With three weeks to go until the Bears report for training camp, it's too late to change the path taken.
In some cases, they wouldn't want to anyway.
Where Bears GM Ryan Poles has taken the team with this reboot is now deep down the pathway to destiny.
It's too late for last-minute cold feet. They're also past the point in the ceremony where someone says "speak now or forever hold your peace."
I love Ryan Poles so much and even though a couple of moves he’s made have been bad, I think he’s done a lot of good for us.
BUT
If this year, the “3X Offseason champions” don’t translate onto the field, we’re going to have to have some tough conversations imo. pic.twitter.com/kHMGlxAPHP
— Burns (@therealburns3) June 12, 2025
One offseason provided sufficient time to make necessary changes, but in some cases they simply had to go with what they have for assorted reasons.
In other words, they took risks because not every necessary move offered ideal options.
Here are the biggest risks supporting the 2025 Chicago Bears, for better or worse.
Ryan Poles. He's getting better each year.
— Peter Beater (@beater31136) July 1, 2025
They needed to replace Teven Jenkins at guard after he was allowed to leave in free agency largely due to missing 23 games in four seasons with injuries. They bring in Jonah Jackson, who has missed 23 games in the last four seasons.
If that's not enough, the top backup guard is Ryan Bates, who had to have stem cell surgery to repair a shoulder injury last year. Beyond those two there's Bill Murray and his 46 snaps of NFL experience.
Me waiting for Ryan Poles to draft an All Pro player… https://t.co/wG1yaZID1g pic.twitter.com/qSfEEOx8T7
— Monangai's Hype Man (@DarrylConrad) June 10, 2025
It's a rather flimsy house of guard cards, considering how the offensive line has had to switch starting lineups 30 times in three years.
This one has the potential for a Wyle E. Coyote ending written all over it.
They have a safety starting in Kevin Byard who turns 32 on Aug. 17. Harrison Smith, who is 36, and Tyrann Mathieu, who is 33, are the only older starting safeties in the league. Only five NFL starters at this position are in their 30s.
Chicago scale 1-10 how concerned are you with the safety position?
Kevin Byard is 32 but he played in 17 games last year at a high level. If Brisker can stay healthy they’re in a good spot. It’s a big IF though.
Poles must be confident in backups Hicks/Owens. #DaBears #Bears pic.twitter.com/7ZwfFMevYu
— Clay Harbor (@clayharbs82) May 22, 2025
The Bears have another starting safety in Jaquan Brisker who just missed 12 straight games due to his third concussion in three NFL seasons. There are experienced backups but no one people would line up for to sign in free agency.
Fingers are definitely crossed here for everyone.
Everyone is saying #Bears star D’Andre Swift is a top 5 RB for Fantasy Football…
I’m just not seeing it. Sorry 🤷♂️
While everyone pushes him to a Round 2 ADP, I’m taking DeVon Achane, Bijan Robinson, and Aaron Jones instead.
You can see more in my 2025 Draft Guide ($19.99). pic.twitter.com/LqlNinH5O4
— Fantasy Gazette (@FantasyGazette_) June 19, 2025
They've built an offense based on the play-action passing game, which requires a strong running game.
So for the starting back they have D'Andre Swift who was bounced out of his starting position by Johnson in Detroit.
If there was more certainty here behind Swift it would be an easy gamble to accept because Swift has had some success in the past, but the only other backs they have who have played in the NFL have combined for only 226 carries over eight seasons, and the three others include two undrafted rookies and a seventh-round rookie draft pick.
Johnson better be comfortable with Swift. That's all he's got.
Do you have confidence in the EDGE room lead by Montez Sweat and Dayo Odeyingbo to generate enough pressure this season? pic.twitter.com/hz0v50zgYP
— Bears Zone (@chibearszone) June 30, 2025
They paid $48 million for three years to bring in defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo, who has 62 pressures and 16 1/2 sacks in four NFL seasons. He replaces veteran DeMarcus Walker, who had 15 1/2 sacks and 86 pressures in his last four seasons.
They did it because Odeyingbo is a stout run stopper and a pass rusher perceived to be on the rise.
Is perception reality?
Last time Dennis Allen was a DC he was ranked the #1 play caller in the league. Is aggressive and has great success on 3rd down - the anti-flus pic.twitter.com/kUSESXofSU
— Matt (@HendyBears) January 27, 2025
Poles spent three years helping construct a defense heavily based on zone coverage by bringing personnel ideally suited for this type of play.
Then, they hired Dennis Allen as defensive coordinator, who in recent years played about twice as much man-to-man coverage as the Bears played in their defense during the past three years. Can the talent suit the scheme? It's kind of late to worry about it now.
Three plays that sum up what's gone wrong for the Saints on defense and led to the firing of Dennis Allen...
First, blown assignments. Saints are in man coverage here - two defenders run with Mike Evans and nobody takes Sean Tucker, who scores. Rare to see a mistake this bad. pic.twitter.com/BaMT6hY9ej
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) November 4, 2024
The coaches took over the Caleb Williams project from a coaching staff that had no experience developing young quarterbacks.
Yet, in quarterbacks coach T.J. Barrett, offensive coordinator Declan Doyle and Johnson himself they have no experience developing a young quarterback. They do have passing game coordinator who has done this in the past in Press Taylor. His experience was developing Carson Wentz and Trevor Lawrence.
Things aren't going GREAT in Jacksonville
"Doug Pederson is backing his guy Press Taylor and he believes in supporting his coaches"@AdamSchefter #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/CPCW6JqovX
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) September 30, 2024
The head coach himself has no head coaching experience, three years as an offensive coordinator and built his reputation as a creative genius and play caller with an offense supported by possibly the best offensive line in football.
And now he's with a team that had the 24th-ranked offensive line last year, according to Pro Football Focus, and the changes made to fortify it are not certainties.
Ben Johnson in 2022 without Gibbs, Montgomery, Laporta, or Jameson Williams.
PPG: 5th
YPG: 4th
YPP: 4th
TD per game: 5th
Firsts downs: 6th
EPA/play: 5th
DVOA: 5th
Ben Johnson superpower is playing to his players strengths wherever that strength is. #Bears #ChicagoBears pic.twitter.com/S4UitbPt9h
— Clay Harbor (@clayharbs82) April 12, 2025
Johnson's offense has been run by a pocket passer with experience under center. Instead, the fortunes rest on the right arm of a mobile gambler who has played most of his college and pro career in shotgun and seemed to be set back more by his last coaches than helped.
Oh yeah, this all looks like a sure thing.
10 weeks from today Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams will absolutely murder the Minnesota Vikings on national television and might cry when it happens
— Riley Collins (@rileycollins__) June 30, 2025
X: BearsOnSI