If there was one NFC North frustration for the Chicago Bears in the 2025 season, it was Ben Johnson's former team, the Detroit Lions. Detroit went 2-0 against the Bears, outscoring Johnson's team 71-37 despite an underwhelming offensive campaign. The Lions missed the playoffs, but they are the only division rival that appeared to have an edge over the Bears. The road for Chicago isn't going to get any easier with the news that Detroit has hired Mike Kafka to the offensive staff.
This was after speculation that Kafka could be the perfect hire for the Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator position. It seemed the talented coach was destined to land in the NFC North after a short stint as the New York Giants interim head coach. For the Bears, this is far from ideal, with Kafka's best seasons coming at the start of the Kansas City Chiefs' dynasty, helping lead Patrick Mahomes to his most prolific seasons as KC's quarterbacks coach.
Detroit adding this level of coaching talent, while already having the 2025 edge over the Bears, is a clear concern. Despite missing the playoffs and struggling with offensive consistency, the Lions found ways to beat the Bears twice, with the final win coming after the franchise was already eliminated from playoff contention. With this in mind, fans should be concerned about the addition of Kafka and what it means for the Bears moving forward.
Bears Should be Concerned After Detroit Lions Land Accomplished Offensive Coach Mike Kafka
Detroit fixing its offense would be a major concern and put the Lions firmly in the discussion in the NFC North. The loss of Johnson was a major blow to Detroit's contention hopes, but the necessary talent is still in place to give the Bears a challenge for next season's division title. Adding Kafka pushes the Lions in this direction and reminds Chicago of the need for an aggressive offseason despite the accomplishments of the past season.
Both the Packers and Lions are going to look to close the gap on Chicago, as the Bears transition from the role of surprise underdog to the distinction of being defending division champs. Now is the moment that the coaching staff and front office must prove that this season wasn't an outlier but a fair expectation of the years ahead.
This means understanding the division's landscape and making moves to maintain Chicago's grip on the NFC North. No question, Detroit hiring Kafka has to grab their attention and demand a higher sense of offseason urgency. It will be interesting to see how Chicago responds to the Lions' challenge and whether they make any major changes as a result after an exciting 2025 season.