The Chicago Bears have finally put all the pieces in place to develop a quarterback, which makes the team a legitimate long-term threat in the NFC.
Before the Chicago Bears could ever envision the type of success they experienced last season, the team needed a major overhaul.
That overhaul helped the Bears win 11 games on the way to clinching the NFC North. Two offseasons of strategic roster building have pushed the Bears into the NFC contender conversation.
The football community is beginning to notice how effectively the Bears have positioned Caleb Williams to thrive going forward. According to CBS' Jared Dubin, the Bears are one of four teams in "Tier 1" for "The Best Ecosystems" for the quarterback position. The Los Angeles Rams, Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys are also listed in the first tier.
As previously mentioned, that status didn't happen overnight for Chicago. It's started during the Bears' 2024 season. The Bears finished 5-12, and coach Matt Eberflus and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron were fired in season. The Bears' organization needed direction. The team found that in Ben Johnson, providing Williams with one of the best offensive minds in football.
With the leader of the franchise in place, the next pivotal step to developing a competitive roster was upgrading the offensive line. Williams was sacked a league-high 68 times as a rookie.
The Bears traded for four-time Super Bowl champion Joe Thuney and made a trade with the Los Angles Rams for Jonah Jackson, who played under Johnson in Detroit. General manager Ryan Poles also signed Falcons center Drew Dalman to anchor the middle of the Bears' O-line.
Poles used his first three picks in the 2025 NFL Draft to continue building the offense. The organization selected Michigan's Colston Loveland with the No. 10 overall pick, giving Johnson a versatile playmaker at the tight position. With the 39th pick in the second round, the Bears drafted Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III. Boston College offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo was taken at No. 56 overall, giving Chicago a potential future option at left tackle.
Those pieces each played their part in helping the Bears win 11 games and becoming one of the most explosive offenses last season.
After a successful 2025 campaign, Johnson's team went experienced what every team goes through from season to season: change.
Dalman unexpectedly retired. Wide receiver DJ Moore was traded to the Buffalo Bills. The Bears let receiver Olamide Zaccheaus walk in free agency.
The Bears addressed the center position by trading for veteran Garrett Bradbury and drafting Iowa's Logan Jones. Receiver Kalif Raymond was signed in free agency to establish a veteran presence in the locker room and also reacquainted Johnson with a former playmaker he had in Detroit.
Much like last year, the Bears added playmakers on offense with some of their top picks in the 2026 draft, selecting Stanford tight end Sam Roush and LSU wide receiver Zavion Thomas both in the third round.
Unlike past regimes, the Bears have built a support system for Williams, featuring an offensive-minded coach, a strong offensive line and versatile pass catchers. With the Bears finally having a suitable environment to develop a quarterback, this makes Chicago a long-term threat in the NFC.
