The Chicago Bears are back in the national spotlight, not for a marquee win or a dramatic midseason turnaround, but for what Pro Football Focus has called an “ideal offseason.” In a league where fortunes rise and fall with the draft board, free agency signings, and coaching hires, the Bears have emerged as the NFL’s offseason valedictorians—at least on paper. Pro Football Focus (PFF) recently handed Chicago its highest possible grade for the 2025 offseason, a coveted A+, and they were just one of two teams across the league to earn that mark.
That’s not an accolade handed out lightly. According to PFF’s Trever Sikkema, the Bears knocked it out of the park in nearly every phase of team-building. From the front office to the sideline to the draft war room, the team’s trajectory under general manager Ryan Poles looks sharper than it has in decades. If there’s been one persistent criticism of the Chicago Bears over the last two decades, it’s been the lack of a coherent long-term vision. That criticism no longer applies.
Everything seemed to change this offseason, beginning with the bold hiring of former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as head coach. Johnson was one of the most sought-after candidates in the NFL coaching carousel, and his decision to join Chicago was seen as a major coup. Revered for orchestrating one of the league’s most explosive offenses in Detroit, Johnson brings a blend of creativity, modern schematics, and player development acumen that’s been sorely missing in Chicago.
Yet Johnson wasn’t the only splashy addition to the coaching staff. The Bears also brought in former New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen as defensive coordinator. While Allen’s tenure with the Saints had its ups and downs, he’s long been respected as one of the NFL’s premier defensive minds. His experience will be invaluable for a Bears defense that’s shown promise but lacked consistency. Together, Johnson and Allen form a formidable tandem—one capable of changing the Bears’ identity on both sides of the ball.
Of course, good coaching is only part of the equation. The Bears front office went into the 2025 offseason with a clear mission: protect the quarterback and build a roster capable of contending in the NFC North. They wasted no time addressing one of the franchise’s most long-standing weaknesses: the offensive line. Poles and his staff executed a flurry of smart, targeted moves, landing Pro Bowl-caliber guard Joe Thuney via trade, adding Jonah Jackson in free agency, and solidifying the interior with center Drew Dalman. These moves did more than just plug holes—they provided the Bears with a foundation of toughness and technical excellence.
With the offensive line addressed early, the Bears were able to approach the 2025 NFL Draft with a “best player available” philosophy. That luxury turned into a massive haul. Michigan tight end Colston Loveland, Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III, and Boston College offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo were among the notable selections, and each brings something unique to an offense that’s now built to thrive.
Loveland gives the Bears a dynamic receiving option at tight end who can stretch the field and create mismatches. Burden, one of college football’s most electric receivers, has the kind of speed and agility that can flip a game in a single play. Trapilo adds depth and youth to the offensive line room, potentially becoming a long-term starter on the edge. It was a masterclass in maximizing draft capital and supplementing a roster that was already ascending.
Notably, PFF pointed out that the Bears didn’t spend major resources addressing the running back position. But that wasn’t a knock—it was a calculated choice. In today’s NFL, where elite quarterback play and offensive versatility are paramount, running back has become one of the more replaceable positions. Chicago’s decision to deprioritize it in favor of line protection and perimeter weapons shows a level of strategic thinking that hasn’t always been apparent in Halas Hall. It’s not that running back isn’t important—it’s just not the linchpin of this team’s success.
Of course, the biggest reason for optimism is that the Bears finally appear to have a franchise quarterback in place. Rookie sensation Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, enters his second season with all the tools and support he needs to thrive. He has the arm talent, the leadership, the poise under pressure—and now, a vastly improved infrastructure around him. No longer will he be asked to carry the offense singlehandedly. With Johnson’s play-calling, a fortified offensive line, and an expanding arsenal of pass-catching weapons, Williams is set up for real success in 2025.
It’s rare to see a team execute such a comprehensive and seemingly airtight offseason plan, but that’s what the Bears have done. While it’s true that the Patriots also earned an A+ grade from PFF, context matters. New England is still in the early stages of a rebuild and lacks the offensive firepower that Chicago now possesses. The Bears, on the other hand, are closer to true playoff contention and may even be a dark-horse threat in the NFC if things break right.
Still, PFF’s praise doesn’t translate to wins just yet. The true test will come when the pads go on, when Caleb Williams is taking real hits, when Ben Johnson is making fourth-quarter decisions, and when Dennis Allen is trying to stop NFC quarterbacks like Jordan Love and Jared Goff. The offseason workout program, OTAs, and eventually training camp will begin to separate hope from reality. But for now, the Bears are exactly where they want to be: trending upward with momentum and belief.
Chicago’s 2025 offseason should be seen as the logical next step in the franchise’s rebuild under Ryan Poles, a rebuild that began in earnest two years ago and is now bearing fruit. Poles deserves immense credit for sticking to a clear vision and not overreacting to short-term struggles. Many general managers get caught in the whirlpool of NFL pressure and make splashy moves that lack long-term sustainability. Poles, however, has proven methodical, patient, and creative—a trifecta of traits that gives Chicago fans reason to believe this isn’t just another flash in the pan.
There’s also a palpable shift in culture. The Bears are no longer defined by dysfunction or low expectations. There’s a professionalism in the way this offseason was handled, from the transparency in the coaching search to the efficiency of free-agent negotiations to the cohesion of the draft strategy. Every move felt purposeful. Every addition made sense. And every signal coming out of the organization points to a franchise that’s finally found its footing.
While some questions still linger—can the defense take the next step? Will Williams avoid a sophomore slump? Can the offensive line stay healthy?—the baseline talent and leadership are in place to navigate those challenges. Not every offseason success story translates to a postseason berth, but the Bears have stacked the deck in their favor as well as anyone could have hoped.
With expectations now raised, the 2025 season becomes a referendum on whether this new era of Bears football is truly here to stay. The pieces are in place, the hype is real, and the belief inside Halas Hall is that this team can win—and win now. For a city that’s starved for football relevance and postseason glory, the Bears’ A+ offseason isn’t just a grade. It’s a promise.
Wins will ultimately be the only measure that matters, but for the first time in a long time, Chicago feels like a team built to deliver them. If Pro Football Focus is right—and if Ryan Poles, Ben Johnson, and Caleb Williams can execute when it matters—the 2025 offseason will be remembered as the moment the Bears turned potential into power.