The Chicago Bears made it a long way in 2025. Head coach Ben Johnson and his staff overcame a 0-2 start and tons of injuries to go 11-6, win the NFC North, and win a playoff game. Most people would be thrilled with that outcome. Johnson wasn’t one of them. While he didn’t outright say the season was a failure, he certainly treated it like one. The effort everybody gave wasn’t good enough. This team is about winning championships. Now they must start from scratch and try again this season. Johnson put multiple players on notice that they had better improve this year. Could Dennis Allen have gotten similar treatment?
Dan Bernstein has been a staple of Chicago sports radio for decades. He’s covered the Bears for a long time and believes something is rumbling beneath the surface at Halas Hall. During his 312 Sports podcast, he laid out why he believes Allen is on the hot seat and has been told as much. All one has to do is listen to what the Bears have said in the past couple of weeks. Johnson said talent wasn’t the only issue with what happened on defense last year. They need to coach better. Allen pointed the finger directly at himself, stating that his eagerness to implement his scheme led him to neglect the fundamentals.
Johnson was not happy about it and made those feelings known to the coordinator.
Firing Dennis Allen so quickly sounds crazy, but is it?
Based on numbers alone, the defense was bad last season. They were in the bottom five against the pass, run, and in points allowed. Their only saving grace was leading the league in turnovers. Even so, Allen did some good work in the playoffs, shutting Green Bay down in the second half of the wild card round and giving the Rams fits a week later. One would think Johnson would be encouraged by that. Bernstein doesn’t think so. There is some data to back this up. Johnson isn’t the type of coach who’d be afraid of making quick changes.
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After all, he learned under two head coaches who did so and saw positive results. Dan Campbell has done it twice in Detroit since taking over in 2021. Joe Philbin did it in Miami as well.
| Coordinator | Role | Team | Tenure | Regular Season Games Lasted | Firing Head Coach | Play-Calling Stripped |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony Lynn | Offensive Coordinator | Detroit Lions | 2021 | 17 games | Dan Campbell | Week 10 (After 8 games) |
| John Morton | Offensive Coordinator | Detroit Lions | 2025 | 17 games | Dan Campbell | Week 10 (After 8 games) |
| Mike Sherman | Offensive Coordinator | Miami Dolphins | 2012–2013 | 32 games | Joe Philbin | Retained play-calling until firing |
Detroit went from 22nd offensively to 4th after firing Lynn. Miami went from 25th in scoring to 11th after firing Sherman. Johnson’s experience tells him that making a change often leads to better things when it becomes clear something isn’t working. Don’t think for a second that’s not in the back of his mind as Allen enters year two.
Allen controls his own destiny.
The Bears have worked to provide him with more support this offseason. Their biggest free agent signings (Coby Bryant and Devin Bush) were both on the defensive side. They also spent a 1st round pick on safety Dillon Thieneman. Dennis Allen has a unit that is now younger and faster than last season. Most of the players have spent a season learning the scheme, so that shouldn’t be as pressing an issue. If he can’t get better performances out of them this season, that will raise some concerns.
The reality is that the personnel situation will never be perfect on defense. It never is. What matters is how much the coach gets out of the pieces he has. Allen got a pass last year because he was working with mostly players he didn’t acquire, and lots of injuries to key guys. One of those issues has been addressed. It is reasonable to assume they’ll have better health luck this year. If all of this still results in a finish outside the top 20, don’t be shocked if Johnson decides it’s time for a change.
