5 Mistakes the Bears Could Make to Ruin 2025 This Offseason
The Chicago Bears have done it again. For the third straight year they have won the offseason. And this current offseason has really just started.
However, for two straight years, they have lost the regular season. After the 2022 season, the Bears acquired wide receiver DJ Moore and managed to still retain the number 1 pick for 2023. The Bears ended the season at 7-10 and in last place in the NFC Central.
After the 2023 season, the Bears converted that number 1 pick into the consensus best, most NFL-ready quarterback in the draft, Caleb Williams. To support him, the Bears drafted one of the best receivers in the draft, Rome Odunze, picked up Keenan Allen, one of the best receivers of his generation and coming off his best season, and grabbed All-Pro running back D'Andre Swift as their lead back.
The Bears ended 2023 by firing their offensive coordinator, Shane Waldron, halfway through the season, firing head coach Matt Eberflus a few weeks later, finishing near the bottom of almost every offensive statistic, finishing the season at 5-12, last in the NFC Central, and the only team in the NFC Central not to make the playoffs.
Now, it is 2025, and the Bears have hired the consensus best head coach on the market (for three years running), Ben Johnson, and the best offensive mind in football, Ben Johnson. Apparently, Johnson has also hired fantastic coordinators, offensive coordinator Declan Doyle and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, New Orleans Saints assistant coach Jordan Taylor thinks Doyle "is a stud. I met him when he was 22 and knew he was going to be a superstar. He was sharp, detailed, related well to the players. Everything about him is what you want.”
Saints defensive assistant Adam Gristick had equal praise for Allen, “He’s just done it such a long time at a high level that he can answer any question from the D-line back to the secondary. It’s a player’s defense, and he’s going to let his guys do their thing. .Guys love playing in his defense.”
All this activity even before player acquisitions have started. What could possibly go wrong that would stand in the way of a playoff run next year? The answer is, The Bears.
1. Fill the Playbook With Trick Plays
The Lions were second in offensive yards per game, second in passing yards per game, and sixth in rushing yards per game. When Johnson took over the Lions, they were 25th in offensive scoring. As he leaves the Lions, they are first in offensive scoring. Johnson gets credit for all these rankings and is the reason the Bears hired him.
Johnson has continuously, frequently, and voluminously said that he joined the Bears because of Williams potential and that he will design an offense specifically tailored to Williams' skills and the receivers and running backs that support him. But does he suffer from "smartest guy in the room syndrome."
Johnson has a huge penchant for trick plays. The Lions executed hook and ladders, running back/receiver options, flea flickers, offensive lineman touchdowns, and fake fumbles. Notoriously, in the Divisional Playoff game against the Commanders this year, with the Lions down by 10 with 7:40 left on the clock and the Lions offense on a major rhythm the last two drives, Johnson dialed up a double reverse wide receiver option that ended in an interception.
There was no reason for that type of play with the season on the line. They were driving and it seemed like they were destined to score in the next minute or two. The Commanders scored on the subsequent drive and the season was over.
Williams, who was outplayed by almost all the other rookie quarterbacks this year including Denver's Bo Nix, Washington's Jayden Daniels, and New England's Drake Maye, needs major help from his play designer/head coach Johnson.
Can Johnson put his ego aside and develop the Caleb Williams playbook or will it really be the Johnson playbook?