Optimism surging Ben Johnson can transform Chicago Bears’ offense into one of NFL’s elite

The Chicago Bears posted one of the NFL’s least efficient offenses last season, but that could be about to change in a major way in 2025.

One of the top reasons the Bears so aggressively pursued Ben Johnson as the franchise’s next head coach, wasn’t just a robust commitment to set quarterback Caleb Williams up for success, but to jumpstart a woebegone offense that averaged just 18.2 points per game while finishing last in total offense.

Johnson was the most coveted coaching candidate this hiring cycle, and there is plenty of reason to be optimistic that the Bears’ offense could look dramatically different this fall, especially given his explosive track record at the helm of the Lions’ offense over the past three seasons.

Why Chicago Bears could be one of the NFL’s most prolific offenses in 2025

Over at Bleacher/Report, NFL analyst Brent Sobleski put together a ranking of each team’s offense entering the 2025 season, with the Bears emerging at No. 10.

“Ben Johnson’s hire as the new head coach has to be a breath of fresh air,” Sobleski writes for B/R. “For a franchise suffocating from all the previous missteps at the game’s most important position. His scheme and play-calling alone should allow the Bears to make a significant jump. Williams’ maturation under a well-regarded coach will allow the offense to take another step. From there, an improved roster should be enough to push the Bears into the top-10 range.

“Chicago’s additions along the offensive line should make a drastic difference after Williams was sacked more than any other quarterback. The inclusions of Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman, Jonah Jackson and second-round rookie Ozzy Trapilo are massive upgrades.”

Few teams have made more wholesale changes or managed more significant upgrades in the span of one offseason than the Bears have over the past five months.

Johnson’s arrival has the potential to pay the most significant dividends, by far, based on his possible impact on Williams’ trajectory as a quarterback alone.

However, for the Bears to climb past the likes of the defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles, dynamic Los Angeles Rams offense, and the potentially prolific Dallas Cowboys on the field this season, as they did in Sobleski’s list, Chicago is going to need rookies Colston Loveland and Luther Burden to each make significant impacts and the revamed offensive line to immediately hit the ground running.

If they do, the 2025 campaign could become a transformative one for the Bears’ offense and the trajectory of the franchise.