The Chicago Bears rallied behind their explosive offense last season. Ben Johnson's arrival brought out the best in the team's myriad of playmakers, and Caleb Williams showed his clutch gene more often than not.
Unfortunately, that's not a sustainable formula. They will inevitably be due for some regression if they continue to count on the offense to bail them out every week, and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen must do better in year two.
However, he might not have the resources to do so. This team actively ignored their glaring needs at pass-rush, and with training camp already underway, that continues to be the roster's primary Achilles heel, according to Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox:
"The Bears have a proven ability to battle back late in games—they had seven fourth-quarter comebacks, including the postseason—but they've had to play catch-up because of a lackluster defense," wrote Knox. "An underwhelming pass rush was the team's biggest issue in 2025, and the Bears have done little to address it."
The Chicago Bears can still solve their pass-rushing woes
The good news is that the Bears can still do something about it. While trading for Maxx Crosby might not be an option, as fans would like, there are still some guys out there who can provide a much-needed punch.
Jadeveon Clowney turned back the clock and played well in the Dallas Cowboys' historically poor defense last season, and Vita Vea's recent trade request has also opened another potential avenue for improvement.
The Bears had multiple opportunities to address it, even in the 2026 NFL Draft. Perhaps they didn't like any of the guys who were up for grabs when they were on the clock, though this class was particularly stacked at defensive end.
This team has a generational talent at quarterback with an offensive mastermind pulling the strings from the sidelines. As such, it makes perfect sense that general manager Ryan Poles wants to give them all the weapons they need to get over the top.
Nevertheless, this game is played on both sides of the field. We've seen countless superstar quarterbacks never reach the next level because their defenses couldn't get stops, and that's ultimately a disservice to them and their greatness.
Of course, it's hard to complain after watching this team win the NFC North and make a deep postseason run in the first year of this era, but this isn't nitpicking; it's a major issue that almost cost them multiple times last season.
The Bears can decide whether they want to keep this going and be a contender for years to come or be another one-year wonder. The ball's on their court, and they still have time and options to do the right thing.
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