The Chicago Bears saw exactly what they hoped for in 2025. It was Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams developing a partnership that led to success on the field. It wasn’t pretty. So many late-game comebacks were required. Williams struggled with consistency at times, while Johnson took some time to get a feel for what his players did best. However, once everything clicked, the results were terrific. Williams finished with the franchise single-season record for passing yards. The offense cracked the top 10, and the Bears won the division. Nobody was happier about that than Ryan Poles.

The Bears’ GM was under a ton of heat before the season. He’d overseen three dismal seasons since taking over in 2022, which included the two longest losing streaks in franchise history. Lots of people felt he didn’t deserve the opportunity to hire another coach. Still, Poles got the opportunity and made the most of it. Now he must trust Johnson to take the team a step further. That starts with elevating Williams to the next level. How will that be done? The GM explained the plan to SiriusXM NFL Radio.

Ryan Poles knows one last step remains for Johnson and Williams.

They already know how to deliver big plays. No offense was better at it in 2025 than the Bears. The frustrating part was the layups. Too often, it felt like Williams wasn’t able to complete more basic passes to stay ahead of the sticks. As a result, the Bears ended up in 2nd or 3rd-and-long a lot more often than preferred. That is why many of their drives ended in punts and why it was often difficult for them to get out to strong starts. Stringing completions together may sound boring, but it’s an essential part of successful offensive football.

Not all of it was on Williams, mind you. Chicago was among the league leaders in wide receiver drops. Advanced metrics say his completion percentage should’ve been closer to 65%. Still, that isn’t good enough for Johnson. His desired mark is 70%. Championship quarterbacks hover around that mark. Sam Darnold was 67%. Drake Maye was 72%. Ryan Poles has no doubt the two will spend the entire offseason working to fix that problem.

The Chicago Bears have concluded their time at the Senior Bowl this past week. Now GM Ryan Poles, head coach Ben Johnson, and the rest of the team brass must prepare for the all-important scouting combine in Indianapolis. This will be the final mass gathering of top NFL draft prospects before the big event in April. Pinpointing which players the Bears may or may not like can be almost impossible. However, there are certain metrics that may help narrow the pool of names.

Here are four important facts to keep in mind once the event kicks off later this month.

Chicago Bears combine meetings are often used as misdirection

Inevitably, word will start leaking out that the Bears have met with several prospects at the combine in Indianapolis. People will immediately think this is a sign the team wants this player or that player. In reality, the Bears seem to have used this process as a subtle means of misdirection. In the past two years, the team was confirmed to have met at least 59 players at the event. Only three of them were drafted by Chicago. They were Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze, and Ozzy Trapilo. It is pretty clear that Poles likes to keep other teams guessing about who he actually plans to select.

Ben Johnson will watch the 40-yard dash for running backs

Running back might not be considered a need right now, but that can change quickly depending on the whims of the Bears head coach. He is very particular about the position. Don’t forget he willingly moved on from Jamaal Williams and D’Andre Swift in Detroit despite both being productive. One thing you can take to the bank with Johnson is that there is no trait he covets more in that position than speed. Jahmyr Gibbs was a perfect example a few years ago. The Bears also tried trading up for TreyVeon Henderson last April. If you want an idea of who they might target in this draft, watch the 40-yard dash results.

Watch the bench press for Dennis Allen-type defensive linemen

People talk first about size and length when discussing Allen’s defensive linemen. That is true to an extent, but there is another layer to it. What the Chicago Bears’ defensive coordinator actually likes is power. Go back through his long history, and you’ll find that many of the defensive line prospects his teams drafted had strong bench press performances.

• Von Miller – 21 reps
• Khalil Mack – 23 reps
• Shelby Harris – 25 reps
• Sheldon Rankins – 28 reps
• David Onyemata – 33 reps
• Marcus Davenport – 22 reps
• Payton Turner – 23 reps
• Bryan Bresee – 22 reps

Before getting into the size and arm length discussions, be sure to keep an eye on that drill. You can make a safe assumption that any potential lineman the Bears consider at #25 must clear at least 20 reps on the bench.

Dan Roushar will circle the three-cone drill looking for his next tackle

It isn’t a secret that the Bears are seeking a possible solution at left tackle with Ozzy Trapilo recovering from a patella injury. While offensive line coach Dan Roushar will be watching the non-measured drills like bags and pass mirror, the one timed drill you should watch is the three-cone. These measure the ability to change direction at high speed, body control, and agility. All three are crucial for an NFL left tackle. The best ones in the league usually time in the 7.6-second range or better. Ryan Ramczyk, whom Roushar helped draft in New Orleans, ran a 7.29. If any tackles at the combine hit that range, make sure to circle them.

The Chicago Bears had one of their best offseasons in a long time last spring. Most of it came from an outstanding draft class headlined by Colston Loveland, Luther Burden, and Kyle Monangai. However, they also scored big on the veteran market. They nailed two trades for Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson while also signing Drew Dalman in free agency. Yet the best offseasons are often determined not by the big swings but by the unexpected bargains you score. None was bigger for the Bears than Nahshon Wright.

The former 3rd round pick had never gotten going during his time in Dallas before being traded to the Minnesota Vikings. They didn’t keep him long, cutting him before the season. Chicago had ties to him via defensive backs coach Al Harris and so brought him in. As injuries struck the cornerback position, Wright was thrust into the starting lineup and immediately exploded with a pick-six on opening night. He would finish with five interceptions on the season, making his first Pro Bowl.

In recognition of this, Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady presented him with a new honor: the Best Value Player Award.

Nahshon Wright opened the door for others in Chicago.

His breakout success will undoubtedly inspire other young players. They may see the Bears as a possible avenue for overcoming previous career failures. If this coaching staff could do it for Wright, maybe they can do it for them. Whatever the case, the cornerback is set to command a big payday in free agency next month. That position is always in high demand. The Bears can’t really afford to keep him. He’s 27 years old. There will be teams eager for help. While his season wasn’t perfect, it was more than enough evidence that he can play.

The difficult question for the Bears is how they’ll replace him. They still have a trio of Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon, and Tyrique Stevenson. Terell Smith should return from his knee injury last year. Perhaps the most intriguing name to watch is Zah Frazier. Chicago drafted the cornerback in the 5th round last April, but he missed the entire year due to undisclosed reasons. He is expected back. Will they bring in anybody else? We’ll find out soon. As for Nahshon Wright, here’s hoping he gets the biggest contract possible.

The past 25 years have been defined by an underlying truth. If you wanted to reach the Super Bowl in the NFC, you most likely would have to get through the Philadelphia Eagles at some point. They’ve been the most consistent contender in the conference in that time, but especially over the past nine seasons, with Super Bowl victories in 2017 and 2024. One of the central figures in that storyline is Vic Fangio, who transformed the Eagles’ defense into one of the NFL’s elite. His presence was expected to keep the team in contention for years to come.

Unfortunately, it looks like those assumptions were premature. John Clark of NBC Philadelphia revealed that the 67-year-old Fangio is contemplating retirement. If that is true, it would immediately alter the entire outlook of the NFC. Most assumed the Eagles would remain in the picture as a gatekeeper, but that changes if the defense takes a dip. Their offense was rough last season, and now they’re hoping 33-year-old Sean Mannion can turn it around. It may not matter if the defense fades.

Vic Fangio leaving would do the Bears a favor.

While the Eagles aren’t a direct obstacle to a Super Bowl like Green Bay and Detroit, it was assumed that Chicago would have to get through them at some point. Removing Fangio from the equation makes Philadelphia look far less imposing, despite its obviously talented roster. Rumblings have persisted that head coach Nick Sirianni has fostered a toxic culture behind the scenes, which has led to infighting and a lack of cohesion. It is likely why top offensive coordinator candidates chose to avoid going there.

It might also be why Vic Fangio is thinking about stepping away. He’s having that classic Murtaugh “I’m too old for this s**t” moment. If he does step away, Bears fans should celebrate. Fangio was instrumental to the team’s division title in 2018, leading the #1 defense in the NFL. Ironically, his exit from another team could be a small catalyst in getting Chicago further in the postseason. More than anything, this is a man who feels destined for the Hall of Fame.

The Chicago Bears are in the early process of evaluation. Right now, GM Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson have concluded Senior Bowl work and are moving on to in-house evaluations ahead of free agency next month. They must determine which players to prioritize keeping and who they will likely have to let walk. It hasn’t reached a point where they’ve assembled a list of outside names they may want to pursue. Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen doesn’t have that problem. He already knows who he wants, and it’s Trey Hendrickson.

People inside Halas Hall informed SM that Allen is already pressing Poles to make a run at the former NFL sack leader. It isn’t hard to understand why. The defensive coordinator helped draft and develop the star defensive end in New Orleans, who was a former 3rd-round pick. Unfortunately, the Saints already had Cameron Jordan and 1st round pick Marcus Davenport, so they couldn’t afford to keep him. He went on to a stellar run with the Cincinnati Bengals. They, too, seem ready to bid farewell after refusing to offer a contract extension last season.

Dennis Allen knows Hendrickson still has gas in the tank.

His 2025 season was cut short by injuries, but in the seven games he played, he recorded 4 sacks and 8 quarterback hits. He should be healthy by the start of training camp in July. Pairing him with Montez Sweat and Austin Booker should finally give the Bears defense a formidable rotation of edge rushers that can give offenses problems. It would then allow Poles to focus on other areas in the draft, such as defensive tackle, linebacker, and safety. The tricky part will be finding the money.

Salar cap experts claim Hendrickson will command around $25 million per year. Given he turns 32 this December, he’s probably looking at a two-year deal. Chicago is currently $10 million over the cap. That means Poles will have to do some considerable payroll maneuvering to find the money. It can be done, but it may require some sacrifices. Will Dennis Allen get his way? Much depends on how big the market for Hendrickson is. Edge rushers are always in high demand.

Still, he may wish to join the Bears, both for a chance to reunite with Allen and join a team that just made a deep playoff run.

The reaction from fans and the media to the news that Ben Johnson had taken the Chicago Bears job was surprise. Out of all the jobs he could’ve taken, he chose the one that felt the least appealing on the surface. Chicago had long been a wasteland of forward thinking in football, stuck celebrating the exploits of one team 40 years ago while unable to join the modern era. Every head coach they hired seemed to fit the same criteria: conservative, unimaginative, and lacking any sort of charisma. That is why Johnson was such a thunderclap.

Not only had the Bears hired a coach known for being vocal and demanding, but also one of the most creative play callers in the NFL. He immediately lived up to those reputations by transforming a 5-12 team into an 11-6 division champion, powered by its first top 10 offense in 12 years. Caleb Williams broke the single-season franchise passing record, and the Bears finished 3rd in the NFL in rushing. Yet even now, people don’t grasp what makes Johnson so lethal. His creativity, mixed with common sense, is good, but people in the league notice something far better.

It’s his ability to lay traps for the defense and wait to spring them until late in games.

“It’s amazing what kind of difference a coach can make,” said a senior scout for another team who spent time with the Bears long ago.

“Ben Johnson is always looking for the knockout blow,” said a national scout for another team who also used to work for the Bears. “He’s in that special group of play callers, the guys that want to put you away.”

What I found really interesting is how one scouting director, late in the regular season, lauded Johnson’s ability to set things up throughout a game.

“It’s jab, jab, jab and then — boom,” he said.

Ben Johnson deployed this tactic to great effect this season.

His most famous was the wild card game against Green Bay. Early in the action, he ran a bubble screen to wide receiver Luther Burden a couple of times. The Packers’ defense began to recognize when it was coming and keyed on it. Then, in overtime, Johnson laid his trap. Chicago once again showed the bubble screen formation. As Green Bay shifted to counter it, Williams did a pump fake to Burden before hitting a streaking D.J. Moore up the sideline for the game-winning touchdown.

That was just one example of many across the entire season and was a big reason why the Bears were so good at engineering comebacks in the 4th quarter. Part of it was Williams’ ability to execute in crunch time. However, an equally big part was all the work Ben Johnson had done in the first three quarters, showing the defense one hand before hitting them with the other. This is not something you can prepare for because it is impossible to know when it’s coming.

The only solace for teams is that play callers who can do this are rare. Johnson is one of them.