The Chicago Bears have already had a hectic offseason, even though February has barely begun. It didn't take long for members of head coach Ben Johnson's coaching staff to get picked off after a successful 2025 campaign, forcing the Bears to quickly pivot to how they'll replace the early offseason departures.
With how stressful things have been in the Windy City, Chicago fans could use some good news. Fortunately, that's exactly what they received on Wednesday, courtesy of Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst, who doesn't sound like he's focused on solving one of his team's biggest concerns.
According to The Athletic's Matt Schneidman, Gutekunst "doesn't think (cornerback) needs wholesale changes" this offseason. He added that CB Keisean Nixon experienced a "very, very good year," and that Nate Hobbs will likely return for the 2026 season (h/t @WesHod).
Christmas was over a month ago, but it's safe to say that Gutekunst's comments are the best gift that the Bears could've asked for.
Bears Should Love Packers' Lack of Urgency to Address CB Woes
If the Packers truly plan to put their CB-related hopes and dreams in Nixon and Hobbs' hands, the Bears should love their passing game outlook for the 2026 campaign.
Signing a four-year, $48 million contract last offseason, Hobbs was one of Green Bay's biggest disappointments throughout the 2025 season.
The veteran cornerback made just 11 appearances due to injury and often struggled to produce when healthy, allowing a career-worst 14.1 yards per catch and 125.3 passer rating on 17 completions across 25 targets, per Pro Football Focus. That includes when Bears quarterback Caleb Williams completed all three of his pass attempts on Hobbs for 37 yards during the Bears' 22-16 overtime win vs. the Packers in Week 16.
Hobbs is too slow to play on the outside, yet the Packers keep him there because Javon Bullard is already their slot protector. Assuming nothing changes, the free-agent bust will be back and ripe for the picking by Chicago's perimeter threats this fall.
It's also great to hear that Green Bay doesn't intend to change things involving Nixon. The seven touchdowns, 105.4 passer rating, and 11.3 yards per catch he tallied when targeted last season are all the worst marks of his four years with the Packers so far. He also held his team back in the wild-card round, as Williams and his pass-catchers reeled in five catches for 53 yards against him, per PFF.
With gifted pass-catchers like Luther Burden III, Rome Odunze, and Colston Loveland ready to take the next step, the Bears will celebrate the Packers' secondary-related failures whenever they can. That's without mentioning how Williams could also take a major leap in Year 3, and he could put on a show in the next Chicago-Green Bay tilt if the likes of Nixon and Hobbs replicate last season's Swiss cheese-like coverage.
Having said that, the Bears can't be idle even though it's entertaining to watch the Packers shoot themselves in the foot. Yes, it's great to watch a division rival suffer, but Green Bay's ineptitude won't amount to much if Chicago doesn't improve its offensive situation once free agency and the 2026 NFL draft come around.
In the meantime, Bears fans will eagerly anticipate the next time the Packers will be their worst enemy again this offseason.