Most people believe the Chicago Bears are better on paper than last year. They’ve upgraded at head coach with Ben Johnson. He’ll bring a smart and creative offense to the organization and help elevate Caleb Williams. They have talent at several positions. One would think there’d be some optimism for their chances in 2025. The problem is that they reside in the most loaded division in football. Detroit, Green Bay, and Minnesota all made the playoffs last year. The Lions get back Aidan Hutchinson. The Packers just added Micah Parsons. Even the Vikings made some savvy moves up front. It is hard for people to see a path forward for the Bears.
That is, unless you’re Ndamukong Suh. Most fans remember him as one of the great antagonists of the 2010s, playing with a physical and often dirty edge. He was also one of the best defensive tackles in the league. Since retiring, he’s earned a reputation as a rather fair and honest analyst regarding NFL matters. He appeared on [Up And Adams](https://x.com/heykayadams/status/1960750752814784826) with Kay Adams, where he was asked if he thought Detroit would repeat as division champions. While he could see that result, Suh pointed out that people might not want to ignore the Bears.
They beat the Packers once and should’ve swept them. They had two chances to take down Detroit and Minnesota late in games, but came up short both times. From a talent standpoint, the gulf between the two sides isn’t as wide as people think. The biggest problem was always on the coaching front. Throwing Matt Eberflus against Kevin O’Connell and Matt LaFleur every year wasn’t a fair fight. Johnson feels like somebody who can finally put the Chicago Bears on an even playing field. If he does, Suh is correct. This team is equipped to give everybody in the division problems. It is down to a mental game now. They must display the necessary discipline and toughness that Suh went through during his early years in Detroit.
