The Chicago Bears' 2024 season was filled with disaster and disappointment. Looking back, there were signs of dysfunction before the season started when head coach Matt Eberflus named eight team captains. Many fans thought the number of captains was strange, while others didn't care.
In hindsight, those concerns were valid. Having that many captains suggested a lack of true leadership within the team.
Thankfully, new head coach Ben Johnson went on record on Tuesday during NFL owners meetings and stated the number of captains will be reduced in 2025. According to ESPN's Courtney Cronin, the Bears will "probably" have between 3-5 season-long captains that the players will vote on, per Johnson.
Ben Johnson said the Bears will "probably" have between 3-5 season-long captains that the players will vote on. That's less than the 8 Chicago had during the 2024 season.
— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) April 1, 2025
Chicago Bears to Reduce Number of Captains in 2025
Last season, Eberflus named Jaylon Johnson, D.J. Moore, Caleb Williams, Kevin Byard III, Tremaine Edmunds, T.J. Edwards, Marcedes Lewis, and Cole Kmet captains. While considering veterans like Byard and Lewis as leaders, there was no need to name them both captains.
Furthermore, having multiple players at the same position as captains is counterintuitive. Again, considering players that play the same position as leaders is fine, but there needs to be a distinction between that and a team captain. The Bears listed both starting linebackers (Edmunds and Edwards) and two tight ends (Lewis and Kmet) as captains.
Lastly, Eberflus allowing the team to vote Caleb Williams in as a captain was a mistake. Although he was the No.1 pick, Williams should have had to earn his stripes during his rookie season to be a captain and not just be handed it.
With Johnson now setting a stricter captain structure, it's clear he understands the importance of naming the right ones. That said, don't be surprised if a few of the captains from last season get their C patch back in 2025.