherwise hasn’t been paying attention.
I hope they shock the league. I really do.
But hope doesn’t win football games. Execution does. Consistency does. Culture does. And those things take time.