The Chicago Bears finished the 2024-25 season with a disappointing record of 5-12. In Caleb Williams’ rookie year, the team had one of the most underwhelming seasons in the franchise’s long history. The season was such a disaster that the Bears fired a head coach in the middle of the year for the first time in the 105-year history of the franchise. Matt Eberflus was a problem for sure, but he was far from the only one. Thomas Brown took over for Eberflus and inherited the issues that plagued this team all season. Now there will likely be a new head coach to inherit these problems next season.
Between now and the start of next year there are plenty of avenues for the Chicago Bears to take in order to improve and address their many weaknesses on the roster and help out their next head coach. Some of the most pressing issues for the Bears are their porous offensive line, lackluster defensive line, and top-heavy secondary. Taking care of these problematic areas could transform Chicago from a cellar-dwelling embarrassment to a playoff contender and shine a more positive light on one of the NFL’s most storied franchises.
Chicago Bears’ Top Offseason Needs
The Chicago Bears had high hopes for this season. The momentum gained from drafting Williams with the number one overall pick, adding established offensive weapons, and appearing on HBO’s Hard Knocks had fans anticipating a jump from the team’s 7-10 record in 2023-24. What unfolded during the season was nothing short of a disaster. The team looked to be in good shape to make a playoff push until the end of their seventh game in Washington against the Commanders. They allowed a game-winning Hail Mary to drop them to 4-3. From that point on the Bears went 1-9.
The losing skid that marred the Chicago Bears for the latter half of the season revealed some of their biggest and most obvious weaknesses on the roster. While the hope for 2024-25 fizzled out, the path for this offseason became a lot more clear to fans. How the front office conducts this offseason will likely define the regime of GM Ryan Poles. Building around Williams and a new head coach, the Chicago Bears need to address some of their bigger needs if they want to improve for next season.
Offensive Line
The offensive line was always going to be a storyline for the Chicago Bears this season. The loftiest of expectations for the season were counting on a middling offensive line at best. There are some quality players on the line, but as a unit the offensive line failed to produce and the offense suffered massively. Williams was sacked 68 times in his rookie season, tied for the third most in NFL history, and second for rookie quarterbacks. Running Back D’Andre Swift had the lowest YPA of his career, rushing for just 3.8 yards a carry in his first season in Chicago.
The impact that a revamped offensive line could have on the Chicago Bears would be seismic. They currently have three linemen who could be considered future starters for this team, yet they all took a step back this season. G Teven Jenkins, RT Darnell Wright, and LT Braxton Jones all have shown the ability to be difference-makers for the Chicago Bears. Getting some help alongside these starters is going to be high on Poles’ list of offseason needs to improve this team. Whether it be in the draft, free agency, or via trade, Poles needs to add at least two premier linemen up front to help these three.
Wright and Jenkins are fairly well-established in their positions. Wright has held down the right tackle position since being drafted in 2023 and even despite nagging arm injuries, has been a solid player. Jenkins has been more inconsistent. His health and dynamic personality have drawn him back from becoming one of the league’s top interior linemen, which he has shown the potential of becoming. Jones’ future is more up in the air. He has shown some weaknesses at the left tackle position, so the former fifth-rounder’s future may be on the interior of the offensive line if the Bears can add a tackle.
Defensive Line
When the Chicago Bears traded for Montez Sweat at the trade deadline last year, the issue of the defensive line was not something that was at the top of mind for followers of the team. His presence was supposed to not only add production for himself, but free up other members of the defensive front to disrupt offenses themselves. After one full season, this has not been the case. Sweat was limited to 5.5 sacks and the team ranked 28th in the NFL in run defense. The injury to Andrew Billings can not be blamed entirely for this output. Some of the prospects on the defensive line haven’t panned out.
DeMarcus Walker and Gervon Dexter haven’t improved the way the Bears were hoping they would and Austin Booker didn’t see much of the field on defense in his rookie season. He could see more time in 2025-26, but counting on him to solve the team’s line problems isn’t a very good solution. Adding personnel is a must for Poles and the Chicago Bears front office this offseason. The weakness wasn’t anticipated on the defensive front like it was on the offensive side of the ball. It is still a problem that has to be addressed if the Bears want to be better than 27th in total defense next year.
Secondary
Going hand-in-hand with the surprising defensive line struggles were some of the gaps that appeared in the defensive secondary for the Chicago Bears. Jaquan Brisker missed a huge chunk of the season with a concussion, which is a concern moving forward. His injury exposed some of the holes that exist in the secondary. What was once thought of as the strongest level on the defense may need some re-tooling, especially with some of the chaos that ensued this season. Namely the Tyrique Stevenson incident against the Commanders that sent the Bears into a tailspin.
With a new coach coming in, some players may be on the chopping block and Stevenson is up near the top of the list. Reports of him being late to meetings, lackadaisical in practice, and moody on game day don’t bode well for his future in Chicago. Between Brisker’s health, Stevenson’s antics, and Kevin Byard’s age, the Bears need to address the secondary this offseason. Jaylon Johnson is ensconced as the top cornerback. Beyond that, there is more uncertainty heading into this offseason than there was last year, and adding fresh blood to the DB room can help stave off more problems next year.
Final Thoughts
Poles and the rest of the Chicago Bears front office could have addressed some of these issues last offseason so taking care of the more obvious problems should be mandatory for them to keep their jobs. Aside from the blatant needs being met, this offseason will say a great deal about the faith the team has in Williams and how much pressure is really on Poles to get this team turned around and going in the right direction.
The most important thing that the Chicago Bears can do this offseason is enhance the offensive line to protect Caleb Williams. If nothing else happens this offseason, keeping their top asset healthy and progressing is a step in the right direction. Adding to the defensive line and bolstering the secondary can help a defense that tailed off toward the end of the year. It also ensures that Williams has every opportunity and advantage to succeed is the most important task this offseason and moving forward for the Chicago Bears.
