Caleb Williams once said, “The point about football is figuring out why things are certain ways and finding ways to overcome or get better at it.” The Chicago Bears, a team once feared for its grit and grind, basically hit rock bottom after their 10-game losing streak. They were a franchise that used to own Sundays. But that’s the past. Last season, their rookie QB got sacked 68 times (a league high – ouch!), the defense looked lost, and that thing that used to define them? Gone.

But as 2025 offseason goes high-gear, things are changing. There’s a new vibe, a new fire. It’s not just about fixing the playbook. It’s about rediscovering the franchise’s identity. At the heart of it? New HC Ben Johnson and DC Dennis Allen, are bringing back the edge that once made the Bears absolute nightmares to play against.

Ben Johnson has a clear vision for the Bears. And with Dennis Allen running the defense, that vision is slowly turning into a blueprint. At the NFL Annual Meeting, Johnson praised Allen, “He is very detailed. He is very defined. And so I am very encouraged.” Dennis joins the fray with years of experience and a reputation for building defenses that just won’t back down. His vision for the team’s defense?

“Tough, nasty, hyper competitive, play with a swagger, play with a chip on their shoulder – That’s been a hallmark of a lot of great defenses that have been here in Chicago and so that’s what we’re looking for.” With Allen, the Bears’ defense might just hit its prime again.

The Bears have Kyler Gordon with a massive three-year extension. Allen’s also thrilled about adding two-time Pro Bowler DT Grady Jarrett. They are beefing things up, and things are only about to get wild. While the defense is getting its groove back under Allen, the offense is all about one thing – helping Caleb Williams.

The rookie had a rough ride in his debut season, which he has admitted himself. But he’s not folding. He keeps working, keeps asking questions, and is full of fire. So, is 2025 his year to shine?

Caleb Williams: Ready for the grind

With 3 words, Dennis Allen has summed up Caleb Williams: “Hungry for growth.” He further added, “The sky’s the limit with his athletic ability, with his talent. – I think he wants to be great. It’s really important to him. He’s been very open to accepting feedback, accepting coaching and really starting to build that relationship where we’re going to build this thing and really hit his ceiling.”

In an interview, Caleb had pointed out that he knows his shortcomings, and where exactly he needs to improve. “Processing, and then taking more checkdowns, and then footwork. I think those three are big for my game that I’m going to be working on.” And it’s not just empty words. He’s putting himself out there, striving to be better, constantly. And Johnson is helping him too.

In an interview with Tom Pelissero, Johnson said that even during the Super Bowl, Williams kept texting him with questions, “what’s going on here, what are we thinking, that was a cool play. Things like that. And so I just know this is a hungry individual that he’s ready to get this career started because he’s got a chance to be pretty darn special.”

And Johnson isn’t coddling him either. Two days into the workouts, Johnson surprised the team with a pop quiz. Williams got the message: every detail matters, and you’ve got to be sharp. And honestly, he’s all in. “Everybody loves a challenge,” he said after the quiz. But the Bears aren’t just throwing him out there and hoping. They are giving him some major offensive firepower to work with. Aside from Darnell Wright and Braxton Jones, they’ve now brought in legit help – veteran linemen like Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson, and Drew Dalman. That’s how you build around a young QB, and the Bears mean business.

This year feels different already, doesn’t it? The Bears are using last season’s scars as fuel, and if this offseason is any indication, Chicago isn’t just getting better – they’re getting ready to leave a lasting impact. Caleb sure believes in his team when he says, “We’re going to get there.”