The Chicago Bears had long operated as an organization that was just trying to dig itself out of the mud. They were focused on building a roster and culture that wouldn’t be the laughingstock of the wider NFL. If they could just put together seven or eight wins, that would be considered a good year. Last season, Ben Johnson took over as head coach. He immediately set the standard. His goal wasn’t to win eventually. He planned to win right away and made it crystal clear to players that those expectations would not change. If they’re not working towards winning a championship, they should expect not to be around long. Tyson Bagent had a front row seat for what happened next.

The backup quarterback saw the Bears transform from an uncertain, dispirited group of players to an aggressive team with a physical identity and an absolute unwillingness to die. That carried them from a 0-2 start to an 11-6 record, a division title, and the team’s first playoff victory since 2010. While things fell short in overtime against the Rams, there was a feeling that this Bears team had taken a big step forward. Does Bagent still feel that is the case even after the considerable changes made to the roster this offseason?

True to form, the quarterback didn’t dance around the subject. He told CHGO his firm belief that this Bears team can and will win the Super Bowl.

Tyson Bagent reflects how far the locker room has come.

Remember, he arrived in 2023, during the middle of the Matt Eberflus years. Team confidence wasn’t exactly at a high point. He saw things bottom out in 2024, as the team went from 3-1 to 5-12 and endured one of the most gut-wrenching losing streaks in franchise history. People felt it would take at least a year for Johnson to clean up the mess Eberflus left behind. Instead, it took a few months. The head coach not only gave the players a clear purpose but also reignited their competitive drives to be great.

As the wins mounted, the confidence grew. It got to a point where the Bears felt like they were never out of a game, no matter how far behind they were. That is always the first step for a young team. Learning how to believe. They now know that with hard work and effort, they are good enough to match up with the best teams in the NFC. The next step is to limit mistakes and execute more efficiently. If they figure that out, it isn’t at all crazy to think they can reach the Super Bowl. Bagent understands this reality better than most.

He also plans to contribute to that goal.

Contrary to popular myth, the Bears’ backup quarterback isn’t content sitting in the background. He insisted that he prepares every day as if he will get to play sooner or later. He knows there will be a moment in the future when his number will be called. Caleb Williams started every game last season, but it’s rare for starting quarterbacks these days to not miss at least one game every year. That is particularly true for scrambling types like him. Tyson Bagent is grinding relentlessly to ensure he is prepared for when that moment comes.

Not only will it give him a chance to help the team towards that goal of winning the Super Bowl, but it will also improve his hopes of eventually becoming a starter. This is a reflection of what the Bears are building. Everybody wants to play. Everybody wants to win. That raises the standard across the board, which in turn leads to more success on the field. Bagent will do everything necessary to help Williams succeed. That doesn’t mean he plans to accept his role as the backup forever. No doubt others like him feel the same way.

The Chicago Bears had some veterans sprinkled in at their rookie minicamps this past week, giving them a tryout for a possible training camp invitation. By far the biggest name on the list was Scotty Miller, the former 6th round pick who helped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers win the Super Bowl in 2020. Yet after the team added Zavion Thomas in the 3rd round of the draft, some wondered if this was the team’s way of getting updated information on a player they might sign later if injuries struck.

That theory was put to bed when the Bears signed the 28-year-old right after minicamps ended. He’d been one of the biggest standouts in the two practices, showcasing his not inconsiderable speed and savvy as a route runner.

This gives the Bears some veteran depth at a position that has gotten really young over the past few months. The trade of D.J. Moore to Buffalo and the departure of Olamide Zaccheaus in free agency left Kalif Raymond as their only receiver on the roster with more than two years of experience. Miller’s arrival tilts that formula a little bit in the other direction.

Scotty Miller is not just a camp body.

It is easy to think this is the case. After all, he hasn’t really been a factor on offense for the past few years. He was buried on the Buccaneers’ depth chart after that 2020 season, and injuries hampered things even further. Signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t change those fortunes, even after they added Aaron Rodgers. That run of irrelevance has most assuming he is just here to fill a roster spot. That is to overlook his value to the two men in charge, head coach Ben Johnson and wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El.

“I’ve talked to him a little bit,” Johnson said. “He’s got a history with Coach Randle El. Randle El was with him when he was a young buck there in Tampa.

So there is some shared experiences. Looking forward to seeing him run around and compete a little bit. From afar, I’ve been able to see the speed, the quickness and that is certainly very intriguing.”

We already know how much Johnson loves speed. He is always on the lookout for it. That is a big reason why the Bears drafted Thomas. That said, there is another less talked-about reason the Bears wanted Miller in the mix. He has extensive experience in the slot. Johnson stated last year that his offense tends to run through that spot.

“I don’t know if it’s my favorite position to scheme up, but for whatever reason, the slot receiver, everywhere I’ve been, the ball has always found the slot receiver. That’s a very important point of emphasis for us to get that spot right.”

It only makes sense that Miller would appeal to the Bears in that regard. He has the right mix of quickness and burst to create separation in the slot, which was often a problem last season.

The bizarre thing is that coaches never leaned into this.

By far the most slot snaps Scotty Miller played in any season of his career were in 2020, his best statistically by miles. Yet for whatever reason, neither the Buccaneers nor the Steelers bothered exploring that role even further. Part of the problem was his speed. They seemed so enamored with it that they constantly moved him outside to use him as a vertical threat. That can be difficult when you’re 5’9″ and 174 lbs. Once it became clear he wasn’t suited for that role, teams seemed to sour on him.

For a slot lover like Coach Johnson, that doesn’t seem like a probable outcome. The Bears already have two good outside receivers in Odunze and Burden. Raymond will likely be the primary slot option, but Miller gives them some much-needed insurance in case he gets hurt for whatever reason. That is why people would be wise not to dismiss this signing as a pure camp addition. The Bears’ vision for Miller may be more extensive than people realize.

Zah Frazier was drafted in the 5th round last year as a pet project for defensive backs coach Al Harris. It was easy to see the appeal. He was tall, long, incredibly athletic, and made significant progress in coverage during his final season at UTSA. Under Harris’ guidance, he could develop quickly into a major contributor for the Bears defense. Instead, a mysterious personal issue saw him miss the entirety of 2025. It was hoped the time off would give him a chance to get his affairs in order. For a time, it felt like he was finally ready to go. Then the Bears cut him right before spring practices began. Head coach Ben Johnson was asked about the decision.

He admitted the team was hopeful the cornerback had gotten his situation sorted out. Unfortunately, as minicamps approached, it became increasingly clear that was not the case. Rather than let things play out any further, he and general manager Ryan Poles chose to pull the plug.

“Zah’s a guy we’ve had here for over a year,” Johnson said. “When we’re looking at the roster, where we’re at, where he’s at, it was time to part ways.”

“We were hopeful, and it wasn’t going in that direction,” Johnson said. “This trajectory was off, and we decided to go in a different direction.”

This is not the result anybody wanted. The Bears spent a 5th rounder on him because they had serious hopes he could become a good player. It remains unclear how it all fell apart, but it’s obvious the team was out of patience.

Ben Johnson showed another crucial, if unsavory side to coaching.

One thing that isn’t talked about enough in regard to that job is player attachment. Many coaches have a tendency to get too attached to certain players they love for one reason or another. While building relationships is important, it must never come at the expense of the team. When a player becomes a drag on the organization’s time and resources, it falls to the head coach to cut them loose. It is not a job with much room for charity or kindness. You have to be ruthless at times.

You’ll often find this trait among some of the best coaches in NFL history. Bill Walsh earned a reputation for dumping players at the first sign of regression. The same was true of Jimmy Johnson in Dallas. Bill Belichick didn’t make many friends during his years in New England with how often he unloaded players he felt were useless, aging, or simply going through a rough patch. Is it cold? Certainly. It also must be done. Good teams aren’t built through giving struggling players a pass. It is done by assembling the deepest roster possible.

Frazier deserves empathy, but not sympathy.

Whatever it is he’s dealing with is clearly traumatic. Everybody wanted to see him succeed in Chicago. Seeing later draft picks ascend is one of the great joys for Bears fans. The harsh reality is that there are more examples of this current result than the former. Players never see the field and are eventually released. Granted, Frazier’s situation is somewhat unique, but Ben Johnson still handled it appropriately. At some point, it’s time to say goodbye. Hopefully, Frazier can latch on somewhere else and get his career off the ground. The Bears can allocate that roster spot to somebody who will actually use it.

It is another sign that the head coach sees the big picture. This game has little room for sympathy. You don’t win championships by being a safe haven for players who are mentally struggling. Yes, that is harsh, but this is a cutthroat business. If you want to win, you must be prepared to hand out to send guys packing when they’re no longer useful. Johnson appears to have that trait, which wasn’t always something we could say about his predecessors over the past decade.

Malik Muhammad already has a story out there about how he arrived at Texas in college. A teammate revealed that the young cornerback found the team’s depth chart with all the names written in order. He noted how older players were mostly listed ahead of younger ones. Muhammad asked the teammate why his name wasn’t higher. When the teammate offered an explanation, it wasn’t received well. Muhammad challenged that if he wasn’t willing to work to take one of those starting jobs, he has no future in the NFL. That was the first taste of what kind of competitor the Chicago Bears‘ 4th round pick is.

The media just got their first taste of that on Saturday during the final day of rookie minicamps. Muhammad took his turn at the podium to discuss how things are progressing. At one point, he was asked directly if starting immediately is his goal or if he’s hoping to get acclimated to the NFL level first. Muhammad’s eyes widened in shock as if he couldn’t believe anybody would ask such a question. In his mind, there is only one goal, and it goes back to that fateful day in college.

If you’re not starting, you aren’t working hard enough.

Malik Muhammad continues to raise questions.

Specifically, how did he fall to the 4th round? At first glance, the young cornerback has all the traits teams love. He’s tall, long, athletic, fluid, and sticky in coverage. He demonstrated clear instincts and intelligence. His character comes across as elite. One would imagine at least one team would look to take him in the 2nd or 3rd rounds. The only explanation people can find is that he’s 182 lbs, which is very thin for an NFL corner. Yet that can be corrected with a dietary adjustment.

Whatever the case, the Bears were thrilled to land him when they did. Experts across the board often listed Muhammad as one of the steals of the draft. The one person who probably wasn’t happy about it was Tyrique Stevenson. It was already clear that the former 2nd round pick was in the doghouse after his playing time was drastically cut midway through last season. Despite his obvious talent, ongoing inconsistency and a lack of focus led coaches to give others like Nahshon Wright the majority of snaps.

Prior to the draft, Stevenson appeared relatively safe in terms of competition for the starting job opposite Jaylon Johnson. Not anymore.

Muhammad vs. Stevenson should be a war.

The motivation from both sides is significant. Muhammad feels disrespected by how low he was drafted. He put in so much work to be one of the best players on that Texas defense, even helping them reach the national championship in 2024. Being relegated to the 4th round was an insult. By contrast, Stevenson is fighting for his financial future. This 2026 season will be the last of his rookie deal. If he can’t put together a strong year, any hopes of landing a large second contract, either from the Bears or elsewhere, will fizzle away. He’s a father now, which only increases the sense of urgency.

This is what the Bears want. Competition is the buzzword they keep mentioning every year. Johnson and Ryan Poles have said players perform better when they’re uncomfortable with their roster status. That is how it should be. No free handouts in the NFL. Either you perform up to the team’s standard or someone else will eagerly step in to take your place. Stevenson seemed to feel safe as a high draft choice during his first couple of years. That is out the window. Malik Muhammad is ready for battle, and he better be, too.

Fans and media were perplexed and livid when news broke that the Chicago Bears had taken Sam Roush 69th overall in the 3rd round of the 2026 draft. Nothing about it made sense. The team already had two good tight ends. If you’re that anxious to replace Durham Smythe, who left in free agency, you can just wait until day three of the draft to grab somebody. Finding blocking tight ends isn’t that difficult. Head coach Ben Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles were unapologetic. They believed Roush had rare blocking ability for his position and would give the offense more power in the ground game.

That didn’t stop frustration from permeating, what with the team still not addressing the pass rush. All people could do was accept a missed opportunity. Was it, though? Former NFL quarterback Trent Dilfer coached Roush in high school. He stated in a recent interview that people are badly overlooking how good the tight end is. He doesn’t mean as a blocker either. Pass-catching ability has always been there. A bad situation at Stanford merely hid it away. By the sound of things, it appears Bears media members are waking up to this reality after just two practices.

Sam Roush may not be Smythe. He may be another Cole Kmet.

The former Bears 2nd round pick has established himself as one of the better “Y” tight ends in the league. While not a volume pass catcher like the bigger stars, he is a solid blocker who can also be a factor in the receiving game. His huge catches against Philadelphia and Los Angeles serve as proof. Having one such type of tight end is a good thing. Now, try to imagine having two. That is likely what Johnson was imagining when the Bears elected to take Roush. The blocking ability was the first appeal, but there was untapped potential as a receiving threat.

This goes back to Johnson. One must remember the Bears head coach was a tight ends coach for several years before reaching his current status. He has a deep knowledge of the position and has demonstrated that through the draft with picks like Sam LaPorta and Colston Loveland. If he’s willing to spend a sizable selection like a 3rd rounder on Sam Roush, there had to have been a good reason beyond just good blocking. It appears we’re already seeing signs of that.

Roush will be somebody defenses can’t account for.

Think about it. Opponents had a hard enough time containing Loveland and Kmet when they were on the field together. Try to imagine having to adjust your scheme to deal with a third big tight end who can run and catch as well. It is the nightmare scenario. For many years, most NFL teams were content to have one receiving tight end and one blocking tight end while they focused on stockpiling wide receivers. Johnson and the Bears have gone in the other direction. What happens if they stack up three tight ends who can run, catch, and block?

The short answer is chaos. There is a reason the Rams ran so much “13” personnel last season with three tight ends on the field. They recognized most defenses don’t have the bodies to match up with something like that. What is scary now is that Chicago may have better talent than L.A. did last year. Roush’s arrival cemented that. The vision is coming into focus, and it’s terrifying.

The Chicago Bears‘ pass rush was not good enough last season. Its 145 total pressures were 29th in the NFL, and it showed on the field. Opposing quarterbacks often had way too much time to sit in the pocket and find openings against an often injury-depleted secondary. So you can understand why Bears fans were so frustrated that the team didn’t invest many resources into fixing the problem. They added three veteran defensive tackles in free agency and a 6th round pick in the draft. Pretty much the same starting lineup from last season remains intact. Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen was asked about it.

People wondered whether he might be a little upset that the team didn’t try a little harder to get him some help. You can imagine their surprise when Allen admitted that part of the problem last year was his overall coaching of the pass rush. He and his staff were so focused on installing the new scheme as quickly as possible that they didn’t do a good enough job of staying on top of players’ fundamentals. That problem will be addressed extensively this summer.

“We had a lot of discussions this offseason about a lot of different things, and one of the things we identified was me. We focused so much on installing all the scheme last year because it was brand new, and we do have a high volume of things we carry in the defense. We focused so much on that that we lost sight of some of the fundamentals and techniques that it takes to function, to do those things. I don’t think we were as fundamentally sound defensively as we need to be. So how do we have to coach it better? Well, let’s minimize how much we’re focused on the scheme, OK, and let’s focus on not what we’re gonna do but how we’re gonna do it. I think that’s how we’re gonna improve.”

Dennis Allen taking accountability is a great thing.

Plenty of coaches would’ve just sidestepped the question and offered a bland response about having to improve. Instead, he willingly admitted that he wasn’t on top of the details enough in his mad dash to get his system in place. It is a perfectly fair explanation. Schemes are difficult to digest these days, given the sheer volume of information they carry. Coaches only have so much time in a day. Priorities must be established. Unfortunately, strict adherence to fundamentals fell by the wayside.

In truth, this entire situation isn’t entirely new to Allen. If you look at his long history as a defensive coordinator and play-calling head coach, the pass rush has been a problem for considerable sections of it. Since 2011, Allen’s defense has finished 26th or worse in total team pressures on the quarterback nine times. That includes last season by the Bears. The times that were different came when he had true studs in the lineup like Von Miller, Cameron Jordan, and Trey Hendrickson. When he didn’t have Pro Bowl-caliber horses, he didn’t have the ability to manufacture pressure.

Allen is not a miracle worker.

The hard truth is that most coaches can’t create pressure out of thin air. At least not without recklessly blitzing. You need good players to make anything in this league work. Right now, the Bears don’t really have any centerpiece guys on their defensive line. Montez Sweat remains a quality part of the rotation, but he’s not on the same level as the top talents in the league. Austin Booker showed considerable improvement down the stretch last season, but he must stay healthy. Gervon Dexter was too inconsistent. Grady Jarrett isn’t as explosive as he used to be. Dayo Odeyingbo tore his Achilles and wasn’t playing well even before that.

Yes, Dennis Allen is correct. The fundamentals got away from players at times last season. He isn’t wrong in that regard. Cleaning that up, along with some better luck on the health front, should at least improve the Bears’ pass rush floor. Unfortunately, their ceiling remains limited. Until they find a true stud, it feels like this will be a constant issue for the team moving forward.