News Bears Team Notes

[Chicago Bears]

2024 Rearview Mirror: Rome Odunze Draft Pick

Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images

In this series, we look back at the biggest moves from a year ago and review how they have panned out up to this point.

Next up in our 2024 rearview mirror series is Wide Receiver, Rome Odunze.

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Bears rookie WR, Rome Odunze became a dependable option for his QB towards the end of his rookie season.

In a loaded 2024 draft class, particularly for Wide Receivers, Rome Odunze was one of the consensus top three at the position, along with Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers. All three players possessed the resume and physical prowess to eventually be WR1s in the league. Prior to trading Justin Fields, many thought the Chicago Bears would consider Marvin Harrison Jr. with their first selection.

But then the Chicago Bears earned the first overall selection in the 2024 NFL draft, and they went after the QB of the future with the top pick. More on that in the final installment of this series.

With the 9th overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, most pundits assumed an offensive lineman like Olu Fashanu or a defensive end like Laiatu Latu or Dallas Turner would be the pick for Chicago, considering the Bears had just traded for future Hall of Famer Keenan Allen. Instead, Bears’ GM Ryan Poles pulled the trigger on the former NCAA yardage leader the year prior in former Washington Husky Rome Odunze.

Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
Rome Odunze frequently got behind opposing defenses in his final season as a Husky.

What appeared to be somewhat of a luxury pick, Ryan Poles selected the decorated wideout and added to the weapons in Chicago. And some weapon was Rome, having just amassed 1.640 yards on 92 catches and 13 TDs with a 17.8 ypc average. Standing 6’3” and weighing over 212 pounds, Odunze then ripped off a 4.45 forty yard dash, 39” vertical 10’4” broad jump, 6.88 three cone drill and 4.03 short shuttle. This was good enough for a 9.92 RAS score which ranked 26th out of 3,188 WR since 1987, courtesy of @MathBomb

Rome Odunze is a WR prospect in the 2024 draft class. He scored a 9.92 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 26 out of 3188 WR from 1987 to 2024.

Pro day pending.https://t.co/Z5Lmfjl3IN pic.twitter.com/QEeUjkmDlB

— RAS.football (@MathBomb) March 27, 2024​

Odunze was lauded for his resume and nature both on and off the field, but would there be enough targets to go around as a pro on a team that already included DJ Moore, Cole Kmet, Keenan Allen, D’Andre Swift and newly acquired Gerald Everett?

While he did get 101 targets, Rome only caught 54 passes for 734 yards and 3 scores, and while he did lead the team in receiving yards in four games as a rookie, it is fair to ask if he was the best selection for the Bears at the time.

Hindsight is 20/20, and had Poles known Odunze would have been available at 1.09, it is far less likely that he would have traded for Keenan Allen. But what’s done is done, and Rome’s production and involvement were ultimately slowed by the presence of a future HOF on the roster. So was it a good pick? Yes, I think it was, and I am excited to see how Rome fares moving forward. But from a team-building standpoint, selecting a WR over an OL with a rookie QB and two WR1s on the roster already was not the most fool-proof move.

---

What about you? What did you think of the Rome Odunze selection and did that change after watching the OL struggle so much or the pass rush fail to deliver?​

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Check out the other 2024 player acquisition reviews here:

• Ryan Bates trade
• Kevin Byard signing
• D’Andre Swift signing
• Keenan Allen trade

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...illiams-ryan-poles-matt-eberflus-keenan-allen

 

[Chicago Bears]

CJ Stroud, Caleb Williams laugh about infamous postgame handshake

Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Well, at least C.J. Stroud and Caleb Williams have a sense of humor.

With the two together on stage with Kay Adams, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning at FanDuel’s FanaticsFest this weekend, Adams asked Stroud what advice he might give the Chicago Bears star as the latter goes into his second season. Given Stroud’s battle with a sophomore slump after a Rookie of the Year campaign in 2023, it’s a natural question for the third-year passer.

But the Houston Texans signal-caller learned his lesson from the last time he tried to impart some wisdom onto the former Heisman Trophy winner, which resulted in a less-than-receptive reaction from Williams and criticism from Bears fans.

“I don’t know if Caleb likes my advice,” Stroud quipped, earning laughs from Williams.

#Texans QB C.J. Stroud when asked if he has any advice for #Bears QB Caleb Williams going into year 2:

“I don’t know if Caleb likes my advice.” pic.twitter.com/S1gYCqqJQd

— Chicago Bears Network (@bearsnetwork_) June 22, 2025​

The humorous exchange comes about a year after Stroud held Williams up after their Week 2 game last year, which the Texans won, to pump the then-rookie up while also giving some pointed advice

Hey, stop taking this hits,” Stroud told Williams before he could walk away. “Look, come here. Learn from those mistakes and everything that you got bro, is already in you bro. You going to be a hell of a player in the league.”

Not a few fans and pundits took issue with those words since Stroud has just one year more of professional experience than Williams, noting that the latter seemed perturbed at being instructed by a peer. (It’s also worth noting Williams was probably more irritated with his performance in the loss, having thrown two interceptions and no touchdowns, than the exchange itself.)

But it seems they don’t have any hard feelings about the whole thing, which was always way overblown from a talking heads perspective.

Maybe we can all laugh about it now.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...me-handshake-chicago-bears-houston-texans-nfl

 

[Chicago Bears]

Ten Chicago Bears with the most to prove in 2025: #5 Left Tackle

Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

Everybody has something on the line at this position.

The first half of our series, Ten Chicago Bears with the most to prove, is in the books. If you haven’t seen the list so far, it’s been as follows:

10. Roschon Johnson
9. Jaquan Brisker
8. Geron Dexter
7. Cole Kmet
6. Tremaine Edmunds

As we reach number five on the list, I will admit, for the first time, we cheated. We didn’t pick a player or a coach with the most to prove; we chose a position, and by doing so, we’ve lumped three players together.

Is it cheating? Probably. But we cheat for the sake of content. Nobody wants to see a top 10 list with 3 of the 10 players being left tackle, but that’s just how open this position is.

Let’s start with the newcomer, Ozzy Trapilo. Of the three left tackles, he has the least to prove amongst the group simply because he's a rookie. But Trapilo also has a chance to do something impressive: start at left tackle as a rookie.

Trapilo will have plenty of competition at this position, but he will have an opportunity to emerge from the training camp carnage as the team’s starting left tackle. What will play to his benefit is that Braxton Jones will most likely be missing from the beginning of camp.

Jones is still recovering from an ankle injury suffered in late December against the Detroit Lions that required surgery. With Jones absent, someone is going to have to run with the 1s, and there’s a good chance that Trapilo will be that person. He will probably be rotated with Kiran Amegadjie early in camp, but the smart money is that Trapilo will place himself firmly in front of Amegadjie in a short time.

That brings us to the second-year tackle out of Yale. When Amegadjie was selected, a lot of hype surrounded him, but that was largely because Amegadjie was a local product who grew up cheering for the Bears.

Those who had looked at his tape saw a toolsy player, but one that didn’t show well on tape, played against weaker competition in the Ivy League, and was coming off an injury. All signs pointed to a player who was going to be a project and probably needed a full year of practice and development before he saw the field.

But Amegadjie saw the field in December, and the results were disastrous. Now, Amegadjie enters year two with his future a bit uncertain.

Don’t get me wrong, Amedgadjie’s training camp and preseason would have to be disastrous on epic proportions for him to be released from the team in September, but it’s also not out of the realm of possibility.

You can’t take much away from OTAs and minicamp for offensive linemen, but it’s also not positive that no reporters who saw Amegadjie on the field thought he looked particularly good against the Bears' defenders.

Amegadjie has a long way to go, and he’s going to have to make tremendous strides this training camp to even get to a point where he can be relied on as a backup for 2025.

Based on the play we saw in December, would you be comfortable right now committing to Amegadjie as the team’s swing tackle? I don’t think many would.

If Amegadjie struggles throughout July and August, the team is going to have to keep him as the team’s fourth tackle and keep their fingers crossed that he doesn’t see the field any time soon.

At the same time, if Amedgadjie does develop and show significant strides during training camp and Ben Johnson is comfortable with him as the team’s swing tackle, that certainly opens up the door for some options on the veteran of the group, Braxton Jones.

For a guy who just plugs along and does his job, Braxton Jones doesn’t get a lot of love. Jones feels like today’s version of Charles Leno. He doesn’t do anything spectacularly well, he doesn’t do anything terribly, but he’s just a middle-of-the-road, average tackle.

For a fifth-round pick from Southern Utah, that’s an incredible accomplishment. Jones has proven he’s a legitimate NFL left tackle, and he should have a 10-year career in this league if his health holds up.

But that’s where you start to run into issues with Jones. The first is health. Jones started all 17 games as a rookie, but ended up missing six games during his second season and another five during his third. One of those injuries was significant and late into the season, which is now it’s going to impact Jones’ ability to get ready for the 2025 season.

When you have an average left tackle who is starting to show signs that he may not be able to reliably stay on the field, that’s when you have to wonder if he’s the type of player a front office can risk giving a significant second contract to.

Three questions surround Jones’ future. One, will he be on the field enough to extend? Two, is his talent at a high enough level to pay him near $20 million a year? Three, do the Bears have enough money under the cap to have all five of their offensive linemen on veteran contracts?

The Bears must have a firm answer on all those to consider extending him. Jones must prove he can stay on the field; he must improve on his ability to show the Bears can’t live without him at left tackle. If he stays on the field and looks replaceable by Trapilo or Amegadjie, that’s exactly what the Bears will do.

If Jones makes himself irreplaceable this year, the Bears will have to figure out how to pay all five offensive linemen at once, something you don’t usually see teams do. If the Bears see a more affordable option to replace Jones after this season, that’s exactly what they’ll do.

That’s where Jones not being ready for the start of training camp puts his future behind the 8-ball. Jones needs to make sure he keeps the starting job from Trapilo and Amedgadjie, but he won’t be on the field at the start of camp to separate himself from the two young tackles.

If Jones can’t do that and he loses his starting job to Trapilo, you can all but guarantee this will be Jones’ last season in Chicago. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that, if Amedgadjie also shows improvement, Jones could be on the trading block. There are plenty of teams that would consider Jones a pretty decent upgrade at left tackle compared to what they are currently trotting out there.

So that’s where we are with the most interesting position in training camp. Can Trapilo prove that he is ready to start at the NFL level? Can Amedgadjie prove that he belongs on an NFL field and show promise for the future? Can Jones show that this is still his position and prove that he needs to be the man protecting Caleb Williams’ blindside?

This is going to be the position to watch in July and August, and it will be fascinating to see how it unfolds.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...le-braxton-jones-ozzy-trapilo-kiran-amegadjie

 

[Chicago Bears]

2025 Chicago Bears Training Camp Dates

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

The Ben Johnson era starts with 12 public practices

The Chicago Bears announced their public training camp practice schedule Wednesday.

The team will hold 12 public practices from July 25 to Aug. 15.

During that time, they’ll have Family Fest and two joint public practices, one each with the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills.

The full schedule:

Friday, July 25 - 8:30 a.m.
Saturday, July 26 - 8:30 a.m.
Tuesday, July 29 - 8:30 a.m.
Wednesday, July 30 - 8:30 a.m.
Thursday, July 31 - 8:30 a.m.
Saturday, Aug. 2 - 8:30 a.m.
Sunday, Aug. 3 - Family Fest at Soldier Field
Thursday, Aug. 7 - 11 a.m.
Friday, Aug. 8 - Joint practice with Dolphins - 10:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 13 - 12:30 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 14 - 11 a.m.
Friday, Aug. 15 - Joint practice with Bills - 10:30 a.m.

Free tickets will be available starting Wednesday, July 9, at 10 a.m. CT.

If you’re claiming free tickets, don’t be a jerk and re-sell them. Keep training camp FREE for families and fans. If you end up not being able to go, GIVE them away to someone who wants to go.

This is my soapbox. Training camp remains the last entry-level way for fans to interact with their favorite team.

How many practices are you going to try to attend?

Mark your calendars ️

Free #BearsCamp tickets are available on July 9 at 10am CT

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) June 25, 2025​

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...st-joint-miami-dolphins-buffalo-bills-tickets

 

[Chicago Bears]

The Bear’s Den, June 26, 2025

Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Collusion is the word of the day in NFL land

WE WANT YOU!

Would you like to show your Chicago Bears spirit to the world? I’m starting a feature where Windy City Gridiron readers can share pictures of themselves and their families and friends in Bears attire. Simply email a picture to me at the following address: denmasterken at aol dot com. The pictures need to be clear, and full resolution (i.e. full size from your phone if that’s how you take them). Include any description information you like along with the photo!

THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL

DENMASTER KEN’S VIDEO GRAB BAG

BEARRRSSSS​

How Bears training camp at home just isn’t like the good old days - SI - Analysis: It wouldn’t be the worst thing for the Bears to look around for a nearby school to house their training camps once their stadium issues get resolved.

Bears projected to land Jalen Ramsey in blockbuster three-team trade - Could the Chicago Bears really pull off this massive trade for Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey? Ken’s Note: Oh for ______’s sake, what the serious ______ is wrong with the inside of your ______ head? This ______ is dumber than most offseason _______. I swan.

Bears set training camp schedule - 670 - The Bears have set their calendar for training camp, which will feature 12 practices open to the general public. The Bears will report to training camp on July 22.

KNOW THINE ENEMY

If Aaron Rodgers doesn’t want attention, why is he doing Pat McAfee’s show in June? - NBC Sports - Always be leery of people who voluntarily appear on a very public platform and declare, “I don’t want attention.”

POLISH SAUSAGE

Ohio legislature clears path for Browns to leave Cleveland, despite Art Modell Law - NBC Sports - Legislature opens door for Browns to move to Brook Park.

Did collusion case bring down Jeff Pash? - NBC Sports - In the aftermath of the release of the previously-hidden collusion ruling, many are wondering whether there will be consequences for key players like NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, NFL Players Association executive director Lloyd Howell, and/or NFLPA chief strategy officer J.C.

What happens next with the collusion story? - NBC Sports
- The collusion ruling could, depending on what the players choose to do, have ramifications for the NFL and/or the NFL Players Association.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON​

Chicago Bears announce 2025 training camp schedule - Chicago Tribune - The Chicago Bears announced their 2025 training camp schedule, which includes 11 practices that are open to the public. Here's the entire schedule, plus important dates to know.

NFL 2025 offseason winners, losers: Eagles still soaring; will Aaron Rodgers help Steelers? - The Athletic - The NFC North was also in the headlines this spring, as was 49ers QB Brock Purdy, who hit it big as questions swirled about his team.

Ten Chicago Bears with the most to prove in 2025: #4 DE Montez Sweat - Windy City Gridiron - The Bears best pass rusher needs to return to his 2023 form.

2025 Chicago Bears Training camp public practice dates - Windy City Gridiron - The Ben Johnson era starts with 12 public practices

Stock Up, Stock Down: Assessing The NFC North’s Offseason Movement - Windy City Gridiron - Following another busy NFL offseason, one could argue that the best regular-season division in football might even be better moving into 2025. We’ll take a deeper dive into each team’s moves, and assess who improved their odds of taking the NFC North crown this season.

Open Thread Question of the Day: Who is the Bears' next Hall of Famer? - Windy City Gridiron - The Bears have put more players in the Hall of Fame than any other franchise...who’s next?

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Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...les-offseason-draft-ben-johnson-nfl-collusion

 

[Chicago Bears]

Rex Grossman Predicts Caleb Williams Will Set Chicago Bears Record In 2025

Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

The former Chicago Bears QB sees big things ahead for Caleb and the Bears.

The last time the Chicago Bears reached a Super Bowl, the team was led by Rex Grossman under center.

The 2003 first round draft pick had hopes high among Bears fans, displaying some promise early in his career. However, fans continually had to wait to see what Grossman would ultimately become due to some unfortunate injuries.

Grossman saw action in the final three games of his rookie year. He started at home against Minnesota and Washington, earning victories in both, before losing on the road at Kansas City in the final game. Grossman left that game early with a broken finger.

There was excitement for the 2004 campaign with new coach Lovie Smith at his side. Grossman helped lead the Bears to a week two victory at Lambeau Field over the Green Bay Packers, but he tore his ACL in week three at Minnesota.

The following year, Grossman broke his ankle in a preseason game and wouldn’t see action until returning at the end of the season during a memorable Sunday Night Football game at home against the Atlanta Falcons. The following week, the Bears clinched the NFC North title at Lambeau Field with a Christmas Day victory. Unfortunately, the season came to an end in a decisive division round loss to the Carolina Panthers at home.

Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images

The 2006 season was Grossman’s only full season as the starter for the Bears, resulting in a trip to the Super Bowl and a loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Miami. The season had many ups and downs for the Bears signal caller, who looked like a legitimate MVP candidate during the first several weeks of the season before defenses adapted and forced him into some rough games, resulting in a roller coaster of a year when it came to his weekly performances.

Grossman went on to start seven games in 2007, losing his starting role to Brian Griese before recapturing it and later suffering a knee injury. He started just one game for the Bears in 2008 before finishing out his career with stints in Washington and Houston from 2009-2011.

Grossman recently spoke out about the 2025 Bears during an exclusive interview with Card Player. He was asked about new Bears QB Caleb Williams and his ability to change the trajectory of the franchise.

“A lot of people can’t (succeed out of structure), so he’s got something a lot of people can’t do,” Grossman said. “I sure as hell couldn’t do it. I was pretty much stuck in the pocket and I had to. He’s kind of got to force himself to resist the urge of rolling out when he doesn’t need to, or taking unnecessary sacks. If you keep to schedule, meaning you keep your third downs manageable, it makes it a lot easier.”

Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images

Grossman went on to predict that Williams will become the Bears’ first 4,000 yard passer during 2025.

“During our Super Bowl run, we were ahead in a lot of games and didn’t throw the ball a lot. That really wasn’t our identity. We were more play-action pass, run the ball and quick passes. I did have some big games but the priority of that season wasn’t to put up stats. Stats are great if you have the personnel and the play package to throw the ball a lot. I think they will have a balanced offense and he’ll be around 4,200 or 4,300 yards this year.”

Card Player asked Grossman about the recent report that Williams had initially wanted to be drafted by the Vikings prior to his visit in Chicago. Grossman commented on Williams’ loyalty to the Bears organization.

“You start to develop a bond with all the people behind-the-scenes and the fanbase. You get a house. Anything that happened before the draft should be ignored. I’m sure Caleb’s all-in now. I think that’s something he tried to do with his team before the draft but now, it’s a non-story. … I know everybody behind the scenes in Chicago is amazing, from the owner, to the equipment managers, to the training staff. It’s a beautiful facility so I’m sure he’s all bought in,” Grossman said.

One other note of interest. Both Grossman (3-0) and Williams (1-0) are undefeated in games started at Green Bay’s Lambeau Field.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...illiams-will-set-chicago-bears-record-in-2025

 

[Chicago Bears]

Open Thread Topic of the Day: Which NFL stat is the most overrated?

Photo by Amy Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images

QB wins? Tackles? Red Zone Conversion %? Interceptions Thrown? Which NFL stat is the least useful in judging a player's ability?

We’re in the heart of the NFL offseason, finding the Chicago Bears smack dab in the middle of the lull between OTAs and training camp, what better time to spark some discussions about topics we rarely touch on during the regular season?

That brings us to a fun question worth exploring:

What’s the most overrated stat in the NFL?

For a long time now, I’ve had a personal gripe with one particular stat: the NFL Passer Rating. In fact, [shameless plug warning] I spent four months this offseason trying to develop a better way to quantify a quarterback’s impact, something I call the True Passer Rating. (Feel free to ask me about it anytime.) Now, back to our regularly scheduled off-season fluff piece!

Why the NFL Passer Rating?​

Well, let’s start with a question: What does the NFL Passer Rating do?

To try and keep it simple, the NFL Passer Rating is a traditional formula used to measure a quarterback’s passing efficiency. It combines four key passing statistics: completion percentage, yards per attempt, touchdown percentage, and interception percentage into a single number on a scale from 0 to 158.3, where higher is better.

Its birth began in 1971 when NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle (yes, that Pete Rozelle)...

... petitioned the NFL’s statistical committee to create a new way to crown a passing leader. It was officially adopted as the league standard in grading QB efficiency in 1973. Officially giving the league a way to crown its best/most efficient Quarterback.

But, why don’t I like it?

I have a few reasons.

1) It hasn’t aged well.​

Simply put, the NFL Passer Rating offers an outdated lens for evaluating quarterback success. According to Pro Football Reference, the league’s average passer rating has climbed from 64.9 in 1973 (when Roger Staubach led the NFL with a 94.6 rating) to 92.3 in 2024, with Lamar Jackson topping the list at a stellar 119.6. To put that in perspective, Staubach’s league-leading rating in 1973 would have ranked just 15th in 2024, right behind Russell Wilson. As quarterback skill has evolved and league rules have increasingly favored the passing game, it’s become harder and harder to make fair comparisons across eras using this metric alone.

2) It doesn’t take into account key components of being a passer.​

Here’s a simple thought experiment:

Quarterback A throws one pass: a 70-yard touchdown. However, 65 of those yards come after the catch, with the Wide Receiver turning a 5-yard slant into a long score.

Quarterback B also throws a 70-yard touchdown, but in this case, only 20 yards come after the catch. The QB hit his receiver perfectly in stride on a go route.

Are these two throws equal? According to the NFL Passer Rating, they result in the same 158.3 “perfect” score. But fails to take into consideration the relative difficulty of each throw, namely the depth of target on the throw (commonly known as average depth of target, or aDOT in today’s NFL.) So while the box score will tell you both QBs were amazing on that play, there’s more to it than meets the eye.

It also ignores two major components of quarterback play: ball security (specifically fumbles) and sacks. Modern NFL analytics show that taking just two sacks can be as damaging, or even more so, to a team’s Expected Points Added (EPA) as throwing an interception. And omitting fumbles lost by the quarterback feels like cherry-picking, conveniently overlooking a critical weakness for QBs who struggle with ball security.

3) It has arbitrary limiting factors to it.​

Namely, the minimum score of 0.0 and the maximum score of 158.3 (these being limited by additional limiting factors within how each component of the rating is calculated.) Secret Base did a fantastic video series covering this in more depth, and I would suggest checking it out if you want to do a deeper dive: Correcting the NFL’s passer rating lie.

4) It doesn’t even really do its job well.​

Bear with me. This is the first example that comes to mind when thinking about the flaws in the NFL Passer Rating.

Bears vs. 49ers, Week 14 of the 2024 season. The Bears came into the game clearly overmatched, just ten days removed from a hard-fought Thanksgiving Day loss to the Detroit Lions. The 49ers jumped out to an early lead, scoring 24 points in the first half on their way to a 38-13 blowout. Chicago didn’t reach the end zone until there were about six minutes left in the third quarter.

Now, looking at the box score, Caleb Williams only threw for 134 yards. But he also had 2 touchdowns, no interceptions, and just 6 incompletions. On paper, that resulted in a 116.9 passer rating, the third highest of his career.

What that number doesn’t reflect is the seven sacks he took, the one fumble he lost, and the difficulty he had pushing the ball downfield, with an average depth of target of just 6.8 yards. Just an overall miserable game for not only Caleb Williams but the offensive unit as a whole.

To offer a different perspective, the passer rating I developed gave Caleb Williams a score of 41.9 for that game. In my opinion, that is a much more accurate reflection of how poorly he played.

For a brief comparison: In Week 6, Williams completed nearly 80% of his passes for 226 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT and just 3 sacks, and his rating ended up being 124.4 in a dominant 35-16 Bears win, merely 7.5 points higher! (A game which my system gives him a 153.3 score.)

And for those reasons, I believe the current NFL Passer Rating is overrated and not a significant or accurate way to measure a quarterback's performance.

But that raises the question: in your opinion, which NFL stat is the most overrated? Let us know in the comments!​

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Gary Baugher Jr. is a rookie contributor to WCG, bringing football insight backed by over 16 years of experience in organized football and more than 30 years as a passionate fan of the game. You can follow him on Twitter at @iamcogs.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...asser-rating-yards-wins-conversion-percentage

 

[Chicago Bears]

Which Chicago Bears Player will be on the NFL Top 100 in 2026?

Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images

We are all anticipating which Chicago Bears players will make the NFL Network’s 2025 Top 100 Player list, which is set to debut tomorrow. Cornerback Jaylon Johnson will again place among the Top 100 seems inevitable. New Chicago Bear Joe Thuney seems just as likely to make it as a selection. But those judgments are based on 2024 production as well as projections of players drafted and what they might do in 2025.

Which player on the Bears' current roster do you think will show out in 2025, demanding their presence on the 2026 Top 100 players list for the NFL?

Do you think Caleb Williams will do enough this season to register in the Top 100 next year? What about rookies like Colston Loveland, Luther Burden, III, or perhaps Shemar Turner - will they surprise the experts and the analysts and be Top 100 players after this season is in the books?

Let me know what you think in the comment section.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...-colston-loveland-luther-burden-shemar-turner

 

[Chicago Bears]

The Bear’s Den, June 30, 2025

Flag football players pose for a photo during the Chicago Bears’ Monsters Flag Football Clinic on Wednesday, June 25, 2025 at Peoria Stadium. | MATT DAYHOFF/JOURNAL STAR / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Bears putting on clinics in support of flag football, communities

WE WANT YOU!

Would you like to show your Chicago Bears spirit to the world? I’m starting a feature where Windy City Gridiron readers can share pictures of themselves and their families and friends in Bears attire. Simply email a picture to me at the following address: denmasterken at aol dot com. The pictures need to be clear, and full resolution (i.e. full size from your phone if that’s how you take them). Include any description information you like along with the photo!

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DENMASTER KEN’S VIDEO GRAB BAG

BEARRRSSSS​

Meskwaki Nation: How the Bears are helping make football ‘culturally exciting’ for a small tribe in Iowa - For a second consecutive year, the Bears traveled to Iowa’s Meskwaki Nation — the closest nationally-recognized Native American tribe to Chicago — to host Chicago Bears youth and high school training camps with the support of Nike.

KNOW THINE ENEMY

Steelers receivers coach Zach Azzanni loves the “challenge” of working with Aaron Rodgers - NBC Sports - Rodgers brings reputation for being hard on receivers to Pittsburgh.

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Citing storm delays, Chelsea coach asks whether some American cities are "the right place" to play - NBC Sports - The Club World Cup is happening currently in multiple American cities.

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42 years later, Joe Delaney's sacrifice still resonates - NBC Sports - Young NFL star gave his life to help three others on June 29, 1983.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON​

10 Most Important Bears of 2025: #10 Drew Dalman - Windy City Gridiron - For the 17th straight year, we’re bringing you who we believe will be the ten most important Chicago Bears for the upcoming season, and at number 10 is new center Drew Dalman.

Which Chicago Bears Player will be on the NFL Top 100 in 2026? - Windy City Gridiron - We are all anticipating which Chicago Bears players will make the NFL Network’s 2025 Top 100 Player list, which is set to debut tomorrow. Cornerback Jaylon Johnson will again place among the Top...

Open Thread Topic of the Day: Which NFL stat is the most overrated? - Windy City Gridiron - QB wins? Tackles? Red Zone Conversion %? Interceptions Thrown? Which NFL stat is the least useful in judging a player's ability?

2026 Bears mock draft: Super early 7-round predictions - Windy City Gridiron - WCG’s lead draft analyst shares his way-too-early predictions for the Bears’ 2026 draft haul.

Watch every Trick Play that Ben Johnson called in 2024 - Windy City Gridiron - It’s okay Bears‘ fans, he’s our coach now...

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Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...n-draft-ben-johnson-flag-football-support-nfl

 

[Chicago Bears]

Ten Chicago Bears with the most to prove in 2025: #2 DJ Moore

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

The Bears star wide receiver needs to show that he’s an elite WR1 that will respond to hard coaching.

There are just two names left to unveil on our list of the 10 Chicago Bears with the most to prove in 2025. Our countdown has seen the names Roschon Johnson, Jaquan Brisker, Gervon Dexter, Cole Kmet, Tremaine Edmunds, all three left tackles, Montez Sweat, and Tyrique Stevenson thus far.

Number two on this list is one of the most popular players on the team. It is DJ Moore.

Moore came over to Chicago from the Carolina Panthers in the spring of 2023 after Ryan Poles made the massive trade, moving from the first pick to the ninth pick and bringing in a haul of picks along the way.

Moore came in and had immediate chemistry with Justin Fields and vibed well in Luke Getsy’s offense. Moore had arguably the best season of his career. He set career highs in receptions, yards, touchdowns, first downs, success rate, catch rate, and plenty of other statistical categories as well.

As the 2024 season rolled along, Moore had a new offensive coordinator in Shane Waldron and a new quarterback in Caleb Williams.

The 2024 season didn’t get along with Moore quite like the 2023 season did. If you didn’t watch the Bears last season and just looked at Moore’s stat line, you certainly wouldn’t think there was an issue.

Moore had more targets and more receptions than he did in 2023, but when you dive deeper, you’ll see that Moore’s yards per reception plummeted from 14.2 (similar to his career average) to 9.9. His success rate also dropped 12% from 2023, despite his catch rate remaining a similar number.

What did that mean? It meant that Moore’s action in 2024 wasn’t down the field at all; he spent most of his time catching wide receiver screens and fighting for yards on poorly blocked plays.

Moore is difficult to tackle and is one of the best tackle breakers at wide receiver in the entire league, but that’s only one aspect of his game. Moore also has excellent downfield ability, and that part of his game was completely missing last season.

That misuse created a much different DJ Moore on the field than we saw in 2023. Moore’s attitude was far worse. Moore consistently had poor body language on the field, would sit for a few seconds on the ground with his arms wrapped around his knees before he would get up and jog back to the huddle, and that culminated in a really bad look against the Arizona Cardinals.

With a play breaking down and Caleb Williams in the middle of a scramble drill, Moore walked off the field and sat down on the bench before the play was over. Moore would later defend himself, saying he had hurt his ankle and had stepped out of bounds, so he had become an illegal receiver and was just helping Williams out. But anyone who watched how Moore headed to the bench knows that this was not done to be a good teammate; this was a frustrated player who wasn’t interested in competing at that particular moment.

Moore’s attitude took a lot of Bears fans by surprise (myself included). Moore seemed like a leader on a team and someone who had an infectious positive attitude. Moore’s 2024 issues seem to be a reflection of the entire team, but he seemed far more public about his displeasure than many.

Enter Ben Johnson and a new outlook on the offense in 2025. Johnson likes to build an offense to his players’ strengths so one would think we will see a DJ Moore that resembles the 2023 version far more than the 2024 version, but I also think Johnson has made some previous comments that while they may not have been directed straight at Moore, he was certainly in the group that Johnson was eluding to.

“No block, no rock.”

Moore has always been the primary target on the offense. While that should still be the case this season, Johnson expects a buy-in on all aspects, including getting into defenders and blocking them on plays where they aren’t involved. This isn’t something Moore has had to do much of in the past. Will it be an issue?

If it is an issue, that’s where Moore’s future with the team could come into question. Luther Burden holds a very similar skillset to Moore, and if the rookie looks like he could be a special player and Moore’s buy-in isn’t where Ben Johnson wants it to be, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that the Bears move Moore next offseason.

If the Bears decide to trade DJ Moore with a post-June 1 designation next year, they can distribute his dead cap over three seasons ($4 million per), and the incoming team would get Moore at a bargain rate of $24.5 million for four seasons.

I’m not saying that’s the probable outcome with Moore, I’m saying that’s a possible outcome if Moore doesn’t buy in.

Moore was one of the players who went to Ryan Poles and told him the next coach needed to hold players more accountable. With that being said, you would think Moore would buy into what Johnson wants to do.

Moore’s a smart player, and he should also know that playing with a dynamic play-caller like Johnson can only help his career moving forward.

Moore needs to show that 2024 was just an unfortunate blip on his career and that the 2023 version is the one that Ryan Poles extended and wanted to be a part of this team for six years moving forward.

The expectation is that Moore proves just that and becomes a key part of Ben Johnson’s offense, but if Moore doesn’t buy in and his body language continues to look like it did in 2024, there will be some difficult conversations about Moore’s future in Chicago after this season.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...-moore-caleb-williams-ben-johnson-rome-odunze

 

[Chicago Bears]

2025 NFC North Position Rankings: Offense

Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images

The start of training camp is under a month away, which means it’s time to reflect back on another busy offseason. After sending three teams to the postseason in 2024, could there be a changing of the guard this season? We’ll dive into each position on offense to rank all four teams.

Now that the bulk of the offseason is behind us, this is the perfect time to take a step back and reflect on each team’s chances within the NFC North. With training camp just a few weeks away, we’re around two months away from seeing it all play out on the field. Last year, the NFC North was the best division in the NFL during the regular season. Unfortunately, that did not play out well in the playoffs, with each team failing to win a postseason contest.

The Detroit Lions should remain favorites to win the division again in 2025, but the Chicago Bears and New York Jets have made efforts to poach some of their coaching talent. Although there weren’t many coaching changes within the division outside of Detroit losing their coordinators and the Bears re-racking yet again, there have still been plenty of changes when it comes to offensive personnel. We’ll dive into each group and determine who has the best units heading into the 2025 regular season.

Quarterback​

1. Jared Goff (Detroit Lions)

When Goff was acquired from the Rams, many believed he was a place-holder until they drafted a quarterback. Multiple years later, he’s the best quarterback in the division heading into 2025. It’s worth noting that this will be his first season without Ben Johnson influencing the offense, so it’ll be interesting to see how that goes. The good news for him is that he has an elite offensive line in front of him and plenty of weapons to throw to. Goff is what he is at this point, which is a pretty damn-good quarterback. We’ll see if that’s enough to get them to a Super Bowl.

2. Jordan Love (Green Bay Packers)

After two years of Love taking over the reins as the starting quarterback in Green Bay, the results have been mixed, but mainly positive. Unlike his predecessor, he will not take care of the football either. His arm talent is undeniable, and when he’s on, he’s one of the better quarterbacks in the game. The issue right now is consistency. Green Bay hopes for a healthier year when Love can use his athleticism to extend plays. More consistent production from his pass catchers would also help. Year 3 feels like a pivotal one in determining just how high his ceiling is, especially with his floor already established as an above-average NFL quarterback.

3. Caleb Williams (Chicago Bears)

Last year’s No. 1 overall pick has a critically important second season ahead of him in Chicago. Simply put, 2024 was a disaster for the entire organization. Williams had an up-and-down rookie campaign, but his supporting cast ultimately let him down. Even so, the USC product did himself no favors as the season progressed, and he lost trust in the coaching and players around him. Hiring Johnson is a big step in the right direction, but rebuilding confidence and establishing better habits (both on and off the field) will be crucial to his success. There will be no excuses in 2025, and if all goes well, Williams could vault himself into the Top 10 of NFL quarterbacks heading into 2026.

4. JJ McCarthy (Minnesota Vikings)

The former No. 10 overall pick’s rookie season couldn’t have gone much worse. After an impressive preseason opener, it was announced that McCarthy suffered a season-ending knee injury. There are two different ways of looking at this:

• Minnesota should have kept Sam Darnold after establishing himself as a quality starting quarterback.
• If head coach Kevin McConnell can turn Darnold into an above-average quarterback after being labeled as a bust, is McCarthy’s ceiling closer to elite than originally believed?

The Vikings made their choice when they opted to let him leave in free agency. Now, they’ll move forward with the 22-year-old, the more cost-controlled option. The arm talent is there, and his supporting cast is outstanding. Now, all that is left is to get on the field and prove it. There could be a massive shakeup between McCarthy and Williams in next year’s rankings.

Running Back ​

1. Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, and Craig Reynolds (Lions)

Detroit has invested plenty into its running game over the past few seasons. Gibbs is a certified star, and Montgomery would be RB1 for about half the league. This group is built to sustain an injury for a short time and offers the dynamic ability to outmatch almost any defense in the league. With Montgomery’s recent extension and Gibbs in Year 3 of his first-round rookie deal, this group should remain elite for the next few years.

2. Josh Jacobs, MarShawn Lloyd, and Emmanuel Wilson (Packers)

Last offseason, the NFC North saw quite the shakeup at the running back position. Jacobs signed a lucrative deal in Green Bay, Aaron Jones was released and quickly signed in Minnesota, and the Bears struck quickly with D’Andre Swift. This year, there wasn’t much change, especially in Green Bay. Assuming Lloyd is healthy, he should prove to be a good complement to Jacobs as the RB2.

3. Aaron Jones, Jordan Mason, and Ty Chandler (Vikings)

After signing a one-year deal last offseason, Jones is back for Year 2 in Minnesota. Despite turning 30 years old last December, Jones had a career-high 1,138 rushing yards. His yards-per-carry were slightly lower than usual, but he’s shown minimal signs of slowing down as he heads into his ninth year in the league. Mason was a surprise addition for this group, especially after his breakout season for San Francisco last year. This is a formidable one-two punch, with Chandler rounding out the group with more speed.

4. D’Andre Swift, Roschon Johnson, and Kyle Monangai (Bears)

Despite their best efforts, the new-look Bears offense could not upgrade their running back room, at least on paper. Many expected them to draft a running back early, but after multiple failed attempts to trade up early in the draft, they came away with Monangai in the seventh round. Don’t be surprised to see Chicago continue to look for upgrades through free agency or a possible trade, but for now, this group has the lowest ceiling in the division for obvious reasons.

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Wide Receiver​

1. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Tim Patrick, Isaac TeSlaa (Lions)

The first three names on this list feel interchangeable. Minnesota’s top two receivers slightly outperformed the Lions’ duo of St. Brown and Williams, but I prefer Detroit’s overall depth. Patrick had a nice season as a role player, despite missing the last few years due to continued injuries. General manager Brad Holmes gambled big on TeSlaa when he traded away a pair of future third-round picks to move up and take the toolsy receiver. We’ll see how that works out over the next few years, but assuming Williams continues to ascend, this group is hard to beat.

2. Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jalen Nailor, and Tai Felton (Vikings)

Jefferson is one of, if not the best receiver in the league. Following an injury-riddled 2023 campaign, he came back with another big year. Almost as important, Addison proved that his rookie year was not a fluke. Even if the former USC product doesn’t have many WR1 traits, he’s a perfect complement to Jefferson’s style and allows Minnesota to hold one of the league’s best passing attacks. Both will be extremely valuable to a “rookie” quarterback playing in his first NFL season. Felton is the X-Factor in this group. If he can come in and contribute at a quality level in Year 1, the Vikings might find themselves in the top spot next year.

3. D.J. Moore, Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III, and Olamide Zaccheaus (Bears)

A year ago, the excitement around this group couldn’t be ignored. Chicago added Kennan Allen and Odunze to support more, and on paper, it seemed like one of the best trios in the league. Instead, none of the three broke 1,000 yards, and the entire Bears passing offense struggled to get open for their rookie quarterback. With Johnson calling the shots, speed was a much bigger focus. Odunze should be in for a sophomore-year breakout, but Burden and Zaccheaus provide a critical speed element this group missed last year. This group has a lot of unproven production, but the ceiling is sky-high.

4. Jayden Reed, Matthew Golden, Rome Doubs, and Savion Williams (Packers)

Admittedly, I had much higher hopes for this Packers group last year than I should have. Reed was coming off an impressive rookie season, and Doubs and Christian Watson appeared ready to take the next step. Ultimately, Doubs was disappointed. Watson tore his ACL in Week 18, and Reed took a small step, but one that was not big enough to give Green Bay the warm and fuzzy feeling about this group. For the first time in over two decades, they spent a first-round pick at receiver (Golden), followed by a third-round selection (Williams). The floor feels relatively safe with this group, but there’s a lot of unknown. We’ll see if one of these names can step into the WR1 role and break up the collection of complementary pieces into better players.

Tight End​

1. Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright (Lions)

Since being drafted in 2023, LaPorta has quickly broken onto the scene as one of the league’s better tight ends. The 24-year-old’s sophomore season wasn’t as productive as Year 1, but he’s someone that every team has to specifically scheme for. He’s the primary complement to St. Brown in Detroit’s offense and should be in line for a big season in 2025. Wright is more of a blocker, but still played over 50% of the team’s snaps in 2024.

2. T.J. Hockenson and Josh Oliver (Vikings)

When healthy, Hockenson is a weapon in a loaded Vikings passing offense. Following a career year in his first full season in Minnesota, Hockenson played just 10 games last year. Most concerning was that he didn’t have a single receiving touchdown. It’s fair to expect a bounce-back season from the former Iowa product. Oliver will have more competition on the depth chart behind him after the Vikings added both Gavin Bartholomew and Ben Yurosek during the draft process. This is a well-rounded group with some potential depth.

3. Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet (Bears)

Last year, the Bears invested a significant amount in the tight end position and were rewarded with… very little. Despite paying Gerald Everett $6 million per year, they received less than 100 receiving yards and a small snap share over 17 games. With Everett and Marcedes Lewis out of the fold, Chicago spent the No. 10 overall selection on Loveland. Rookie tight ends are notoriously slow starters, but fans will be hoping that Johnson can get similar production from the Michigan product as he did from LaPorta in his rookie season. Kmet’s role will be reduced, but there’s still plenty of value in the 26-year-old if he’s used correctly.

4. Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave (Packers)

Two years ago, Green Bay invested heavily in their offensive pass catchers when they went back-to-back-to-back with the combination of Musgrave, Reed, and Kraft. At the time, I said that Kraft could be better than Musgrave. Through two years, one thing is for sure: Kraft is a damn-good player. Musgrave’s availability was a big issue in 2024, which led to the former South Dakota State product taking the reins as TE1. This will be a big year for Musgrave, but at worst, the Packers have one perfect young tight end on their roster.

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Offensive Line​

1. Detroit Lions

If the Philadelphia Eagles have the best offensive line in football, Detroit has always been a close second. After losing center Frank Ragnow to a surprise retirement and allowing Kevin Zeitler to leave in free agency, there’s going to be a youth movement on the interior. Ragnow’s retirement makes No. 1 and No. 2 on this list much closer, but due to their depth, I’d still give the edge to the Lions. Tate Ratledge is in the driver’s seat for a starting job, but don’t overlook Christian Mahogany and Miles Frazier’s value as young depth with plus-starting potential.

2. Minnesota Vikings

This offseason was a big one for the interior of the Vikings’ offensive line. Their starting three has been inconsistent (at best), but they went out and added two plus-starters in Will Fries and Ryan Kelly. Not to mention, they used their first-round pick on do-it-all Ohio State lineman Donovan Jackson. That should push Blake Brandel into a reserve role. He’ll provide depth alongside names like Walter Rouse and Justin Skule. This is the best offensive line (on paper) Minnesota has had in a long time.

3. Chicago Bears

Bears fans have become accustomed to bad offensive lines ruining the development of their young quarterbacks. After a turbulent rookie season for Williams, the primary focus of this offseason has been on the offensive side of the ball. That started with Johnson’s hiring, which quickly trickled down to landing three new interior starters on the offensive line, as well as a potential new starting tackle in Ozzy Trapilo, whom they selected in Round 2. This group might take some time to gel, but they’ve got four above-average starters (or better) for the first time since their Super Bowl run in 2006.

4. Green Bay Packers

For years, the Packers have topped this list, boasting some of the best offensive lines in football. While I’d argue that this is still an above-average unit, there are many more questions than in the past. It’s been a while, but they rank last in this category because they are more a product of the other teams in the division and less about them. They paid a hefty price for left guard Aaron Banks, which moves Elgton Jenkins inside to center. It’ll be interesting to see how they plan to deploy 2024 first-rounder Jordan Morgan, who missed most of his rookie season due to injury. Again, this isn’t a bad group, but they have the least proven starters and the most questions heading into the season.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...am-bears-packers-lions-vikings-caleb-williams

 

[Chicago Bears]

Chicago Bears Open Thread Question of the Day: Would you trade the farm for T.J. Watt?

Philip G. Pavely-Imagn Images

Murmurs across the league suggest that multiple teams are eyeing a potential T.J. Watt trade. Would you pay the price for Watt?

It is the deep offseason, which means that fans are hungry for any morsel of news to latch on to. Consider me your Chef de Cuisine today, and T.J. Watt rumors as your meal.

Are they empty calories? Very likely.

Are they fun and delicious? Yes, they are.

So, in case you haven’t heard, Adam Schefter reported on Monday that “multiple teams have been discussing whether they can trade for Steelers’ standout T.J. Watt, who skipped the team’s most recent minicamp.”

Sources: In recent weeks, multiple teams have been discussing whether they can trade for Steelers’ standout T.J. Watt, who skipped the team’s most recent minicamp. Pittsburgh hasn’t shown any willingness to deal Watt so far, but he’s unhappy with his contractual situation and… pic.twitter.com/iBh1DJr4uD

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 30, 2025​

This is very intriguing news for a few reasons. The first of which is that TJ Watt is Elite with a capital E. In 8 seasons, Watt has accumulated 108 sacks, 126 TFLs, 33 FFs, and 5 1st Team All-Pros. He has more sacks, TFLs, and FFs than Myles Garrett during that same time - ELITE!

Second reason why this is intriguing is because there is a distinct need for pass-rushers in the NFC North. The Lions have a recovering Aidan Hutchison and not a whole lot opposite him. The Packers have Rashan Gary and an underperforming Lukas Van Ness. The Bears have Montez Sweat and a lot of young question marks. While the Vikings were still among the best in the league in pressuring the quarterback, they have not had a true #1 pass-rusher since Hunter left for Houston.

So, at the very first blush, the Chicago Bears should be very interested in trading for a player like T.J. Watt. He’s an elite player who has remained relatively durable, which would elevate the Bears' defense to elite status.

However, there is always a price with these types of things. So let’s look into some returns from some comparable trades.

1. 2009: Patriots trade Richard Seymour to the Raiders for 2011 1st Round Pick. Seymour was the same age as Watt at the time of this trade (30) but only had 43 sacks to his name at the time of the trade.
2. 2008: Chiefs trade Jared Allen and a 6th Round Pick to the Vikings for 17th Overall Pick, two 3rd-round picks, and a 6th-round pick. Jared Allen was a rising star in the league having racked up 43 sacks and 14 FFs in his first four seasons.
3. 2018: Raiders trade Khalil Mack, a 2nd-Round Pick, and conditional 5th-Round pick to Bears for two 1st-Round Picks, a 3rd-Round Pick, and a 6th Round Pick. This is obviously the trade that Bears fans will cite anytime a trade for a big pass-rusher is involved. At the time of the trade, Mack had racked up 40.5 sacks across 4 seasons.
4. 2021: Broncos trade Von Miller to Rams for a 2nd-Round and 3rd-Round pick. This trade happened mid-season, after Miller proved he had recovered from an ankle injury. At the time of the trade, Miller (32) had notched 110.5 sacks across 9.5 seasons.

So, what does a trade for T.J. Watt look like? I think it sits somewhere between the return for Mack and Miller, given his age and production. So I think he would cost a team a 1st round, 2nd round, and late-round pick for the Steelers to even consider it.

Would you trade for T.J. Watt if the cost was a 1st-round, 2nd-round, and 6th-round pick in 2026? ​

I personally think he’s worth that price. While many look at the Mack trade in retrospect as not being worth it, I see it as the best chance we had to win a championship in nearly 15 years. The 2018 Bears lacked the coaching, QB play, and overall offensive roster building that this current team does - so the addition of an elite pass-rusher opposite Montez Sweat could really catapult the Bears into contention.

There is an interesting history of 2nd year quarterbacks making the Super Bowl (and sometimes winning it). Joe Burrow made the Super Bowl in his 2nd season. Brock Purdy did too. Russel Wilson won a Super Bowl in his 2nd season. So did Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger. Heck, Patrick Mahomes won a Super Bowl in his 2nd season as a starter.

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

The point is, maximizing the window where your quarterback is young and cheap, but also has some NFL experience is narrow. I think Caleb Williams has all of the ingredients to put it together in Year 2, and T.J. Watt wreaking havoc on defense could be enough for the Bears to contend for a Super Bowl.

Good grief, am I hungry!

Now it’s your turn - would you trade the farm for T.J. Watt? Sound off in the comments!

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...ou-trade-the-farm-for-t-j-watt-steelers-rumor

 

[Chicago Bears]

2025 NFC North Position Rankings: Defense

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

In our second installment, we’ll take a deeper dive into the NFC North’s defenses. Last year was a mixed bag, but in the end, there was plenty to like. With all four teams projected to have quality offenses, the team with the best defense could end up as the division winner.

In our second installment of ranking the NFC North’s best units, we’ll switch over to the defensive side of the ball. Like the first installment, the primary coaching changes came from the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions. Each team within the division made their fair share of moves, but none of these units stand out as elite, as you’ll see in the rankings.

With all four teams projecting to have Top 15 offenses, the best defense(s) could make the difference in who wins the division this season. Who has the best chance to field a Top 10 defense in 2025? We’ll dive into each position group and give our thoughts on how we see things heading into the 2025 regular season.

Defensive Line​

1. Minnesota Vikings

In typical Brian Flores fashion, the Vikings will boast one of the more stacked defensive lines across the league in 2025. Just one year after spending three high-value resources on the edge, they decided to approach the interior in a similar manner. If Dallas Turner can make a big leap in Year 2, this might be football’s deepest and nastiest front four. Assuming they can stop the run, of course.

2. Detroit Lions

These last three spots get tricky. Aiden Hutchinson is one of the better young edge rushers in the league. Adding first-rounder Tyleik Williams to an interior featuring D.J. Reader, Alim McNeil, Levi Onwuzurike, and Roy Lopez gives them unreal depth at tackle. Edge rusher is the best question mark on their entire roster, but something tells me they’ll find a way to add a partner in crime for Hutchinson before the start of Week 1. The interior depth and star power at DE1 wins them the second spot.

3. Green Bay Packers

The Packers have some name value on their defensive line, but they don’t have a player that I would rate as anywhere near elite. At one point, it looked like Rashan Gary would become that type of player, but he has since tailed off. Kenny Clark is a good player, but he will turn 30 during the season. Devonte Wyatt has turned into an excellent pass rusher on the interior, but has struggled mightily against the run. Green Bay is still awaiting a return on investment from Lukas Van Ness, who was taken with the 13th overall pick in the 2023 draft. There’s talent here, and maybe Year 2 in Jeff Hafley’s defense will return better results, but as of now, this group needs to prove it.

4. Chicago Bears

Credit where credit is due for the Bears. In recent memory, this was the first offseason where they didn’t completely ignore one side of the ball. Despite sinking many high-value resources on the offensive side of the ball, new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen still got a pair of free agents in Dayo Odeyingbo and Grady Jarrett, plus their final second-round pick, Shemar Turner. The interior of the defensive line looks much improved, but the depth outside of Montez Sweat and Odeyingbo on the edge is worrisome. Similar to Detroit, this unit could use another addition before the start of Week 1.

Linebacker​

1. Detroit Lions

Looking back at the Lions’ 2023 draft class, general manager Brad Holmes’ bold moves in the first round appear to have paid off. You could argue that his first four picks that season were franchise-changing. Jack Campbell, one of the more exciting linebackers in the league going into his third year, is at the forefront of the defensive players. Alex Anzalone has been a nice veteran in the middle of the defense, and Derrick Barnes has done a good job rounding this group out. For my money, the Lions have the most well-rounded group of linebackers in the division, even if none of them are stars. That goes a long way in a division that doesn’t have many standouts at the position.

2. Green Bay Packers

The Packers’ recent investments at the linebacker position are not going unnoticed here. Quay Walker, Edgerrin Cooper, and Ty’Ron Hopper are all recent high-round draft picks added to the mix. Walker hasn’t lived up to most pre-draft evaluations, but the talent is there if he can put it all together. Cooper burst onto the scene as a rookie last year and looked great. Hopper played sparingly in Year 1, but could see a bigger role in 2025. Isaiah McDuffie is a solid player who returns to Green Bay after testing the free agent market. This is not a murderer’s row of linebackers but a deep group with a quality ceiling.

3. Minnesota Vikings

Ivan Pace Jr. and Blake Cashman have become quite the duo in Minnesota under Flores. On top of having one of the better pass rushes in the league, they have two athletic linebackers who can fly around the field and make plays. It helps that one of them was acquired as an undrafted free agent. The depth behind those two isn’t great, primarily due to players like Brian Asamoah not panning out as expected as a mid-round pick. With better depth, they’d be higher on the list.

4. Chicago Bears

It’s never a great sign when a team with the most invested at the linebacker position isn’t a comfortable No. 1 on the list. Three years ago, general manager Ryan Poles (at the request of former head coach Matt Eberflus) spent a combined $24.5 million annually on Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards. Edwards outperformed his first three-year deal, but Edmunds hasn’t come close to living up to his. With Jack Sanborn now in Dallas, this group lacks top-end talent, is expensive, and has virtually no depth. Barring a surprise, this will likely be Edmunds’ last year in Chicago.

David Banks-Imagn Images

Cornerback​

1. Chicago Bears

Chicago’s collection of quality cornerbacks continued during the offseason. All three starters are returning, including Kyler Gordon’s shiny new three-year extension that ties him to the team through 2027. This group’s most significant question is whether third-year cornerback Tyrique Stevenson can bounce back after a less-than-ideal sophomore season. The good news is they have plenty of depth, including Terell Smith. This is one of the deeper groups in the entire league and will now be under the guidance of defensive back guru Dennis Allen.

2. Minnesota Vikings

Third on this list is the Vikings, who once again added more talent to the field. After retaining Byron Murphy on another long-term deal, they also signed nickel back Isaiah Rodgers. Assuming Mekhi Blackmon can come back healthy, this is a quality group. Depth is more of a concern, but unlike Detroit, they have multiple proven starters that should provide a projectable floor, especially with that front seven playing in front of them.

3. Detroit Lions

This ranking is essentially a reflection of the lack of proven production rather than anything else. In an ideal world, Detroit would end the season ranked either No. 1 or No. 2 on this list. That would require both of their top picks from last year to produce, though. In their rookie seasons, both Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw struggled. Arnold played a lot of snaps, but posted one of the worst PFF grades at the position. Rakestraw didn’t play much, but considering his draft status, that should change in 2025. Brian Branch’s versatility helps this group, but there’s a lot of unknown here.

4. Green Bay Packers

With Jaire Alexander, the final three groups on this list would have been much closer. Following the release of Alexander in early June, there are serious questions about this group. They added Nate Hobbs, one of the better nickelbacks in the league, but he might see more time on the boundary in Green Bay and hasn’t shown an ability to stay healthy. Keisean Nixon should take another starting spot, and then Kalen King and Carrington Valentine are likely to battle it out for the final spot. Without a healthy Alexander, there aren’t many groups that are worse on paper.

Safety ​

1. Detroit Lions

The combination of Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch is one of the best in the league. It’s worth noting that Branch is the Swiss army knife in the secondary and plays in the nickel too, but looking at a depth chart on paper, it’s hard to do much better than in Detroit. Joseph was rewarded with a four-year contract, making him the highest-paid safety in the league, which reflects how high the organization (and the league) think of him.

2. Green Bay Packers

The Packers have never been known for being big spenders on free agents, but last year, they went out and spent top-of-the-market money on two players. Jacobs rewarded them with a big season on the offensive side of the ball, and Xavier McKinney did the same on the defensive side. The former New York Giant finished second in 2024 with eight interceptions, just one behind Joseph for the league lead. Despite struggling with availability issues in his rookie season, Evan Williams had an impressive campaign. Last year’s fourth-round pick outplayed Javon Bullard, who had been drafted two rounds earlier. Depth and star power are on the Packers’ side heading into 2025.

3. Minnesota Vikings

For over a decade, Harrison Smith has headlined a secondary that has never been short on other quality players. Even if the former Notre Dame product is getting long in the tooth, he’s still a damn-good player, which gives this positional group credibility. Following the loss of Camryn Bynum in free agency, Josh Metellus will step into the full-time role opposite Smith. Depth is a bit of a question, but there’s little reason to question Flores’ influence at the position.

4. Chicago Bears

A few years ago, arguing against Chicago having one of the best safety groups would have been a difficult task. Since then, Eddie Jackson has moved on, and Jaquan Brisker hasn’t been able to stay on the field consistently due to continued concussion issues. On paper (and when healthy), the veteran Kevin Byard and Brisker duo is a fine pairing. The problem is more about upside and their futures beyond 2025. From a depth standpoint, they are in solid shape, but the ceiling is severely limited, and there’s a good chance that the top four names on their depth chart are playing in different cities next season.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...position-for-2025-bears-packers-lions-vikings

 

[Chicago Bears]

Open Thread Question of the Day: Who was your first favorite Bears player?

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Seeing the game through a child’s eye is a fun way to see football.

You never forget your first, right?

Firsts are remembered with the rose-colored glasses of time they were experienced in.

Have you gone back to watch your first favorite movie? The one you LOVED when you were say six or seven years old? A lot of times it does not hold up to a more mature or sophisticated tastes.

With experience and knowledge, often you figure things out and understand why things have the merit that they have.

Sometimes it can be the same with athletes. Why did I love that one player when I was a kid? He wasn’t very good.

I say it a lot, but I came to sports just a little bit later than some people. Sports, especially football, was mostly background noise when I was little. It wasn’t until I was a teenager that i started paying attention to the score, how the games worked, who won and, perhaps most crucially, who was actually playing for the teams.

My older brother was into sports well before me and used to get mad when I said I had a favorite team because I couldn’t name more than two or three players. You know how brothers are.

“You’re not a true fan, you can only name three guys!” That type of thing.

For the Bears, though, my first favorite player was Brian Urlacher. He was drafted in 2000, when I was 12 years old. He immediately became a rock star in Chicago and a cornerstone for the Chicago Bears.

Not a bad first favorite player though, right? He’s in the Hall of Fame!

Having a kid of your own, though, changes things. Little kids are funny. My daughter, Holly, is five now and last year was really the first time she kind of, sort of, understood what was going on during Bears games.

She still doesn’t get the nuances, like four downs and offense and defense come on and off the field, etc. But her enthusiasm is unmatched.

And hopefully, her first favorite player is going to work out as well as mine did.

It’s Caleb Williams.

Obviously.

I talked about him enough and early in the season, she’d want me to play with her while the game was on and I would. But as soon as the offense got the ball, I would say, “hold on, I want to see Caleb Williams.”

Soon she asked me what number he was. Now she was constantly asking “Where’s number 18?” So I explained to her where the QB stood and how he got the ball first on every play. She knew where to look and she would get all excited “There’s 18, Dad! There’s Caleb Williams!”

Caleb has a huge fan in my daughter now. Of course she’s had a Bears outfit since she was little but this past season she finally out-grew it.

When it came time to pick out a new shirt, you know which one was her favorite as soon as she saw it in the store. I said “Oh, look what number is one here.”

“18.”

“You know who wears 18...”

“Caleb Williams, oh he’s my favorite!”

I hope she’ll get many years of enjoyment from her first favorite player.

Holly out-grew her favorite Bears outfit so when stopped at the store tonight she picked out a shirt with her favorite player, @CALEBcsw, on it. @WCGridiron pic.twitter.com/yyYpMXjtnv

— Sam Householder (@SamHouseholder) April 5, 2025​

Who was your first favorite player?

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...-was-your-first-favorite-chicago-bears-player

 

[Chicago Bears]

Introducing Jacob Infante’s full 2026 NFL Draft board!

Matt Cashore-Imagn Images

WCG’s lead draft analyst has his entire 2026 big board with real-time edits available for viewing on his Patreon.

It’s the peak of summer and the dead period of the NFL offseason. To get my football fix in when things are slow, I like to prepare for the upcoming NFL Draft class to get an early headstart on my draft analysis for the year.

I’m excited to announce that my entire 2026 NFL Draft big board is available now on my Patreon channel. As of this writing, I have grades on 155 prospects with hundreds more on my watchlist.

You can choose to either subscribe to my entire channel for as low as $1 a month, or you can just buy the 2026 NFL Draft big board for $5. If you don’t intend on keeping the whole subscription going — I know I probably have a few subscriptions I get charged for that I forget about — then buying the big board might be the best for you.

However, buying the general subscription is cheaper for nearly half the entire year, and it gets you full access to everything on my Patreon page. This includes my NFL Draft guides (past and present) and the weekly Bears scouting reports I write up during the season.

Here’s a refresher for what those look like. I write up five of these for notable Bears players every week a couple days after each game.

With a new offensive playcaller, Caleb Williams looked much more confident against the Packers.

Here's my scouting report from his performance this week. #Bears pic.twitter.com/lLopy69Mfx

— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) November 19, 2024​

As a quick preview of my NFL Draft big board, here is my current ranking of all of the 17 quarterbacks I currently have grades on, as of this writing.

1. LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina
2. Cade Klubnik, Clemson
3. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU
4. Arch Manning, Texas (may not declare)
5. Drew Allar, Penn State
6. Fernando Mendoza, Indiana
7. John Mateer, Oklahoma
8. Nico Iamaleava, UCLA
9. Sam Leavitt, Arizona State
10. Carson Beck, Miami (FL)
11. Miller Moss, Louisville
12. Mark Gronowski, Iowa
13. Noah Fifita, Arizona
14. Conner Weigman, Houston
15. Tyler Van Dyke, SMU
16. Jalon Daniels, Kansas
17. Sam Huard, USC

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...nfante-2026-nfl-draft-big-board-chicago-bears

 

[Chicago Bears]

Chicago Bears fans believe the team can go from worst to... second

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Earlier this week, we asked you to predict where the Chicago Bears would finish in the NFC North in 2025, and 42% of our fan base thinks second place is in the cards after last year’s 5-11 disaster.

However, 22% of our fans see them going from worst to first, which has happened 21 times in the last twenty years.

The Bears last accomplished the feat in 2018, when first-year head coach Matt Nagy led them to the division title, coming off a five-win 2017 season.

The Bears also achieved this in 2005, when Lovie Smith’s squad went 11-5 after posting a 5-11 record the previous season.

Dick Jauron’s Bears went from worst to first in 2001, finishing 13-3, which was the last year of the old NFC Central, after finishing fifth the year before at 11-5.

Our partners at FanDuel Sportsbook have a few NFC North props for predicting how teams in the division will finish the 2025 season.

They have the Detroit Lions as the favorite at +155, followed by the Green Bay Packers at +260, the Minnesota Vikings at +270, and the Chicago Bears as the longshot at +550.

You can also wager on the exact finishing order of the division. So, for the 42% of fans who believe the Bears will take second place, here are their odds for that scenario.

1st Lions / 2nd Bears / 3rd Packers / 4th Vikings at +1700

1st Lions / 2nd Bears / 3rd Vikings / 4th Packers at +1800

1st Packers / 2nd Bears / 3rd Lions / 4th Vikings at +2400

1st Vikings / 2nd Bears / 3rd Lions / 4th Packers at +2600

1st Packers / 2nd Bears / 3rd Vikings / 4th Lions at +3000

1st Vikings / 2nd Bears / 3rd Packers / 4th Lions at +3000

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Not only can you vote in our SB Nation Reacts surveys about the Chicago Bears right here at WCG, but you can sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys about the entire league.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...go-from-worst-to-second-lions-vikings-packers

 

[Chicago Bears]

Open Thread Topic of the Day: Who is the Best Wide Receiver Duo in Franchise History?

Photo by David Banks/Getty Images

Which WR duo is the best to ever don orange and blue? Will anyone on the current roster take over top spot?

When your franchise is the only one in NFL history that has never had a QB top 4,000 yards passing, the all-time receiving numbers can’t be too impressive either.

Such is the case with the Chicago Bears, where the receiving record holder for yardage has barely over 5k yards, and two of the top five players are not even wide receivers (see bottom of article for those all-time greats.)

Check out the top 10 yardage leaders at WR:

Catches Yards TD’s

1. Johnny Morris 356 - 5,059 - 31
2. Harlon Hill 226 - 4,616 - 40
3. Alshon Jeffery 304 - 4,549 - 26
4. Curtis Conway 329 - 4,498 - 31
5. Marty Booker 329 - 3,895 - 25
6. Willie Gault 184 - 3,650 - 27
7. Ken Kavanaugh 162 - 3,626 - 50
8. Allen Robinson 293 - 3,561 - 18
9. Dick Gordon 238 - 3,550 - 35
10. Brandon Marshall 279 - 3,524 - 31

That said, one duo stands above the rest, and they both happened to play together since our last Super Bowl appearance.

Former Bears wide receivers Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall totaled 8,073 yards combined in Bears uniforms, including an incredible 2,716 total yards in 2013 alone, where both players earned Pro Bowl nods. They accounted for more yards in that one single season than the top two players on the all-time list above (Morris and Hill) accumulated when they were teammates way back in the late 50’s, early 60’s (2,598 total yds). Here are the stats for each player in that explosive 2013 season:

Scott Strazzante/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
B-Marsh and Alshon produced plenty of fireworks together during their short tenure as Bears.

Alshon Jeffery: 89 catches on 148 targets for 1,421 yards and 7 TD’s

Brandon Marshall: 100 catches on 164 targets for 1,295 yards and 12 TD’s

When they were Bears, there may not have been two more physically imposing weapons at WR in the entire league than Alshon and B-Marsh. Each dominating the game in their own way with Jay Cutler behind the cannon. Alshon burst on to the scene with deceptive deep speed for a player his size and vice grips for hands. Marshall bullying corners on the regular with impressive burst and agility for a human of his stature. For the record, Jay Cutler played in only 11 games that season and threw 355 times, completing 224 passes for 2,621 yards with 19 TDs and 12 INTs. Josh McCown started the other 5 games and threw the ball 224 times, completing 149 attempts for 1,829 yards, 13 TDs and 1 INT. For those non-math heads in the room, that is 504 attempts, 374 completions, 4,450 yards, 32 TDs, and 13 INTs from the QB position. I wonder if we’ll see numbers like that from Caleb soon?

Only in Chicago does the backup QB lead the team in jersey sales. *just kidding (mostly)

As for the future, I am confident with an offensive minded head coach, QB of the future and with the weapons we have rostered, we will see an even better duo over the course of Bears history sooner rather than later. My prediction on who might overtake Alshon and B-Marsh as top duo? Rome Odunze and Luther Burden. Rome led the entire nation in receiving yards in his final season at Washington and Burden accumulated over 1,200 yards as a true sophomore in the SEC. While they may not be as physically dominating, Rome and Burden figure to be massive burdens in the lives of NFC North opponents for years to come.

Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images
Expect plenty more big plays from the former UW wideout with Ben Johnson calling plays.

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For me it’s clear. Alshon and B-Marsh are the best to ever do it. So far. The real question is will any of our current WR corp. surpass the former Bear’s when they hang up the cleats too? What about you? Who is your top duo and do you think DJ, Rome and/or Kmet/Burden/Loveland can surpass them?​

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Here are the non-WR All-Time Greats and where they land on the all time receiving list:

4. Walter Payton RB 492 catches 4,538 yards 15 TDs

Photo by Bruce Dierdorff/Getty Images
Chicago Bears Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton (34) catches a 33-yard touchdown pass during a 45-10 victory over the Washington Redskins on September 29, 1985, at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois.

5. Mike Ditka TE 316 catches 4,503 yards 34 TDs

Photo by: Diamond Images/Getty Images
Tight end Mike Ditka #89 of the Chicago Bears catches a pass despite the efforts of defensive back Bob Harrison #20 of the Baltimore Colts during a game on October 15, 1961 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Ilinois.

7. Matt Forte RB 487 catches 4,116 yards 19 TDs

Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images
Running back Mat Forte #22 of the Chicago Bears catches the game winning touchdown pass against safety Husain Abdullah #39 of the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half at Arrowhead Stadium on October 11, 2015 in Kansas City, Missouri.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...chise-history-brandon-marshall-alshon-jeffery

 

[Chicago Bears]

10 Most Important Bears of 2025: #9 Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

For the 17th straight year, we’re bringing you who we believe will be the ten most important Chicago Bears for the upcoming season, and at number 9 is Chicago’s 12 Personnel.

As soon as the Chicago Bears drafted Colston Loveland, speculation started that they were looking to replace Cole Kmet with a more dynamic receiver at tight end. Kmet was coming off his fewest receptions (47) and yards (423) since his rookie season (28/243), and Ben Johnson’s primary tight end in Detroit was Sam LaPorta, whom Loveland was often compared to.

But Loveland (F) and Kmet (Y) play different positions, and Johnson isn’t running the Lions offense; he’s building his Bears playbook around the talent in the Windy City, and Kmet is part of that plan.

Two tight end sets (12 personnel/1 RB & 2 TEs) are a great way to find mismatches, and with Kmet being a better athlete than you probably think he is, and Loveland a better blocker than you probably think he is, the Bears will be able to move these two all around the offense.

Number 9 on my 2025 Most Important Bears series is Kmet and Loveland, aka, Chicago’s 12 personnel package. So I guess technically, Durham Smythe and a possible OL6 lined up as a tight end could be a part of their 12, but it’ll be Kmet and Loveland getting the bulk of the reps. I’ve combined players into one number on my list before, but that was when there was a question at a position like center or left tackle. This time, it’s because two tight end sets seem primed to be an important part of what the Bears want to do in 2025.

“I think the goal with it is to become the best 12 [personnel] tandem in the league and see where we can take it from there,” Kmet said last month after discussing what he was told by his head coach.

Although his overall numbers were down last year, Kmet remained productive. He led all tight ends with an 85.5 catch percentage and was second among tight ends with a 70.9 success rate*. Chicago’s offense was disjointed most of last season, and in eight games, Kmet had two or fewer targets. His 2025 numbers may not approach his 73 catches and 719 yards of 2023, but Kmet will be an effective receiver in Johnson’s offense.

*Per Pro Football Reference, a successful reception gains at least 40% of the yards required on 1st down, 60% of the yards required on 2nd down, and 100% on 3rd or 4th down. The denominator is the targets.​

As a blocker, Kmet has never been a mauler, but he’s got a big frame and he’s willing to get in there and work. When he’s asked to do what he can do, he’s fine, and I have a feeling Ben Johnson’s run scheme will also benefit Kmet with more outside zone and by giving him better blocking angles. I expect him to have his best graded season as a blocker in 2025 with a more cohesive running game.

While Johnson is building his Bears’ offense around Caleb Williams and the talent in Chicago, I think he’ll bring a couple of core principles with him. There will be two things he does in Chicago that he did in Detroit. First, he’s going to run the ball. In 2024, Johnson’s Lions ran the ball about 47% of the time (eighth most), and in ‘23 and ‘22, he ran it about 43% of the time. Having two tight ends on the field will benefit the run game.

The second thing he’ll do is dial up plenty of play-action passes. In the last two years, with Ben Johnson as his playcaller, Lions quarterback Jared Goff led the league in play-action pass attempts, and in 2022, he ranked fourth. Play action is effective regardless of a team’s ability to run becuase it’s all about deception and execution.

When it comes to yards per route run on play-action passes over the last two years, Kmet was a top-five at his position, and now he has a play caller who knows how to marry the run and pass together and scheme up easy looks for his tight ends. Sneaking the tight end out for an easy catch is a cheat code off play action.

At Michigan, Loveland lined up in the slot nearly half his reps, but he also played plenty flexed off the line, as a traditional Y, and as an H-Back, so his versatility is a good complement to Kmet. Johnson will move Loveland around the offense to help his quarterback diagnose coverages.

The Lions used the third-most 12 personnel in 2024, and the upside from the Kmet/Loveland duo is higher than LaPorta and Brock Wright, who combined for 73 receptions and 826 yards a season ago.

“He’s got a crazy mind, so he’s got all types of stuff, all types of concepts,” Loveland said about his head coach via the Bearswire. “It’s definitely a step up, and it’s another level. I love it so far. I’m seeing tight ends run all different kind of routes, doing a bunch of different stuff in the run game. So, yeah, I’m loving it. I’m just ready to get out there and go to work.”

Not only does Ben Johnson use double tight ends quite a bit, but he’s good at it. The Lions ranked fourth in EPA last season when they were in 12. Expect to see tight ends shifting and motioning across for more power at the point of attack in the run game, and for them to line up in bunch sets for better blocking angles and to disguise pass patterns.

Loveland has the higher ceiling as a prospect, but right now, Kmet is the better football player, and with a playcaller who has an actual plan, Johnson will know how to get the best out of 12 personnel in 2025.

View this post on Instagram​

A post shared by Colston Loveland (@_colstonloveland_)​

“Nowadays, you see a lot of teams looking to get two well-rounded tight ends that can do a lot, put defenses in a bind,” Loveland said earlier this year via WGN. “I’m super stoked to get in there and work with him [Kmet]. He’s been doing it for a while [and he’s] really good at it … 12-personnel, two tight ends, I can do everything and do a lot of things that mess with the defense.”

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Check out the videos in the embed below for more of Johnson’s concepts and how he uses 12 personnel to set defenses up and find the best mismatch for his offense.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...and-colston-loveland-12-personnel-ben-johnson

 

[Chicago Bears]

Where would you rank Bears' Dennis Allen among NFL defensive coordinators?

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images

The Bears are gettting a defensive upgrade at coordinator in 2025.

With so much excitement surrounding head coach Ben Johnson and the new offense he’s bringing to the Chicago Bears, the Dennis Allen hire has kind of slipped under the radar. Chicago’s defense was decent two years ago, but last year it really fell off after the week seven bye, so that unit needs improvement.

Our guy Jacob Infante recently ranked all 32 defensive coordinators for Pro Football Network, placing Allen at number 13.

After two failed stints as an NFL head coach, Dennis Allen finds himself returning to the defensive coordinator ranks. As one of the better defensive coaches in the game, this feels like an excellent way for him to extend his coaching career.

In seven seasons as the defensive coordinator in New Orleans, Allen’s defenses consistently performed above average. The Saints made the playoffs in four of those seasons. Now that he doesn’t have a bare-bones roster like he did in 2024, he could make some noise calling plays for the Chicago Bears in 2025.

In 2024, head coach and defensive playcaller Matt Eberflus lost two key players to injury: safety Jaquan Brisker in Week 5 and defensive tackle Andrew Billings in Week 8. He simply wasn’t creative or good enough to get his defense to rally.

Allen is more aggressive than Eberflus was, and while he will blitz more, he’s also more creative with the looks and stunts he runs up front. He’ll play more man-to-man on the back end while trying to confuse offensive protection schemes.

In case you were wondering, Jacob has ’Flus ranked at 18 for PFN, saying, “while his teams disappointed, his defenses were just fine.”

“Just fine” is the perfect way to describe Eberflus’ defenses becuase when he has talent and they aren’t playing good offenses, he’s fine.

Allen’s upgrade on Chicago’s defense may not be as statistically noticeable as what Johnson brings to the Bears' offense, but it’s sure to be just as impactful.

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...mong-nfl-defensive-coordinators-matt-eberflus

 

[Chicago Bears]

Open Thread: Where is your favorite place to watch Bears football?

Jon Durr-Imagn Images

Where are your favorite places to cheer on the beloved?

As much pain as it can put us through sometimes, all of us in this Windy City Gridiron community have something in common: we all like watching the Chicago Bears play football.

Especially in the dead of summer, it really puts into perspective how much we all look forward to watching our favorite NFL teams. I’m sure it’s the case with many of you, but for me, watching the Bears is a necessity. I make sure to block off that time on my calendar to the best of my availability with as few distractions as possible.

If the Bears are on TV, I’m going to be watching them no matter what.

Granted, as a single 24-year-old man with no kids who’s probably going to die alone, I don’t have very many commitments. Even then, I’ve turned down numerous plans over the years so I could sit on the couch and watch the Bears.

Where is your favorite place to watch Bears football?​

Since I write the postgame articles here at WCG, I usually prefer to watch Bears game at home on my couch. I’ll order myself something for lunch — Jersey Mike’s or any of the local Mexican restaurants are usually favorites of mine — and watch the game with my laptop out to tweet out commentary and make progress on my immediate recap articles.

I also typically go to one or two Bears games a year in-person. My family has Bears season tickets, and I’m a fourth-generation season ticket holder. The Infante family has been going to games on a yearly basis since my great grandfather attended games regularly at Wrigley Field. At Soldier Field, we sit in the mezzanine by the media deck. It’s the perfect place to get exposure to that Bears weather without risk of getting snowed or rained on directly.

That said, I always like going out to watch football, too. My preference is to watch Bears games at home with my laptop so I can write articles, but I like turning off the “analyst” side of my brain and just being a fan with a beer in my hand.

If I’m in Chicago, my favorite place to watch football is Flo & Santos off Wabash in the South Loop. It’s right in between Soldier Field and where my dad lives, so it’s a perfect place to stop for pizza and pierogi on my way back from a noon Bears game. As someone of Polish-Italian descent, it’s the perfect blending of cultures for me.

If I’m in the suburbs, my buddy’s family has a garage bar with six flat-screen televisions and a beer keg that’s lovingly referred to as Up Your Ass Eating a Ham Sandwich, or “The Ass” for short. Michelob Ultra runs freely throughout the day.

Now, it’s your turn. Where’s your favorite place to watch Bears football?

Source: https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2...ears-tailgating-favorite-place-watch-football