LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — The excitement in Chicago is palpable as coach Ben Johnson kicks off his tenure with the Bears, transforming a struggling team into NFC North champions.
After a dismal last-place finish the previous year, the Bears made a remarkable turnaround, clinching the division title and advancing to the playoffs for the first time in 15 years. The comeback victories left fans buzzing with optimism.
However, Johnson understands the challenge ahead. “There is no building off of this,” he stated emphatically. “We go back to square one. We’re back at the bottom again. That’s really all 32 teams. If you feel otherwise, you’re probably missing the big picture.”
The Bears find themselves in a stronger position than before. Quarterback Caleb Williams has already set the franchise’s single-season passing record in just his second year, and Johnson looks ready to guide him to even greater heights. It’s a stark contrast to last January, when the team was reeling from a dismal 5-12 finish, culminating in the dismissal of former coach Matt Eberflus.
General manager Ryan Poles approaches this offseason with a different mindset. Instead of a rebuild, he’s focusing on refining a contender. “You just have more constraints,” Poles observed. “At the same time, I don’t think the process changes. You’re gonna identify the guys that fit what we want in our football team, which coach hit, and you just keep trying to acquire those players. We know what they look like, we know how they act, we know how they talk, and we’ll continue to do that.”
Poles had a significant offseason last year. He revamped the offensive line by trading for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, while signing center Drew Dalman. His second-round pick, Ozzy Trapilo, quickly became the starting left tackle but suffered a severe injury — a torn patellar tendon — during the wild-card matchup against Green Bay.
Though Poles didn’t specify a timeline for Trapilo’s return, he recognized the challenges ahead. “I’m sure it’ll be deep into next season, with the injury,” Poles remarked. “We’ve had a conversation with him. He knows this is part of his journey that he has to overcome. I have a lot of faith in him and our staff to get him back ready to go whenever that is.”
Trapilo was one of four standout players drafted by Poles this past year. The Bears also scored big with tight end Colston Loveland in the first round, receiver Luther Burden in the second, and running back Kyle Monangai in the seventh. Loveland, selected as the 10th overall pick out of Michigan, topped the Bears in receptions (58), receiving yards (713), and tied for the most touchdown catches (six). Burden showcased speed with 652 receiving yards, while Monangai contributed a solid 783 rushing yards as part of a dynamic duo with D’Andre Swift.
The Bears face important decisions regarding safety, as All-Pro Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker are set to enter free agency. Byard, who led the league with seven interceptions, expressed his desire to return, a sentiment echoed by Poles.
“I have no problem saying that’s a player that we would like to have back,” Poles said. “But, again, when you add the other safeties into that mix and all the other decisions we have across the roster, with cap restraints and things like that, it’ll be a challenge. But that’s part of what we do.”
Poles highlighted a pressing need to strengthen the defense, which struggled in various metrics, ranking 29th overall and 27th against the run. Chicago tied for 22nd in sacks with 35. Nevertheless, the Bears appear to have reason for hope with their two critical pillars now solidified — the coach and the quarterback.
“I’m really encouraged about the steps he took this year,” Johnson said, advocating for Williams. “I’m Caleb Williams’ No. 1 believer. I have a lot of faith in him and what he’s capable of doing and the player that he’s still striving to become.”
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