The Chicago Bears were last offseason's media darlings when it came to outside-the-box playoff picks. Chicago drafting quarterback Caleb Williams was supposed to be a page-turner that put all the frustration behind the seemingly cursed franchise. This obviously wasn't how things played out with an infamous Jayden Daniels pass appearing to break what little belief the franchise had.
Still, Bears fans have reason to be encouraged in what has been a strong 2025 offseason. The bulk of this excitement is based around stealing division rival coach Ben Johnson as the team's new franchise leader. The belief is that this will fully unlock Caleb Williams and allow Chicago to take the expected step forward a year later. It isn't just Johnson that is helping change Chicago's culture; however, with the new running backs coach Eric Bieniemy making headlines.
"Don't touch the cones!" - Eric Bieniemy applying pressure to his young RBs 🤬 pic.twitter.com/PSTeK7UNss
— CHGO Bears (@CHGO_Bears) May 10, 2025
Eric Bieniemy Helps Bring the Chicago Bears Much-Needed Toughness
To say that Bieniemy is overqualified for his current position is a vast understatement. The former Kansas City offensive coordinator has two Super Bowl rings from his time with the Chiefs and was pivotal in helping Patrick Mahomes become the best quarterback in the league.
A big part of this is the energy with which the coach approaches his role. You can see in a rookie minicamp video the veteran coach shouting at his players, refusing to take it easy even in rookie camp. It is the type of hardened approach that the Bears have lacked for much of the last decade.
For one of the prestige franchises, this is the attitude they were always supposed to have. A team that isn't daunted by supposedly superior teams or bothered by the climate. When Chicago was at their best, they were defined by a hard-nosed approach that refused to give up or give in. This is the type of outlook Eric Bieniemy is going to instill in his players and what made him such a valuable asset in Kansas City.
With this in mind, there is continued reason to believe the Bears can finally take a step forward and have found the coaching staff the franchise has so badly needed. Ben Johnson has built an impressive group, one that is now giving Bears fans a reason to believe.