Ryan Poles, Ben Johnson collaboration could pay off dividends for Bears in 2025

Change was necessary following the debacle of the 2024 Chicago Bears season. And it all change for the better.

Bears general manager Ryan Poles finds himself on the hot seat as his team has not made the postseason since he took the job in 2022. Poles stayed active in the offseason as he rebuilt the offensive line, added two starters on the defensive line, and made four selections within the first two rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft.

The most crucial move by Poles though was bringing in Ben Johnson to be the new head coach. Johnson's work as offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions helped make the decision easy for Poles.

New life has been breathed into the Bears' organization with Johnson now at the helm as head coach. It has given the media more optimism to predict a better 2025 season.

Johnson's new culture and Poles' moves lead to strong 2025 prediction for Bears

Bleacher Report writer Brent Sobleski ranked the new head coaches in the NFL and shared his prediction on how their first seasons would go. Johnson was ranked third, with the Bears looking at a 9-8 record, thanks to what he and Poles accomplished in the offseason.

"Ben Johnson has more than enough roster talent to coach the Chicago Bears to a winning record. He also has the task of pulling it all together and making the group a cohesive unit after the previous regime failed to do so.

The Bears are now pulling in the same direction with significant talent at multiple spots. This offseason, general manager Ryan Poles did all he could to make sure the Bears field an outstanding offensive line to help last year's No. 1 overall pick.

The Bears already had talent at the skill positions. Beyond (Caleb) Williams, D'Andre Swift is a capable weapon at running back. Wide receiver D.J. Moore has 966 or more receiving yards in five of his seven seasons. Rome Odunze is a recent top-10 selection. The Bears also added tight end Colston Loveland in this year's first round to go along with veteran Cole Kmet.

As long as the offense picks up—and it should with Johnson now calling the plays after being deemed one of the game's brightest offensive minds—Chicago's defense is more than capable of holding up its end of the bargain, especially after the hire of Dennis Allen as coordinator."

Chicago's new-look offensive line was the most significant move made in the offseason, with Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, and Jonah Jackson all signed or acquired through trade. This is in the hopes that Williams won't have to take any more hits after 68 sacks in 2024.

The offense was the main focus of the offseason as the defense added a couple of pieces, but it was about getting healthier on that side of the ball. Chicago's worst-ranked offense was what Poles and Johnson needed to fix and got the right pieces in place.

Poles has the roster set, but it will be up to Johnson to put it all together like a puzzle. The Bears need to see results from their franchise quarterback and get the offense back on track.