The Bears are addressing their biggest needs

The Chicago Bears were expected to compete in the 2024 season.

They had the rare luxury of being able to draft first overall after a 7-10 season. Due to trading down in the 2023 NFL Draft via a trade with the Carolina Panthers, they earned the first-round pick from them for the 2024 draft.

Carolina’s 2-15 record in 2023 meant that the Bears earned the number one overall pick despite being two wins off a playoff spot.

USC quarterback Caleb Williams was taken with the pick and after some impressive pre-season plays, this had Bears fans excited for what was to come for the season. With the offseason additions of Kevin Byard, De’Andre Swift, Jonathan Owens and Keenan Allen along with fellow first round selection in wide receiver Rome Odunze, this was deemed the best situation a first overall selection has ever been given.

However, what transpired was a campaign to forget. They won just five games all season, and four of these were achieved by Week Six. A 35-16 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in London had the Bears sitting with a 4-2 record and hoping for the best. However, they would have to wait until the Week 18 season finale to experience another victory, and this was against a Packers team resting players ahead of the playoffs.

Despite the validity of this win in Lambeau Field, earning their first road win in Green Bay since 2015 with a last second field goal is sure to light a fire in the mood and confidence of this Bears team.

They have certainty gone out and attacked the offseason once again, addressing their biggest issues.

Coaching matters

It is hard to find the last head coach to have any success for this organisation. Matt Nagy won Coach of the Year in the 2018 season but this proved to be nothing more than a one season wonder.

The last head coach to have any form of success was Lovie Smith, who was in the role from 2004 to the end of the 2012 season. In his time there, he guided Chicago to five winning seasons, including going 10-6 in his final year. He won Coach of the Year in 2005 and guided the Bears to the Super Bowl the following campaign.

Matt Eberflus was replaced a day after their clock management disaster on Thanksgiving against the Detroit Lions. After five games with Thomas Brown on an interim basis, Ben Johnson was announced as the new head coach.

After three seasons as the Lions’ offensive coordinator, Johnson arrives with plenty of expectation after they went 27-7 across two seasons with back-to-back division titles and an NFC number one seed.

Of course, there have been plenty of successful offensive coordinators that have failed when making the jump up, such as Adam Gase. However, Sean McVay was also an offensive coordinator earlier in his career. Just because people have failed at the position, it does not mean that Johnson’s time with Chicago also won’t go well.

Johnson’s play calling was mostly excellent with the Lions, with a poor outing in the Divisional Round loss to the Washington Commanders leaving a small Asterix on his reputation.

Bears General manager Ryan Poles has been criticised heavily during his time in the role, but you cannot argue against his clear desire to get this team back to the top. The hiring of Johnson shows an ability to take a chance. They are certainly making the most of the offseason so far.

How the Bears are fixing the biggest needs

Williams was sacked 68 times in 2024, a number that is tied for third for the most in any single season. That is a tough break, whether you are a rookie or experienced veteran. It was clear that offensive line is the biggest area of need. Poles and Johnson have already made big strides towards fixing the problem.

They have traded for two experienced guards, in Jonah Jackson and four-time Super Bowl winner Joe Thuney, giving up a 2025 sixth rounder and 2026 fourth rounder respectively. They have also signed center Drew Dalman via the Atlanta Falcons on a three-year $42 million deal.

This is three of the five positions of the offensive line signed and the NFL Draft has not even begun. With four picks in the first 39, they could even add more depth to this unit. Adding defensive tackle Grady Jarrett for $42,75 million and defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo for $48 million, they are also going out to bolster a unit that were ranked 28th at stopping the run.

For a franchise that has struggled for many years, an organisation that has infamously never had a 4,000-yard passer, they are doing all they can to protect their quarterback. Allowing him more time to throw the ball, and also have a defense good enough so the offense is not constantly on the field, this will only be a good thing for Williams’ development.

Andy Davies