After a disappointing 2024 season where rookie quarterback Caleb Williams spent most of it running for his life, the Bears continue to overhaul the offensive line.
As Bears general manager Ryan Poles saw what most of us saw last season, he most likely witnessed the end of his tenure — and, let’s be real, his career — flash before his eyes as franchise QB Caleb Williams was in the midst of being sacked a league-high 68 times — the third most in NFL history.
At this time last year, many Bears fans were optimistic regarding the team’s chances.
I thought they’d at least make the playoffs.
Meanwhile, what we witnessed was some shameful s–t.
The head coach and the offensive coordinator were fired.
Williams, the most important Bear of them all, was literally running for his life while going through three offensive coordinators. Despite that, he put up decent numbers, showing what’s possible when he’s adequate blocking.
Also, perhaps most importantly, Poles, a former offensive lineman, appears to have blindspots when signing starting-caliber offensive linemen.
Poles probably should have been shown the door. Nevertheless, he was allowed to clean up the mess he made.
Like the rest of us, he saw how disappointing the 2024 season turned out and needed to clean house so he wouldn’t be the next one out the door.
Since last season ended, the Bears, like most homeowners who need to fix so many things to keep their household in order, kicked off the 2025 season by throwing money at the team’s most pressing concern: the offensive line.
The Bears overhauled their offensive line via trade and free agent signings with guards Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney, along with former Falcons center Drew Dalman – players known for holding their own.
The Great Wall of Chi-Town pic.twitter.com/ov1sIxyeMS
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) March 14, 2025
After all, during Super Bowl LIX we watched the Eagles’ defensive line — featuring a player many believe the Bears should’ve drafted two seasons ago — have their way with an offensive line who was charged with protecting the NFL’s best QB and future hall of famer, Patrick Mahomes.
I know, but Jalen Carter is wrecking shop, though.
It’s a sore spot for Bears fans.
He let Chiefs guard Trey Smith, whom Bears fans wanted as soon as the season ended, have it all game long.
“We want some tough, some gritty, some dirty individuals, and we feel pretty good about the two guys we got,” Bears new head coach Ben Johnson told the team’s website. “‘Smart’ is a word that comes to mind, particularly with the interior players. We would love to have some versatility to our scheme, some multiplicity if you will. We’ve got a couple guys in the building now that we feel strongly can handle a variety of different concepts and schemes that we might want to employ each and every week…”
Super Bowl LIX showed us all that the sky’s the limit when a team has the offensive and defensive line humming.
Also, the Bears aren’t the only NFC North team that has signed free agents focusing on trench warfare.
The NFC North is still a beast; everyone made the playoffs except for the Bears.
At this point, the Bears can draft the best player available with their first-round draft pick — or trade down.
A running back?
Couldn’t hurt.
Maybe an offensive lineman who can learn under the aforementioned additions?
How about a defensive lineman to go along with their other free-agent signings, Grady Jarrett and Dayo Odeyingbo?
“This really opens the whole board for us,” Poles told reporters at a press conference earlier this week. “We’re going to be able to sit back and kind of look and say, ‘What’s the best thing to do for the Chicago Bears? And who’s the best player that can impact us?’ We’ve got some tough decisions and a lot of film to watch between now and the draft.”
Some disgruntled fans will read this column and say: So what? They won last offseason, too. I need results.
Like most rebuilds, time will tell.
What makes this offseason different is that the Bears made sure that money was no object, and they brought in players and coaches who are highly regarded by their counterparts across the NFL.
That’s a good start.
Let’s see how winning the offseason can translate to winning the actual season.