Kevin Szafraniec breaks down how the arrival of Ben Johnson in Chicago will alter the Bears’ approach in 2025 and explains why it may be wise to temper expectations for a wholesale turnaround from Caleb Williams and company in Year 1.
When it comes to coaching hires, Chicago’s signing of former Lions’ offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was about as big as they get. Last offseason, it was reported that Johnson was the top candidate for open head coaching positions across the NFL, but he decided to stay put in Detroit because he felt that he had unfinished business to attend to with the Lions. Luckily for Chicago, Johnson faced no such internal conflicts this offseason, jumping ship to take charge of his former division rival.
If we were to rewind to one year ago, the reality of the Bears’ 2024 season would have felt like a bottom 10% outcome. After fleecing the Panthers in a trade in which Chicago sent away 2023’s first-overall pick, the Bears were riding high with their combination of a talented roster, a wealth of draft capital, and a highly regarded rookie franchise QB. Sadly, things went off the rails quickly in 2024, as Caleb Williams struggled through an uneven season that eventually led to the midseason firings of his head coach and offensive coordinator.
As we head into the 2025 season, Johnson is being propped up as a franchise savior who will cure all that ails the previously underperforming Bears’ offense. But should we believe that Chicago’s front office has done enough this offseason to provide Johnson with the firepower he needs to turn a five-win team into the playoff contender everyone is expecting the Bears to become?
AFC North
- Baltimore Ravens: There Is No End in Sight for Lamar Jackson’s Fantasy Domination
- Cleveland Browns: There Are Gems to Be Found on Kevin Stefanski’s Offense If You Know Where to Look
- Cincinnati Bengals: Poor Real-Life Roster Construction Creates Elite Fantasy Pathways for the Bengals’ Stars
- Pittsburgh Steelers: Aaron Rodgers Grabs the Headlines, but his Teammates are the Real Fantasy Stars
AFC South
- Houston Texans: Why New Weapons and a New Scheme Will Lead to a C.J. Stroud Bounceback
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 2025 Represents Trevor Lawrence’s Best Chance Yet to Reach His Ceiling
- Tennessee Titans: Will an Abundance of Garbage Time Result in Tennessee’s Late-Round Skill-Position Players Returning Big-Time Fantasy Value?
- Indianapolis Colts: Sitting in QB Purgatory May Limit the Offense in 2025, but 2026 Could Bring an Epic Rebound
AFC East
- Miami Dolphins: Whose Fantasy Arrows Are Pointing Up on a Miami Offense Heading in the Opposite Direction?
- New York Jets: A Shift in Offensive Philosophy Could Result in Breece Hall and Isaiah Davis Forming the Best Backfield in the AFC
- New England Patriots: Drake Maye Still Finds Himself Surrounded by Lackluster Weapons, But He May Thrive Anyway
- Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen Will Continue to Be Elite as Buffalo Looks to Finally Dethrone the Chiefs Atop the AFC
AFC West
- Denver Broncos: Bo Nix Is About to Join the Ranks of the NFL’s Elite QBs
- Los Angeles Chargers: Has Justin Herbert Forced Greg Roman to Rethink His Offensive Approach?
- Las Vegas Raiders: Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty Could Emerge to Become the Top Players at Their Positions
NFC North
- Minnesota Vikings: J.J. McCarthy Finds Himself in the Middle of the Perfect Storm for Fantasy Production
- Green Bay Packers: Why the NFL’s Most Complete Roster Is Finally About to Get the Attention It Deserves
- Detroit Lions: Amon-Ra St. Brown’s Discounted ADP Has Him Poised to Be 2025’s Most Undervalued Superstar
NFC South
- Atlanta Falcons: Which Players Are Primed to Help Take the Atlanta Offense to the Next Level?
- Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young Is Finally Ready to Deliver on His College Potential
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Despite Yet Another New Offensive Coordinator, Baker Mayfield and Bucky Irving Are Still Set Up to Deliver in 2025
- New Orleans Saints: Alvin Kamara is in Line to Get a High Quantity of Looks on a Saints Offense Short on Quality
NFC East
- Philadelphia Eagles: Why Small Changes Could Lead to Even Bigger Fantasy Scoring in 2025
- Dallas Cowboys: A New Offensive Direction Is Exactly What Dak Prescott Needs to Get Back on Track
- Washington Commanders: Jayden Daniels’ Fantasy Ceiling Is Only Limited by the Aging Roster Around Him
- New York Giants:
NFC West
- San Francisco 49ers: Make Sure You Are Rostering the Next Wave of Stars in Kyle Shanahan’s Offense
- Arizona Cardinals: Why Kyler Murray Will Overcome His Doubters and Return to His Elite Ways
- Los Angeles Rams: History Is Getting Ready to Repeat Itself in L.A. as Puka Nacua Eyes 2025’s Overall WR1 Spot
- Seattle Seahawks: The Discount ADPs of Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet Make Them the Most Undervalued Backfield in Fantasy
A Monumental Letdown
The 2024 season was supposed to represent the first year in a new era for the Chicago Bears. The front office had used their considerable assets in recent years to build a roster capable of competing in one of the toughest divisions in football. Unfortunately, things did not work out as planned.
After winning a respectable seven games in 2023, the Bears got off to a strong 4-2 start despite some concerning issues from the offense. However, the good times didn’t last, as Chicago only won one game over the remainder of the season, with offensive coordinator Shane Waldron being fired 10 weeks into the season, with head coach Mat Eberflus joining him three weeks later.
