Ben Johnson isn’t under any illusions. While his goal to win games and make the playoffs remains undeterred going into this season, he also knows it won’t be a smooth process. The Chicago Bears are not a polished contender. They’re a group of talented athletes who haven’t learned how to win. At the heart of it is quarterback Caleb Williams, the former #1 overall pick. His success will determine how far the Bears go. Johnson knows this. It is why they hired him as head coach.
It would be great if Williams came out of the gate and racked up stats. However, nothing is that simple. Johnson’s offense was successful for years in Detroit, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to learn. Quarterbacks are required to absorb and retain boatloads of information. Asking Williams to handle it as smoothly as Jared Goff, a longtime veteran, is naive. Johnson knows this. It will take time for the quarterback to blossom. When will we know? Johnson offered an answer to Marquee Sports Network.
You’ll be able to tell before every snap.
“This thing is just going to accelerate; it goes exponentially,” Johnson said. “This year there’s growing pains. Next year he’s – I don’t want to use the word comfortable because we don’t ever want him to necessarily feel comfortable, but he’s going to have a lot more awareness in terms of what we’re doing.
“Rather than teaching algebra, we’re going to move on to calculus. That’s where his game will keep going up and up and up. It’s no longer reacting to the defense, it’s manipulating the defense. That’s the trajectory we’re on. How quickly we get there, that remains to be seen.”
"We should see steady improvement over the course of this season to where we're playing our best football in December and January."
Watch Ben Johnson’s exclusive interview on the Marquee Sports Network App.
Ben Johnson understands the quarterback position well.
When you watch the great ones operate, they all look the same before the snap. They examine the defense, diagnose what they’re showing, and make checks at the line of scrimmage to get guys lined up properly. Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, and Joe Montana were some examples of this. The last Bears quarterback who exhibited such traits was Jim McMahon. If Williams wants to join the elite class, he must learn how to function like a coach on the field. Ben Johnson can’t be there to hold his hand every second. This isn’t college anymore. If and when the quarterback reaches such a point, the Bears offense will become something this city hasn’t seen in decades.
Sep 29, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) looks to throw the ball against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
People might be a bit perplexed at how serious Ben Johnson has been about the left tackle situation since arriving as head coach. That is because he understands reality. Great offenses don’t function without good left tackles. Right now, the Chicago Bears don’t have one. Braxton Jones was decent even when healthy. Kiran Amegadjie is still untested. Ozzy Trapilo was a right tackle in college. Theo Benedet is a former undrafted free agent. Johnson faces this situation, knowing the NFC North might have the most stacked list of pass rushers in the NFL.
Aidan Hutchinson?
Jonathan Greenard?
Rashan Gary?
Micah Parsons?
Running that gauntlet is almost impossible unless the Bears can field a credible left tackle. They’ll unlikely find one this year unless something crazy happens at the trade deadline. That means Johnson and GM Ryan Poles must start researching options for the 2026 offseason. Chicago will have plenty of resources to address the problem. It is about whether they can. In that regard, there is good news and bad news.
Good news: Chicago Bears will have options in the 2026 draft
Look around the NFL and you’ll see that most of the top offensive tackles in the league are 1st round picks. Of the seven Pro Bowlers this past season who were starters or reserves, six of them went in the 1st round. If the Chicago Bears go the draft route, it’ll be early. Thankfully, it sounds like the upcoming class will have options. Current projections have at least four names going in the 1st round, headlined by Spencer Fano (Utah), Francis Mauigoa (Miami), Kadyn Proctor (Alabama), and Caleb Lomu (Utah). There is a good chance others may ascend in the coming months. Depending on where the Bears pick, they should be able to land somebody they like.
Bad news: The veteran market will be barren
Free agency will not save the Bears next year. The list of options that might be available isn’t exactly stellar. Rasheed Walker from Green Bay might be the best of the bunch, which isn’t saying much. Then you have Cam Robinson, Vederian Lowe, and Jermaine Eluemunor as other possibilities. None of those names is a significant upgrade over Jones. That leaves the trade market. This offers slightly better possibilities with Charles Cross, Ikem Ekwonu, and maybe Tyler Smith. Of course, teams would have to make one of those guys available, which is hardly guaranteed. So yeah, the Bears would need some serious good fortune to go the veteran route for their answer.
Aug 10, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson on the sidelines against the Miami Dolphins during the first half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
The Chicago Bears are enjoying the long weekend before they begin preparations in earnest for Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season. Hosting the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football is a tough way to kick off the season, but seeing how their new head coach likes to operate, he wouldn’t have it any other way.
The Bears did a good job reshaping their organization in the offseason — starting with the hiring of Ben Johnson. The coaching staff that Johnson has assembled (Antwaan Randle-El, Dennis Allen, Al Harris, Dan Roushar, Eric Bieniemy, and many others) looks primed to shape this roster into an exciting team.
Training camp and the preseason gave us a lot to chew on heading into Week 1. What did we learn, and what should we expect now in 2025? Let’s dive in.
Thoughts from Preseason
Caleb Williams had a lot of work to do
It’s no secret that Johnson was excited to coach Caleb Williams. Objectively, he’s a more talented quarterback than Jared Goff, Ryan Tannehill, and any other QB that Johnson has ever worked with. But it was clear that – coming off 2024 – Caleb would have to unlearn and relearn a lot about playing the position.
I love the approach to load up his plate to see what he can handle. Just because a QB has strengths, doesn’t mean they shouldn’t work to improve. When it comes to game planning and trying to win, I have full faith that Johnson will put Williams in the best possible position to succeed. But while practice time is available, make use of it. It seems evident that they did that.
How much of it will translate? That’s TBD. The Bears clearly struggled with some of the presnap and timing aspects of the offense. Penalties can and will kill this team if they don’t clean it up. The hope is they can before Brian Flores throws the kitchen sink at the young QB and new-look offensive line in prime time.
These pass catchers are sick
DJ Moore. Rome Odunze. Olamide Zaccheaus. Luther Burden. Colston Loveland. Cole Kmet. That’s a HEALTHY stable of pass catchers for Williams to throw to. And the best part is, someone like Loveland gives them the opportunity to put two TEs on the field even in 11 personnel. Do you know how much of a flex that is?
I also trust that Johnson will put these guys in the best position to succeed. No more misfits (i.e. Keenan Allen running streaks). Use them in situations that maximizes their ability to help. The talent is obvious.
The offensive line is deep, if not complete
It’s so nice to not have to worry about 4 out of 5 positions on the OL this time around. There are questions about the left tackle, which I get. I am a fan of Braxton Jones — as in, he is more than an adequate answer when healthy. The issue is, he’s not fully healthy. And yet, he’s seemingly defaulted as the LT for Week 1.
Still, Johnson can scheme around this until he gets his legs back under him (literally). Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, and Jonah Jackson make up a very good interior OL (which Caleb really needed) and Darnell Wright is a very good (almost awesome) RT. They have more than enough to work with, health permitting.
Part of this is on Caleb. If he plays on time — which he needs to prove he can do — they can make a lot of noise on offense.
Meanwhile, depth-wise, I like Luke Newman and Ryan Bates in versatile IOL roles. Same with Ozzy Trapilo as the swing tackle. And having Kiran Amegadjie learning to play guard (in addition to tackle) is a luxury. If one of the starters gets hurt, this team isn’t fully fucked.
The pass rush is…concerning
I like Montez Sweat. I like Austin Booker. And I like Gervon Dexter and Grady Jarrett. But I just don’t see enough from a pass rush perspective to feel comfortable that they can affect the quarterback.
Dayo Odeyingbo was an understandable bet to make (size, versatility, second contract guy with 8 sacks last year). But he’s been fairly quiet overall, and got handled quite easily by rookie Josh Simmons (who is AWESOME) in Kansas City last Friday night. Shemar Turner is recovering from injury and appears to be behind from a depth perspective. And Dominique Robinson making the team again was not something I frankly had on my bingo card.
Couple that with Micah Parsons heading to the Green Bay Packers, and Bears fans’ angst is understandable. That was a prime chance to bring in an elite edge player. But one can argue that they’re not ready.
Still, I worry that this pass rush will render what really is a GOOD secondary fairly helpless.
Tyson Bagent is one of the NFL’s best stories
Undrafted out of Shepard and he lands a two-year extension worth $10M BEFORE his UNDRAFTED rookie contract is even up. That’s unheard of. Good for Tyson Bagent, man. A truly stand-up guy and excellent backup quarterback who I have no doubt will get an opportunity to start in the NFL some day.
Especially now that he gets to learn from Ben Johnson for three total seasons… talk about the best-paying internship in existence.
So, What Do We Predict In 2025?
My way too early predictions:
vs. MIN – Loss @ DET – Win vs. DAL – Win @ LV – Win @ WAS – Win vs. NO – Win @ BAL – Loss @ CIN – Win vs. NYG – Win @ MIN – Loss vs. PIT – Loss @ PHI – Loss @ GB – Loss vs. CLE – Win vs. GB – Win @ SF – Loss vs. GB – Win
Prediction: 10-7 (Wild Card entry)
Optimistic? Maybe. But Ben Johnson gives this team a higher floor than they’ve ever had. Coaching matters. And the Bears (on paper) have excellent coaching. If the QB elevates? Look out, the sky is the limit.
Jun 20, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Spencer Turnbull (12) throws a pitch against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
It didn’t seem like the Chicago Cubs were going to use the veteran, which is seemingly why 32-year-old pitcher Spencer Turnbull has left the organization. The right-hander signed a minor league deal with the Cubs back in July, and after seven starts with the Iowa Cubs at Triple-A, Turnbull is off to find another opportunity.
Turnbull didn’t sign with a team until early May, when the Toronto Blue Jays scooped him up off the street. He only pitched in three games with the Blue Jays before they waived goodbye. In seven games at Triple-A Iowa Turnbull allowed 27 earned runs in 28.2 innings, an 8.48 ERA.
RHP Spencer Turnbull, who made six starts with the @IowaCubs, is now a free agent. I’m told he’s opted out.
Even with the recent setback to Jameson Taillon the Cubs do have depth in the rotation with Javier Assad filling in once again for an injured starter.
(Previous Update)
The Chicago Cubs have signed veteran pitcher Spencer Turnbull to a minor league deal. The 32-year-old pitched for the Toronto Blue Jays earlier this season, but was released at the end of June after he made three appearances with the AL East division leaders.
Turnbull, who was a free agent after the 2024 season, went unsigned all offseason despite a good year with the Philadelphia Phillies. Turnbull recorded a 2.65 ERA in 54.1 innings last year, pitching in 17 games. However, the right-hander did suffer a massive setback, missing the final few months of the season because of a lat strain.
Appears to now be official, the Cubs signed Spencer Turnbull to a minor league deal. He’s in Arizona. Turnbull fits a lot of what the cubs have targeted in recent seasons and could provide depth or even a boost down the stretch. pic.twitter.com/04r4bZcblM
The Blue Jays signed Turnbull back in May and sent him to Triple-A to ramp up. He made his season debut on June 11, against the St. Louis Cardinals and tossed two scoreless innings. Turnbull faced his ex-team in the Phillies his next time out and gave up one run in 2.1 innings before making his final appearance with the Blue Jays against the White Sox on June 20. The righty allowed four runs on five hits and two walks, going only two innings after throwing 45 pitches.
Turnbull came up with the Detroit Tigers, making his MLB debut at the end of the 2018 season. In his first full season in the majors Turnbull posted a 4.61 ERA in 30 starts and then he made 11 starts in the shortened 2020 season. Unfortunately, Turnbull underwent Tommy John surgery in the middle of the 2021 season, which subsequently sidelined him for the entire 2022 season as well.
The timing was awful for Turnbull, who had a 2.88 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in nine starts before he went down with the elbow injury. Turnbull’s 2021 season included a no-hitter on May 18.
Turnbull returned from Tommy John surgery in 2023, but only made seven starts before he went down with a neck injury and was then sent to Triple-A for the final five weeks of the regular season once he was healthy. The Tigers let him go and Turnbull rebounded with the Phillies in 2024.
Out of the 17 appearances with the Phillies last season seven were starts and Turnbull was excellent in those outings. He posted a 1.78 ERA with 38 strikeouts in 35.1 innings.
Overall in his career Turnbull has a 4.31 ERA in 81 MLB games.
The Cubs currently have Colin Rea and Chris Flexen in the rotation, filling in for Justin Steele and Jameson Taillon. Ben Brown and Jordan Wicks are in Triple-A as additional depth, while Javier Assad is also expected to return from his oblique injury in August. Now, Turnbull will be added to the mix as the Cubs also explore bigger targets via the trade market in hopes of giving the starting rotation a boost down the stretch.
Aug 28, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Chicago Cubs left fielder Ian Happ (8) walks to the dugout after striking out during the ninth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images
The Chicago Cubs were swept on the road this week as the offense once again hit a speed bump. So much for the positive momentum that the Cubs were seemingly riding last week. The San Francisco Giants won all three games and outscored the Cubs 21-8, at Oracle Park.
Sadly, the offense not coming through has been the norm during the month of August for the Cubs and their first real sweep of the season capped off an awful stretch for Chicago’s bats. Dating back to the Cubs’ Aug. 10, game against the St. Louis Cardinals, they’ve scored four runs or less in 16 of 18 games. The only two games in which Craig Counsell saw his offense explode for more than four runs were in a 6-4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers and this past weekend’s 12-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels.
But here’s what’s actually impressive about this 18-game stretch of futile offensive performance by the Cubs. They have somehow managed to go 9-9, largely thanks to the starting pitching.
Yet, at the same time it’s a lot more frustrating to look at the very winnable games that the Cubs have let slip away because the offense has been so bad in August.
Here are four of those nine losses from the past three weeks.
Aug. 10: 3-2 @ St. Louis Aug. 14: 2-1 @ Toronto Aug. 15: 3-2 vs. Pittsburgh Aug. 28: 4-3 @ San Francisco
Oh and during the first week of August the Cubs also lost 4-3 to the Baltimore Orioles and 3-2 to the Cincinnati Reds.
Just to give you an idea of how bad it’s been, here are the rankings of the Cubs’ offense during August.
I know a lot of fans are pissed off about Counsell not playing top prospect Owen Caissie more often since he was called up, but the problem goes beyond just replacing one guy in the lineup.
See, Counsell can’t bench half the team and that’s the issue. It’s not one or two guys who are struggling since the All-Star break, the Cubs only have a handful of players who are actually producing on offense.
Cubs stats since July 18 Matt Shaw: 168 wRC+, .288/.330/.654 Nico Hoerner: 111 wRC+, .309/.362/.375 Kyle Tucker: 110 wRC+, .219/.355/.360 Ian Happ: 108 wRC+, 224/.336/.397 Pete Crow-Armstrong: 85 wRC+, .229/.273/.397 Dansby Swanson: 80 wRC+, 232/.287/.352 Seiya Suzuki: 75 wRC+, .182/.322/.256 Michael Busch: 72 wRC+, 192/.254/.362 Carson Kelly: 60 wRC+, .220/.288/.260
Matt Shaw has been incredible, but besides him everyone else has collectively been awful. I mean, the struggles for Kyle Tucker led to a benching and it speaks volumes that he’s still put up the third-best production in the past 1.5 month despite how bad he was at the plate. It just goes to show how worse everyone around Tucker has been.
The Cubs have no chance to do anything in October if these guys don’t pick it up. Sorry, but Owen Caissie alone isn’t saving the lineup.
Meanwhile, the starting rotation is doing everything it can to keep the Cubs in position to reach the postseason. Since the All-Star break the Cubs rank No. 1 in MLB with a 3.27 ERA from the starting pitchers. During the month of August alone, the Cubs rotation also ranks first in the league with a 2.99 ERA.
It would be nice if the offense could help out a little more down the stretch. Thanks.
Over the past decade, losing has become part of the Chicago Bears‘ consciousness. They have produced one winning record between 2013 and 2024. It has reached a point where both fans and even people inside Halas Hall seem to expect it. This is what quicksand feels like. No matter how hard you fight, it seems like you only sink deeper and deeper. Part of the problem is that they haven’t found the right leader to guide them out of it. That is why Ben Johnson arriving feels like such a big deal. He just got done turning around Detroit. If he can do that, it stands to reason he can do the same in Chicago.
Johnson wasn’t naive. He understood exactly what he was walking into. This is a tough city to coach in. Fans are numerous, vocal, and demanding. You need serious mental fortitude to handle the job. The first task for Johnson wasn’t installing systems, though. He had to begin the process of rewiring how his players think. Part of the reason they keep losing is a lack of mental toughness. They seem to fold up like a tent whenever things go wrong. So, Johnson set about teaching them how to handle the highs and lows of the game. Unfortunately, his creative lesson plan would involve some collateral damage as Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times found out.
Grady Jarrett would have to relive the worst night of his life.
Coach Ben Johnson was running through a list of recent Super Bowl champions during a Bears team meeting this month when Grady Jarrett noticed the roman numerals he was hoping not to see: LI. His mind cut to another set of numbers — 28-3, the lead the Falcons held midway through the third quarter of a Super Bowl they’d eventually lose to the Patriots in overtime.
“I saw the number and thought, ‘Oh my god,’” said Jarrett, who had three sacks from the nose tackle spot for the Falcons that game. “It was a good lesson, man. For me, it was able to open wounds a little bit.
“At the same time, unspoke-about history repeats itself.”…
…Call it the grit principle.
“It’s about the ebbs and flows of the course of the game and the emotion that goes into it,” Johnson told the Sun-Times. “And how do you win when you find yourself in a hole, which we will at some point this year. Every good team does every year. … You find your back against the wall. How do you respond to that in the right manner? New England did.”
Ben Johnson had the right idea.
As gutwrenching as that Super Bowl was for Jarrett, it was also the greatest comeback in NFL history. Going from down 28-3 with less than a half to play to winning in overtime is the ultimate proof of mind over matter. New England had every excuse in the book to resign themselves to their fate. Instead, they maintained their focus and poise, kept plugging away, and climbed their way back into the ballgame. Once Atlanta started wilting under the pressure, the Patriots took advantage. That is what mentally tough teams do. Ben Johnson understands that fundamental truth. It is how the Lions eventually learned how to win. If the Bears want to climb out of the mud, they must do the same. It’s not an easy process. Pain and sacrifices will be involved, but the end result is worth it.
Aug 16, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive end Micah Parsons (11) reacts after the game against the Baltimore Ravens at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
When you’re a Bears fan, you live your life expecting pain. But sometimes, the universe doesn’t just hand you pain — it gift-wraps it, sets it on fire, and delivers it straight to Soldier Field. That’s exactly what happened when the Green Bay Packers went full Thanos and traded for Micah Parsons.
Two first-round picks. Kenny Clark. And a wallet-busting $188 million contract that makes Parsons the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history. The Packers didn’t just make a move — they detonated a nuclear bomb right in the middle of the NFC North arms race.
This isn’t just a bad day for Chicago. This is the kind of seismic shift that reshapes the division for years. If you’re Caleb Williams, welcome to hell. Twice a year, minimum.
The Good: Yes, There Is a Silver Lining (Sort Of)
Before we drown in doom, let’s at least acknowledge the scraps of optimism.
Green Bay’s Cap Handcuffs Are Real
The Packers are now paying Parsons a ridiculous $47 million per year. That’s Monopoly money even by NFL standards. For context: that’s more than Justin Jefferson makes, and damn near quarterback money. Green Bay just made Parsons the golden goose, which means the rest of the roster will have to survive on bread crumbs.
Jordan Love is already locked into a massive 4-year, $220 million contract, which makes this move even riskier for Green Bay’s cap picture. Down the line, injuries, roster holes, and expiring deals will only magnify the strain. Paying a pass rusher like he’s Patrick Mahomes means some other position groups are going to rot. And Bears fans should pray it’s the offensive line protecting their QB.
No Firsts, No Future
The Packers kissed their 2026 and 2027 first-round picks goodbye to make this happen. That’s two years of elite draft capital flushed down the toilet. Sure, they got Parsons now, but what happens when they need to replace one of their aging offensive line anchors, like Elgton Jenkins if his durability issues persist or reload their secondary? They’ll be shopping in the bargain bin.
Bye-Bye Kenny Clark
Kenny Clark leaving is quietly a massive win for Chicago. This guy has bullied the Bears’ interior O-line for years. He’s the kind of player you circle on the scouting report and just say: “Yeah, good luck.” His 37 tackles and 1 sack in 2024 don’t tell the whole story — Clark controlled the middle. His absence makes life easier for Caleb Williams and Chicago’s run game.
So yeah, Packers fans can pop champagne all they want, but this trade comes with receipts they’ll have to pay.
The Bad: And Here’s Where It Gets Ugly
Of course, all those “silver linings” feel like putting a band-aid on a gunshot wound.
A Murderers’ Row of Pass Rushers
The Bears’ 2025 schedule is already a defensive gauntlet, and now you add Parsons to the mix twice. Chicago will face nine players who had 9+ sacks last season — literally half the NFL’s top sack artists. That’s a setup for Caleb Williams to get smacked around like a tackling dummy.
Parsons is a Cheat Code
Here’s the gut punch: Parsons has never had fewer than 12 sacks in a season. Let me say that again — never. Four years, four seasons of absolute carnage: 52.5 sacks, 63 TFLs, 9 forced fumbles. He’s 26. He’s entering his prime. And now he’s rocking green and gold until at least 2028.
This isn’t just a guy who beats your tackle. He breaks games in half. He tilts the field every single snap.
The Bears’ Left Tackle Situation Still Sucks
I want to believe in this line. I do. Chicago made upgrades with Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, and Jonah Jackson. But left tackle? Still a flaming question mark. Braxton Jones has flashes, but he’s inconsistent and coming off injury. His 68.5 PFF grade last year is basically a “C-” report card. And here’s the stat that should terrify Bears fans:
Chicago gave up 68 sacks in 2024, most in the league.
Caleb Williams was pressured 260 times.
Now Parsons is coming.
That’s like giving a rookie QB a blindfold and saying, “Good luck out there, kid.”
The Ugly: The Long Game Just Got Worse
This isn’t just about 2025. This is about the Bears’ entire rebuild timeline.
The Arms Race is Official
The NFC North is no joke. Last season:
Lions: 15-2, juggernaut offense
Vikings: 14-3, dynamic defense
Packers: 11-6, now adding Parsons
Bears: 5-12, still learning to crawl
That’s not a division. That’s a Thunderdome. Parsons doesn’t just make the Packers scarier — he makes the entire NFC North a goddamn warzone.
Market Reset Hell
Here’s another kick in the ribs: Parsons’ contract reset the entire pass rusher market. Now every elite edge is going to demand $45M+ a year. For the Bears — who still need to find their own Parsons someday — that means breaking the bank or hoping Ryan Poles unearths a gem in the draft.
Caleb Williams in the Crosshairs
Williams already got sacked 68 times as a rookie — the third-most in NFL history. You think throwing Parsons into the mix is going to help his development? This isn’t just about stats — it’s about psychology. Young quarterbacks get shell-shocked when they’re under siege. David Carr, anyone?
If Chicago can’t protect him, Williams’ growth could stall, and suddenly your rebuild is set back three years while Green Bay cruises. That’s the nightmare scenario.
Why This Hurts
Let’s cut through the noise with a little math:
Braxton Jones vs. Parsons: Jones already struggled with average rushers. Parsons wins on pass rush win rate and pressure percentage against elite tackles. This is like sending a paper wall against a buzzsaw.
Timing is Everything: The Packers nailed this move. Jordon Love may not be cheap, but their roster is young. Parsons’ prime lines up perfectly with their 4-5 year window. This isn’t desperation — it’s calculated warfare.
That’s what makes it worse. This wasn’t reckless. This was surgical.
Chicago Bears Offensive Line PFF Grades: 2024 vs 2025 (Projected).
What the Bears Have to Do Next
If Chicago wants to survive this new reality, here’s the blueprint:
Immediate Adjustments
Quick passing game: Ben Johnson needs to run a clinic on 2.3-second releases.
Find a real left tackle: Trade, free agency, kidnap Trent Williams — whatever it takes.
Lean on the run game: Ball control, shorten games, keep Parsons off the field.
Long-Term Survival
Draft and develop O-linemen like your life depends on it. Because it does.
Build a pass rush that can at least slow down Jordan Love. You don’t win in this division without pressure.
Exploit Caleb’s rookie deal. Spend everywhere else before the QB tax kicks in.
Final Verdict
Let’s not sugarcoat it: this trade is a catastrophe for Chicago. Green Bay just turned a fringe playoff team into a legit NFC Title contender, and they did it with a player who will personally wreck the Bears twice a year.
Parsons isn’t just another name on the schedule — he’s the kind of force that reshapes franchises. And for the Bears, that reshaping looks a lot like pain. Unless Poles and company act fast, Caleb Williams’ development is about to happen under constant duress, and the Bears’ timeline just got pushed back… again.
The only comfort? Maybe — maybe — Green Bay’s cap hell catches up to them before Parsons single-handedly buries Chicago’s rebuild. Until then, buckle up. Soldier Field just became Micah’s playground.
2025 - Bears GM Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson discuss players during training camp
The Green Bay Packers shocked the football world, concluding a blockbuster trade with the Dallas Cowboys for superstar pass rusher Micah Parsons. Chicago Bears fans couldn’t understand. If any team in the NFC North had a glaring need for pass rush help, it was theirs. Austin Booker just went on IR. Dayo Odeyingbo already looks like a questionable investment. Adding Parsons across from Montez Sweat would’ve been a game-changer. Instead, they must watch him chase Caleb Williams twice a year for the foreseeable future. Accusations are being hurled at GM Ryan Poles for not being more aggressive.
Sports Mockery insider Jeff Hughes answered that question hours after the deal went down. He basically stated that Poles had discussed the idea with head coach Ben Johnson, who turned it down. The two seem to believe this team is not one player away from contending for a championship.
Ryan: “Ben, should we give up multiple first round picks and a billion dollars for one guy?”
They aren’t wrong. As improved as the Bears look, they still have glaring holes at key spots on the roster. Edge rusher is one. Left tackle and running back are two others. They also have serious concerns about safety beyond this season, as both Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard are free agents. The fact that Ben Johnson sees it tells you he has eyes on the big picture.
It also tells you how much sway he has in the roster-building decisions.
Ryan Poles must retain his draft picks to keep building.
In truth, people should’ve seen this coming. Poles stated when he took over in 2022 that blockbuster trades like this are fun and can provide a great short-term boost. However, they tend to have lingering consequences in the long term. He repeated that message when asked about it earlier this week.
“There’s more levels to just grabbing the talent and bring it in. There’s some impact things that happen in your locker room and on the field and your salary-cap that, yeah, he could give you a little burst of energy, but long term, does it make sense for you or is it going to be a derailer down the road when you’re trying to sustain?”
It’s a fair point. The Bears have conducted two blockbuster trades similar to Parsons in the past 16 years. They swung a massive deal for Jay Cutler in 2009 and again for Khalil Mack in 2012. In both cases, the moves provided immediate jolts. Chicago reached the NFC championship in 2010 and won the division in 2018. However, as Ryan Poles said, there were consequences.
The Bears began fading in 2011. Injuries mounted, and key players got older. Things bottomed out in 2014. Years later, they managed only back-to-back 8-8 finishes in 2019 and 2020, due in large part to a lack of progression from quarterback Mitch Trubisky. Poles is correct. Unless you’re almost 100% sure a player like that gets you to a Super Bowl, it’s not worth it.
Jul 26, 2025; Oxnard, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive end Micah Parsons (11) at training camp at the River Ridge Fields. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
There is no question that adding Micah Parsons is a bold and potentially season-altering move by the Green Bay Packers. Pairing him with Rashan Gary could form the best pass rush duo in the NFL. Many view this as the most significant defensive move the Packers have made since signing Reggie White as a free agent. That might be true on the field, but multiple factors suggest this move is far more expensive and desperate.
For one, there is what the Packers gave up. Two 1st round picks as their best defensive tackle (Kenny Clark) is a sizable loss. That immediately lowers Green Bay’s draft flexibility, which has always been the primary way they keep their roster strong. They’ve never done something like this before. The Packers have never gone two consecutive seasons without a 1st round pick.
Then there is the money. After decades of being one of the most fiscally responsible franchises in the NFL, Green Bay is now the first team in history to commit $100 million to just two players.
To my knowledge, no team in NFL history has spent over $100M on two players… until now.
Am I the only one who doesn’t like the Parsons trade for the Packers?
No cap flexibility or draft equity for the foreseeable future, and the roster, which still has serious holes, will start hemorrhaging contributors starting this coming offseason.
For better or worse, Green Bay is already fully committed to Jordan Love. It has pretty much been established that he isn’t on the same level as Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers. The Packers are betting (or hoping) that he is good enough to complement what should be a great defense with Micah Parsons on board. This is basically a copy of what the Philadelphia Eagles did last year.
Have a good running game, a great pass rush, and a good enough quarterback. The key difference is that Philadelphia also had great talent at skill positions like wide receiver and cornerback. Green Bay is okay at the former and bad at the latter.
Worse still, the money situation will rear its ugly head after this season. Quay Walker, Romeo Doubs, Rasheed Walker, Kingsley Enagbare, and Sean Rhyan are all free agents in 2026. Elgton Jenkins, Tucker Kraft, and Jayden Reed will follow in 2027. There is no way the Packers can keep all of them. So yeah, they are gambling a lot on 2025 and their ability to keep the roster strong without premium draft capital after that.
Jul 24, 2025; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) signals during training camp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Ben Johnson had one of the best offenses in the NFL for three years in Detroit. It happened that way because he was creative, intelligent, and notoriously obsessed with details. So one can imagine Johnson’s offense is both large and complex. It requires tons of time and effort to absorb. Caleb Williams has spent most of his football career playing in somewhat simplified systems, allowing him to feature his incredible talent as an athlete and thrower. What Johnson brought to the Chicago Bears is leagues above anything he experienced last season or at USC.
Nobody should’ve been surprised that Williams struggled to digest it when things began in the spring. Johnson hounded the quarterback constantly, forcing him to redo plays whenever there were mistakes. Pre-snap penalties, botched hand-offs, and missed reads leading to sacks have regularly occurred over the past month. Williams is aware of it and has been trying to find ways to speed up the learning process. He found a creative solution, according to Courtney Cronin of ESPN.
Williams is trying to do his part to deliver on those expectations. He says he listens to voice recordings of his playcalls at the line of scrimmage and yells out his cadence while driving in his car to get more comfortable with using his vocal inflection as a weapon. Johnson said that the amount Williams is responsible for “mentally” is likely greater in this offense than it has been at any other point of his career.
“Everything he speaks, if you don’t understand, he’s patient,” Williams said. “If you don’t understand, he’ll find a way to help you understand.”
Nobody can say Caleb Williams isn’t trying.
Hard work was never his problem. He has been putting in all the time necessary and then some to learn his craft. People should stop and think about what he accomplished last year. He had three different offensive coordinators and two head coaches. The offensive line was a mess. Through all of that, he still threw for 3500 yards, 20 touchdowns, and only six interceptions. No way that happens with most other rookie starters. We’re talking twice as many interceptions as touchdowns and probably not starting the whole season. Caleb Williams delivered all of that through sheer talent and hard work. Everybody around him has never once questioned his drive to improve. The only thing needed is time and patience. There is a sense of urgency, to be sure, but it remains a process.
