Bears front office
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Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles (left) and head coach Ben Johnson (right).
For what feels like the third or fourth time in recent memory, the Chicago Bears are heralded as the offseason kings. But this time, it’s not just hype — it’s a consensus. Reporters covering the NFC North for ESPN all weighed in on which front office had the best offseason, and three of the four pointed to Chicago. The lone exception, Minnesota Vikings’ reporter Kevin Seifert, still acknowledged that the Bears made some massive moves, but felt the Vikings poured in more resources to help quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
The acclaim isn’t just media noise either; it’s rooted in tangible changes. General manager Ryan Poles and the Bears front office made a full-on philosophical shift this offseason, targeting proven talent to solidify glaring weaknesses and bringing in one of the league’s brightest minds to lead the team into a new era. From culture to coaching to personnel, this offseason actually feels different.
The Bears’ Front Office Turnaround
Joe Thuney
GettyChicago Bears’ new offensive lineman Joe Thuney brings much-needed stability to the offensive line.
At the center of the Bears’ turnaround narrative is the offensive line, a unit that has long been the team’s Achilles’ heel. Last season, inconsistent protection up front limited what any quarterback could realistically do behind center. That won’t be the case in 2025.
The Bears’ front office aggressively addressed this issue, acquiring three top-tier interior offensive linemen in Drew Dalman, Joe Thuney, and Jonah Jackson. Thuney and Jackson give the Bears one of the most experienced and effective guard tandems in the league, and Dalman offers the Bears more than just a short-term option at center (finally!).
But perhaps the most important acquisition had nothing to do with the roster. The Bears landed the crown jewel of the coaching market: former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Johnson was widely viewed as the most creative and forward-thinking candidate available. He could have had his pick of the litter, but Chicago’s talent on paper and its $13 million per year offer showed him they were all-in. That conviction paid off, and it may prove to be the tipping point in the Bears’ turnaround.
Green Bay Packers reporter Rob Demovsky put it best: “But not only did the Bears land the hottest coaching candidate on the market, they did so while weakening a division rival by stripping the Lions of their hot-shot offensive coordinator.”
Belief in the Blueprint
All the pieces now point to a much clearer direction: build around No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams, and give him everything he needs to succeed from Day 1.
Lions reporter Eric Woodyard emphasized the importance of the infrastructure surrounding a young quarterback: “Johnson should be able to get the best out of Williams, as he did to help fuel the resurgence of Goff’s career. Chicago also surrounded Williams with talent across the board, which should help them take a massive leap in 2025.”
Still, ESPN’s reporters acknowledged a lingering shadow: the Bears have “won” the offseason plenty of times before, which amounted to nothing. Flashy signings and coaching hires have come and gone in Chicago. But that’s why this year feels like a turning point, not just because of who the Bears acquired, but because of how and why they did it.
The Bears’ front office finally understands how to build a team, and for once, they have delivered on their promise: Build around the franchise quarterback. Now, it’s time to show results on the field.