The Chicago Bears were blindsided by center Drew Dalman announcing his retirement on March 3.

Dalman was just in his fifth NFL season and made the Pro Bowl in 2025.

Dalman was drafted in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. In his rookie season, Dalman played in all 17 games but only played 68 snaps.

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He became the Falcons’ starting center in 2022. He made some mistakes, particularly a lot of holding penalties, but showed potential. He showed improvement in 2023 by committing only two penalties. 

2024 was an injury-riddled season for Dalman, as he played in just nine games. Despite this, he still garnered interest from several teams in free agency. Dalman signed a three-year, $42 million contract with the Bears in the 2025 offseason. 

Dalman was a big reason for the Bears’ offensive line improvements. After having one of the worst offensive lines in 2024, the Bears had the No. 2 offensive line according to Pro Football Network. Guard Joe Thuney made the Pro Bowl for the Bears along with Dalman. 

As of now, Dalman has not given a reason for his retirement. However, Bears journalists and fans think that his father could be the reason. Dalman’s father, Chris Dalman, played in the NFL as well. He won Super Bowl XXIX with the San Francisco 49ers. However, his career was cut short due to a neck injury. 

“I’ve been OK with this decision for a long time,” Dalman’s father said. “When I first got hurt, and I couldn’t move, lying on the field for about 30 seconds, I knew it was probably over. Still, it’s strange to think that this part of your life is over.”

Regardless of the reason, the Bears will look to replace Dalman in free agency or the draft. 

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams isn’t taking any guff about his nails.

“You know, people feel a certain way about it in a masculine sport, and I give no f—-s, to be honest with you. I couldn’t care less,” Williams told The Rush podcast hosted by Maxx Crosby.

Williams also revealed the story behind his painted nails. His interest in nail art started as a kid. His mom was a nail technician. However, he said he first painted his nails on a date with an ex-girlfriend.

Williams has used his nail polish to display a variety of messages. One time in college, he painted “F Texas” on his nails. In the NFL, he’s used his nail polish to show support for suicide awareness and breast cancer research.

Williams was the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. His pre-draft grades rated him as the most productive quarterback in the draft based on college production. He also ranked second in NFL scouting combine performance.

However, some wondered if he could handle the rigors of an NFL season. Some saw his nail polish as a sign of weakness. Williams sees them as a strength, a way to send a message to the opposing team and outside causes.

Williams threw 20 touchdowns in his rookie season. He had one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL, which led to him being sacked 68 times, which led the NFL. The Bears improved their offense, while Williams also improved his game. He threw 27 touchdowns in 2025. Beyond that, he also had six fourth-quarter comebacks to lead the league.  

The Chicago Bears received some good news regarding their proposed move to Indiana.

Indiana Senate Bill 27, which provides a state-owned stadium for the Bears to play in, has strong support from the state Legislature and Indiana Gov. Mike Braun. The bill passed 24-0 in the state House Ways and Means Committee. The Bears proposed their move to Indiana after Illinois Governor JB Pritzker wasn’t supportive of using tax dollars for a new stadium.

The Bears currently play in Soldier Field. The stadium first opened in 1924. It’s been the home of the Bears since 1971. Despite renovations in 2002, the Bears still feel the stadium is outdated and are looking for a change. 

The new proposed stadium would be in Hammond, Indiana. Despite moving out of state, Hammond is only a 40-minute drive from Chicago. The team plans to keep its name as the Chicago Bears. This is similar to how the New York Giants and New York Jets play in New Jersey but call themselves New York. 

The Bears are one of the NFL’s oldest franchises. They played their first season in the NFL in 1922. They won Super Bowl XX. The 1985 Bears are considered one of the greatest teams in NFL history due to their elite defense. The 1985 Bears have seven Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees, including their head coach, Mike Ditka.

2025 was the Bears’ best season in a long time. They finished with an 11-6 record and won their first playoff game since 2010. They lost to the Los Angeles Rams in the Divisional Round, but still showed strong potential. 

Indiana Senate Bill 27 will be voted on by the state legislature on Feb. 27. From there it will reach the desk of Gov. Braun, who is expected to sign it.  

The Chicago Bears had their backs to the wall and rose to the occasion, winning a wild-card thriller against the Packers.

On January 10, the Bears took on their division rivals, the Packers, in the wild-card game. The Bears had been one of this season’s most pleasant surprises, going from missing the playoffs to a No. 2 seed. Meanwhile, the Packers had gotten off to a great start but fell off after Micah Parsons suffered a season-ending injury. 

The Bears started off the game with a Cairo Santos 27-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead. The Packers quickly responded with a touchdown pass from Jordan Love to Christian Watson.

The second quarter was all Packers. Love had two touchdown passes, one to Jayden Reed and the other to Romeo Doubs. At halftime, the Packers led this game 21-3.

Santos had a field goal in the third quarter to help chip away at the deficit. Despite this, the Bears still faced a 21-6 deficit with just one quarter remaining.

The Bears scored twice early in the fourth quarter, the first being another Santos field goal and a 6-yard touchdown rush from D’Andre Swift. However, when the Packers responded with a touchdown pass to Matthew Golden, all hope seemed lost. The Packers held a 27-16 lead with just 6:36 left. 

The Bears marched down the field and got an Olamide Zaccheaus touchdown. QB Caleb Williams converted a two-point conversion to Colston Loveland to get the game to within three. The Packers had a chance to extend their lead, but their kicker missed. The Bears got the eventual game-winning touchdown from D.J. Moore to make the game 31-27. The Bears scored 25 points in the fourth quarter to erase the deficit.

The Chicago Bears had one of the most disappointing seasons in the entire NFL, going 5-12, losing 10 of their last 11 games of the regular season. The Bears had high hopes after drafting Caleb Williams with the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, but the team would struggle with an inconsistent offensive line and a rough coaching staff. The Bears would fire their head coach, Matt Eberflus, after a disappointing loss to the Lions in week 13. The Bears entered 2025 needing to reload and rebuild around their franchise quarterback, Williams.

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The first move of the offseason was the hiring of new head coach Ben Johnson, who had previously been the offensive coordinator for the Lions. The Lions had the most dominant offense last season under Johnson, thanks to his play-calling. Chicago would also trade for guard Joe Thuney from the Chiefs, who was an All-Pro last season. They also traded for guard Jonah Jackson from the Rams, adding another piece to the offensive line. The final move on the offensive line was signing center Drew Dalman from the Falcons.

The Bears didn’t stop there this offseason; they also signed defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo, defensive lineman Grady Jarrett, running back Travis Homer and wide receivers Devin Duverney and Olamide Zaccheaus. Chicago also hired Dennis Allen as their defensive coordinator. Allen was previously the Saints’ head coach before getting fired in 2024, but he brings a lot of defensive experience to an already above-average defense.

Chicago gave Williams two new weapons in the first two rounds of the NFL draft, selecting tight end Colston Loveland out of Michigan and wide receiver Luther Burden III out of Missouri. Both will add even more depth to Johnson’s offense, giving him more pieces to help develop Williams’ talent. The Bears also selected offensive tackle Ozzy Trapilo and defensive tackle Shemar Turner in the second and third rounds.

The Bears will have to prove they can finally compete in the NFC after having another successful offseason. Chicago has the second-most-demanding schedule in the NFL and plays in one of the toughest divisions in football: the NFC North. The Bears open the season vs the Vikings at home in a huge divisional matchup. The Bears play several teams who made the playoffs last season, including the Vikings, Lions, Commanders, Ravens, Steelers, Eagles and the Packers. Chicago will have to put together the pieces offensively if it wants to compete against one of the most demanding schedules in the NFL.

CHICAGO BEARS SCHEDULE & TICKET DEALS

• Week 1: Sept. 8 vs. Minnesota Vikings (Monday Night Football)
• Week 2: Sept. 14 at Detroit Lions
• Week 3: Sept. 21 vs. Dallas Cowboys
• Week 4: Sept. 28 at Las Vegas Raiders
• Week 5: Bye Week
• Week 6: Oct. 13 at Washington Commanders (Monday Night Football)
• Week 7: Oct. 19 vs. New Orleans Saints
• Week 8: Oct. 26 at Baltimore Ravens
• Week 9: Nov. 2 at Cincinnati Bengals
• Week 10: Nov. 9 vs. New York Giants
• Week 11: Nov. 16 at Minnesota Vikings
• Week 12: Nov. 23 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
• Week 13: Nov. 28 at Philadelphia Eagles (Black Friday, Prime Video)
• Week 14: Dec. 7 at Green Bay Packers
• Week 15: Dec. 14 vs. Cleveland Browns
• Week 16: Dec. 20 vs. Green Bay Packers (Saturday doubleheader on Fox)
• Week 17: Dec. 28 at San Francisco 49ers (Sunday Night Football)
• Week 18: vs. Detroit Lions

Chicago Bears Season/Game Odds

The Bears open with +4000 odds of winning the Super Bowl and +1900 odds of winning the NFC Championship. Chicago goes into week one as -1.5 point favorites vs the Vikings and is favored in seven of their games this season.

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The Chicago Bears’ decision to draft tight end Colston Loveland with the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft in April elicited a strong reaction from one member of the team.

Cole Kmet has been playing tight end for the Bears since the 2020 season. He signed a long-term extension with the team ahead of the 2023 season, so it’s natural that he was “taken aback” by a new addition to the tight end room.

Kmet said conversations with the team told him that “there’s going to be areas where we complement each other” and that the goal is to have the best tight end tandem in the NFL, which got the Bears’ tight end on board.

“You’re just understanding their vision and their expectations for you as a player,” Kmet said, via Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times. “It’s hard to come into work every day when you don’t know your set expectations. I think having those conversations kind of cleared the air a little bit. … I think the goal with it is to become the best 12 (personnel) tandem in the league and see where we can take it from there.”

New Bears coach Ben Johnson has evidence to back such a decision. When Johnson was the offensive coordinator with the Detroit Lions, his offense ran the third-most plays out of 12 personnel in the entire NFL (361 total plays), posted a success rate of 47.9 percent, averaged a gain of 6.2 yards per play and logged 59 explosive plays in 2024. The Lions led the NFL in touchdowns scored (29) out of 12 personnel, providing Johnson’s new employers with proof that it can work.

If everything goes according to plan, the Bears’ offense will prove to be as explosive as the Lions’ was at its best, at least eventually. That will require players like Kmet to buy in completely.

If the partnership doesn’t pan out, the Bears can part ways with Kmet after the season without serious cap ramifications.

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams spent his time with the media confirming his love for playing for the Chicago Bears.

Seth Wickersham’s upcoming book American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback revealed that Williams had considered ways to avoid being drafted by the Bears.

“I wanted to come here and be a part of turning this thing around,” Williams said. “I love being here.”

Williams did not deny his initial skepticism of being in Chicago, as he and his family mulled over where he would begin his NFL career. After visiting Chicago in April 2024, however, Williams said his desire to play for the Bears grew.

William’s father told Wickersham that Chicago is the place where “quarterbacks go to die.” Although he appreciates his father’s support, he said his father does not speak for him.

Wickersham’s book also reveals a disconnect between Williams and the former Chicago coaching staff. The Bears hired Ben Johnson as head coach in January and hired a new coaching staff.

Williams told his dad that, at times, there would be no instruction or guidance from coaches while watching film.

“No one tells me what to watch,” Williams told his dad. “I just turn it on.”

The Bears went 5-12 during William’s rookie season. He threw for 3,541 yards, 20 touchdowns and just six interceptions.

With additions to the offensive line and a new coaching staff, the Bears are poised to improve during their 2025 season.

Ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft, Caleb Williams and his father, Carl Williams, reportedly looked for ways around going to the Chicago Bears first overall, including demanding a trade to the Minnesota Vikings, consulting lawyers to evade the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement and even signing with the United Football League (UFL).

ESPN Writer Seth Wickersham‘s forthcoming book, American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback, details Williams’ pre- and post-Draft journey, alongside the stories of other iconic quarterbacks, including Johnny Unitas and the Mannings.

“I don’t want my son playing for the Bears,” the elder Williams reportedly told multiple agents leading up to the Draft. That hesitation was understandable. The Bears have famously never had a 4,000-yard season from a quarterback. They’ve had two Pro Bowl selections since 1950, and one of them was Mitch Trubisky as a replacement in 2018.

The coaching also presented an issue for the Williams family. At the time, the Bears employed Matt Eberflus as their head coach and Shane Waldron as their offensive coordinator. Caleb, skeptical of the coaching staff, wondered, “Do I want to go there? I don’t think I can do it with Waldron.”

As it turns out, both have now been replaced following a season best represented by a Week 8 loss to the Washington Commanders, sealed by Jayden Daniels‘ Hail Mary. Eberflus was fired mid-season, at the end of November. The Bears, who had gone 4-2 prior to the Washington game, finished the season with ten consecutive losses and one win.

On the other side of the coaching coin, Caleb had hit it off with Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell at the NFL Combine. He and his father made their preferences clear, including to the Chicago brass, but the Bears did not budge. Said general manager Ryan Poles, “We’re drafting you no matter what.”

Not wanting to get into a public firestorm, Caleb acquiesced. “I wasn’t ready to nuke the city,” he told Wickersham.

It’s undeniable that Williams felt the full brunt of that decision during his rookie year. While other rookie quarterbacks – particularly Daniels, who went on to win Rookie of the Year – benefitted from a stable coaching staff, Williams’ head coach was fired in the middle of the year. And even before that, Williams wasn’t receiving much guidance from the coaching staff.

“No one tells me what [film] to watch,” Williams told his father. “I just turn it on.”

Williams played decently, but didn’t live up to the hype. He was also sacked a league-leading 68 times. It looked like a confirmation of all his greatest fears about the Bears organization.

The organizational turnaround, though, looks promising. Chicago has replaced Eberflus with respected Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and added young offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. The team also invested in quarterback protection, trading for Kansas City Chiefs’ four-time All-Pro guard Joe Thuney.

There are still questions about Chicago as an organization, and there’s a limit to the turnaround you can really expect from Johnson’s hiring. Still, Williams ultimately committed to the Bears, and the team seems to be doing its best to build around him.

“I see a chance for greatness here for him,” said Johnson. “He’s been communicated that way, and he feels the same way. I don’t know what’s gone on prior to him joining the organization, but he is very proud to be a Chicago Bear.”

The Chicago Bears and All-Pro guard Joe Thuney have agreed to a two-year contract extension, his agent Mike McCartney announced this week.

The extension is worth $17.5 million per season, and his new three-year contract is worth $51 million and $33.5 million, fully guaranteed at signing.

Thuney, who had been a member of the Kansas City Chiefs since 2021, was traded to the Bears in March in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick.

Bears general manager Ryan Poles had said earlier in the offseason that an extension for Thuney was a priority.

The offensive line has been a priority for Poles after struggling mightily in 2024. Bears quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked 68 times during the 2024 season, the third-most all-time in a single season. Bears running backs averaged just 4.0 yards per carry, tied for the third-least in the NFL.

The Bears also added guard Jonah Jackson and center Drew Dalman in the offseason.

During his nine seasons in the NFL, Thuney has missed just two games in his career. Over the last two seasons, he has a pass block win rate of 97.8%, the highest in the NFL.

The Bears enter the 2025 season with an over/under win total of 8.5 after winning just five games in 2024. The new additions of Thuney, Jackson and Dalman, as well as new head coach Ben Johnson, have the Bears going in a positive direction.

What, exactly, was it that allowed the Kansas City Chiefs to make the Super Bowl in five of the last six years?

The obvious answer is quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who’s widely acknowledged as the best quarterback in the NFL. Maybe a dominant defense, featuring six-time Pro Bowler Chris Jones. One factor you definitely didn’t think of, though, is the Chiefs’ offensive line – the one that gave up six sacks to the Philadelphia Eagles this past Super Bowl.

The offensive line held up well for most of the regular season, thanks in large part to the efforts of Trey Smith, a Pro Bowl right guard, and Joe Thuney, who made First Team All-Pro in 2024 as a left guard. With the postseason over and the Chiefs already in a cap crunch, though, new deals for Smith and Thuney were on the table. Smith, 25, is seven years younger. Unsurprisingly, Thuney was the casualty, being traded to the Chicago Bears for a 2026 fourth-round pick.

From Chicago’s perspective, the trade makes sense. The Bears’ rookie quarterback, Caleb Williams, was sacked a league-high 68 times during the 2024 season. Having entered the offseason with $79 million in cap space, the Bears are willing to spend big to protect their quarterback of the future.

The move also allows the Chiefs to gain significant cap flexibility, taking Thuney’s $16 million cap hit off the books. They’re also free to pursue their offensive line of the future, which will likely mean taking a look at the players available in the Draft, including Oregon’s Josh Conerly Jr. If they’d rather go the free agency route, Cam Robinson and Ronnie Stanley are both available.

Kansas City has been a perennial contender (and winner) for the last several seasons, in large part due to the Herculean efforts of their front office. It’s hard not to trust their process.

Even so, the Thuney trade requires the Chiefs to have a solid plan for the left side of their offensive line this offseason, which has been an issue in years past as well. At least, if they want to continue maximizing Mahomes’ prime.

The first-seed Detroit Lions’ season ended on Saturday with a 31-45 loss to the heavy underdog Washington Commanders. Quarterback Jared Goff threw for 313 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions, including a pick-six.

That loss, though, has freed up the Lions’ coaching staff to look for other jobs. And there’s been no hesitation in that category, as offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has agreed to a head coaching job with the Chicago Bears, following a virtual interview during Detroit’s first-round bye.

Johnson also interviewed with the New England Patriots, Las Vegas Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars, although he reportedly wasn’t interested in the Jaguars due to “the setup,” likely concerning ownership and the retaining of general manager Trent Baalke.

Instead, he opted for Chicago, who offered him around $13 million per year – a staggering figure for a man with a grand total of zero years of head coaching experience. That figure would spot him as the seventh highest-paid coach this season, ahead of coaches like the Ravens’ John Harbaugh. If that price indicates anything about the trend, other coachless teams should be expecting to shell out this offseason.

Johnson, of course, was highly sought-after for a reason. The Lions finished the regular season first in offensive points per game, yards per game, touchdowns per drive (an astonishing 33%) and red zone touchdown percentage. The Lions averaged at least 26 points per game in the first three years of Johnson’s tenure, while Chicago has had four seasons meeting that criterion in the Super Bowl era.

His innovative offensive structure will now be tasked with elevating quarterback Caleb Williams, heading into his sophomore year, as well as promising pieces such as D’Andre Swift (who had a good season last year with the Eagles), DJ Moore and Rome Odunze.

The team also has a top-ten draft pick and a top-five amount of cap space, with which the Bears can hopefully improve an offensive line that saw Williams get sacked a league-leading 68 times.

Johnson’s connections may also prove key, as he’s reportedly already assembling his coaching staff. According to Adam Schefter, former New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen is the “leading candidate to become his defensive coordinator.”

Williams praised Johnson’s offense earlier in the month.

“During our game, I would sit back and watch and try and learn something while I watch,” Williams said. “It was fascinating to watch because he always had wrinkles for counters and things like that throughout the game. I think he’s obviously done really well, so it’d be cool to see how that all goes down.”

Chicago interviewed 17 candidates, seeking to fill the position vacated by Matt Eberflus following an unceremonious firing in November following a six-game losing streak. They went 1-4 after the firing, ending the season scraping the bottom of the division at 5-12.

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and running back David Montgomery both logged full practices Wednesday ahead of the team’s Thanksgiving game. Both players are still questionable to play but are trending in the right direction.

Despite dealing with setbacks on a short turnaround, Lions head coach Dan Campbell expressed optimism that both players would be available earlier this week. Montgomery will try to play through a shoulder injury while St. Brown is dealing with knee soreness.

Even without two star players, the Lions would still be a dangerous opponent for the Bears Thursday. With Jameson Williams and Sam LaPorta catching passes and Jahmyr Gibbs in the backfield, Detroit’s attack would still be extremely potent, if somewhat diminished.

With Montgomery and St. Brown both getting a full practice in, however, Detroit should be fully equipped with its usual offense. Montgomery has paired perfectly with Gibbs all season, as the two have combined to form the most dangerous rushing game in the NFL. St. Brown, meanwhile, is having another career year as one of the league’s top wide receivers.

Though the two playmakers were major names on the injury report, they were not the only Lions players dealing with issues. Cornerback Carlton Davis and tackle Taylor Decker have already been declared out, while cornerback Terrion Arnold and defensive lineman D.J. Reader have been cleared of a designation. The team sent wide receiver Kalif Raymond to the IR earlier this week.

The Bears aren’t dealing with any notable injuries, but with rookie Caleb Williams under center, the team is sure to be an underdog against the NFC’s strongest team. Williams nearly led Chicago to an upset victory over the Vikings last week, a strong performance that could help the team build momentum in a daunting NFC North division.

Losing on a Hail Mary is difficult for any team to swallow, but Chicago Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson has the most to answer for of anyone on the Bears’ defense.

Before the ball was snapped, a video caught Stevenson jawing with Washington Commander’s fans. His team was up by three with one snap left in the game and the ball at midfield. The video catches him running late into the play as the wide receivers are already sprinting downfield and then tipping the ball up, which fell into Noah Brown’s hands for the victory. The antics soon went viral online, and Stevenson apologized to his team before speaking with the media.

“Honestly, I don’t I feel like I should probably share what intimate side of me that I shared with the guys because I know I let them down and those guys hold me to a higher standard such as everybody in this building,” he said. “But the brief message is I apologize to the boys for letting them down. I let the moment get too big, and it’s something that can never happen again and won’t ever happen again.”

“My focus is on this building and how the people in this building feel. I understand there’s anger. I understand somebody’s ticked. I understand the things that go on outside of the building that could possibly affect how somebody feels and all that. But to be honest I’m going to worry about the opinion of the building and if these guys got my back, and that’s how I’m moving forward.”

Bears head coach Matt Eberflus appreciated that Stevenson took accountability after the game but did not discuss how the staff would handle the antics.

“Those things are always going to be internal as we work with our players as we go forward. It’s really about development and making everybody better. We’ll get to that answer as we go through the week.”

The Bears are now 4-3 and are looking to get back in the win column with a victory over the Arizona Cardinals on the road.

2023 can be described as a “leap forward” for Chicago as they managed a 7-10 record – the Bears prevailed in five of the remaining nine matchups to get to seven wins on the season. The Bears won nine games in the past two seasons, finishing with six wins in 2021 and three in 2022.

Last season saw a 14-game losing streak that began in week eight of the 2022 season diminish after week five’s victory over the Washington Commanders – Chicago dropped four straight before that game. Justin Fields became the fourth quarterback since the AFL-NFL merger to record 5,000 passing yards and 1,500 rushing yards within the first 30 starts. The Bears secured the first overall pick for the second straight season after the Carolina Panthers ended 2023 with the NFL’s worst record – Carolina traded their 2024 first-round pick to Chicago in the D.J. Moore deal.

In January, offensive coordinator Luke Getsy was fired. Improvements on offensive scoring were needed since Chicago ranked 21st in points scored via the passing game and 23rd in the rushing attack. Shane Waldron was hired to replace Getsy, while Eric Washington was named defensive coordinator.

Fields was traded to Pittsburgh in March for a sixth-rounder in 2025. This trade signaled the end of the Fields era in the Windy City as the Bears eyed USC phenom Caleb Williams to be the new franchise signal caller. Receiver Keenan Allen was acquired in a trade with the Chargers two days before the Fields deal, while safety Eddie Jackson and guard Cody Whitehair were released in February. Additional pickups include D’Andre Swift, Gerald Everett and Kevin Byard.

With the first pick in the 2024 draft, the Bears selected Williams from USC. This pick wasn’t a shock – Williams has a 66.9 career completion percentage while not throwing an interception in 199 passing attempts in third and fourth-down scenarios. Washington’s Rome Odunze was picked to top the receiving core eight picks later.

This year is a gift to Williams and Co. since their schedule is the third easiest in the NFL. Some highlights include a primetime game in Houston against the Texans, a week six meeting with the Jaguars in London, a Thanksgiving Day matchup versus the rival Lions and a trip to Levi’s to play the 49ers.

Look for Williams to be a Rookie of the Year candidate, as he has the weapons to put up good numbers. However, the offensive line needs to play well for the offense to be consistent. The Bears could shock people this year if they play their cards right.

CHICAGO BEARS SCHEDULE & TICKETS DEALS

Week 1: Sept. 8 vs. Tennessee, Noon

Week 2: Sept. 15 at Houston, 7:20 p.m.

Week 3: Sept. 22 at Indianapolis, Noon

Week 4: Sept. 29 vs. L.A. Rams, Noon

Week 5: Oct. 6 vs Carolina, Noon

Week 6: Oct. 13 vs. Jacksonville (in London), 8:30 a.m.

Week 7: Bye

Week 8: Oct. 27 at Washington, Noon

Week 9: Nov. 3 at Arizona, 3:05 p.m.

Week 10: Nov. 10 vs New England, Noon

Week 11: Nov. 17 vs. Green Bay, Noon

Week 12: Nov. 24 vs. Minnesota, Noon

Week 13: Nov.. 28 at Detroit, 11:30 a.m.

Week 14: Dec. 8 at San Francisco, 3:25 p.m.

Week 15: Dec. 16 at Minnesota, 7 p.m.

Week 16: Dec. 22 vs. Detroit, Noon

Week 17: Dec. 26 vs Seattle, 7:15 p.m.

Week 18: TBD at Green Bay

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The Chicago Bears learned the hard way last week that not all wins are pretty.

The Monsters of the Midway trailed 17-3 heading into the half and needed a special teams touchdown and pick-six to secure a 24-17 victory over the Tennessee Titans.

The offense struggled, only accumulating 148 yards on the day, picking up just 11 first downs. Many analysts expected a better performance, given that the 2024 #1 overall pick Caleb Williams made his first career start. The former USC quarterback finished the day with a dismal 93 passing yards on 14/29 attempts. While he never made the mistake and did not turn the ball over, Williams left much to be desired. After the game, he did not overreact to his rough start in the NFL.

“Obviously, we didn’t perform how we wanted to (offensively). We want to be the most efficient team out there, myself included. Didn’t perform the way I wanted to. I missed a few passes that I normally don’t miss. All these other things.”

“Yeah, I don’t care about stats. I feel great. To be honest with you, I feel great.”

The Bears revamped their offensive roster, bringing in WR Keenan Allen in a trade with the Los Angeles Chargers and signing veteran RB D’Andre Swift to a three-year contract in free agency. Chicago also drafted WR Rome Odunze with the ninth pick in the draft from Washington, hoping to provide their rookie QB with star talent around him.

In fairness to Williams, he was the only rookie quarterback that earned a win as a starter on Sunday. Jayden Daniels fell to the Tampa Bay Buccanneers 37-20 and did not record a passing touchdown, while Bo Nix lost on the road to the Seattle Seahawks 26-20 and threw two interceptions.

Chicago hits the road for the first time this week in a Sunday night game against the Houston Texans. ESPN Bet set the Bears’ chances to win at +220.

The Chicago Bears have their sights set on preparing for training camp with the Hall of Fame Game around the corner. Of course, the spotlight was on USC phenom Caleb Williams as he was one of the last rookies to sign a contract – Rome Odunze, J.J. McCarthy and Dallas Turner joined Williams on the list of names that didn’t sign a rookie deal.

According to media reports, the rookie quarterback didn’t want a franchise tag when his deal expired, but Chicago denied the request. Williams also declined to go into depth regarding his contract. Some reporters characterized William’s demands as “shocking.”

Bears’ GM Ryan Poles considered talks with Williams as a “positive” process that didn’t go in unexpected directions. “Just for general knowledge, it’s very common for different things to be asked for or anything like that,” Poles commented. “It wasn’t anything shocking in terms of what was being asked. At the end of the day, I’m glad it worked out and was pretty standard.”

Aside from contract negotiations, Chicago needs to turn the page and await the start of the 2024 season. The Bears have expectations to compete for a playoff spot since they revamped their offense. Keenan Allen and DeAndre Swift headline the roster makeover as they are perfect compliments to D.J. Moore and Cole Kmet while being reliable targets to Williams. Williams has the nod of “franchise quarterback,” meaning that he needs to excel each year to provide the Bears to dwell out from the bottom of the league.

The Bears signed their franchise quarterback to a rookie contract on Tuesday. USC phenom Caleb Williams signed a four-year, $39 million deal that’s fully guaranteed. The contract also included a $25 million signing bonus. Rome Odunze also signed for four years, worth $22.7 million.

The rookie quarterback-receiver duo originally represented a handful of the first-round’s unsigned picks – J.J. McCarthy and Dallas Turner are now the only first-round selections to be offered a contract. It’s been speculated that McCarthy waited for Williams to sign his deal before negotiating with the Vikings, though Minnesota is taking their time.

Williams and Odunze are key pieces to Chicago’s roster overhaul as D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen and D’Andre Swift highlight a massively improved squad. Williams’ expectations are through the roof as the pieces are intact for a breakout rookie campaign and a playoff berth. Chicago has never had a quarterback throw for 4,000 yards in a season, but some believe Williams can be the guy who does this. Chicago came close to making the playoffs in 2023 with nearly the same squad, and by having a quarterback like Williams, the Bears can go over the hump if Williams plays at a high level.

Williams began his collegiate career as an Oklahoma Sooner. In Norman, the signal caller threw for 1,912 yards, 21 touchdowns and four interceptions. He eventually transferred to USC, and it was the right move for Williams as he won the Heisman Trophy in 2022. Williams threw for over 4,500 yards, 42 touchdowns and five interceptions while rushing for 382 yards.

Odunze was selected ninth overall by the Bears in the 2024 NFL draft. The ex-Washington Husky led his team in receiving yards in 2022, recording 1,145 yards in his junior season. In 2023, Odunze caught 81 passes from Michael Penix Jr. for 1,640 yards while hauling in 13 touchdowns.

Regardless of how 2024 goes, Chicago’s future is bright.

Justin Jefferson’s record-setting contract on Monday sent shock waves around the league. With wide receivers commanding more money than ever, the league’s stars are looking to cash in.

For Keenan Allen, he wants one last big payday.

At 32 years old, in the final year of his $23 million deal, Allen likes what the Bears are building and started planting the seed in General Manager Ryan Poles‘ mind that he is open to staying.

“As far as an extension, I’m going to let the play speak for itself, and if they offer me something that I like, we’ll go from there.”

While the WR has yet to play a down for the Bears, Allen can see the potential. Chicago took QB Caleb Williams with the #1 pick in the NFL draft this year, and early signs out of off-season workouts point to a successful selection. The rebuild also included drafting WR Rome Odunze at #9 to pair with Allen and D.J. Moore in his second season in Chicago. The trio should lead to a high-powered offense for the Williams, but with many talented receivers on the roster, it may affect Allen getting the money he feels he deserves.

Allen joins a long list of skill players looking for new contracts. Cincinnati Bengals WR Tee Higgins made a trade request two months ago in hopes of a new deal, but nothing has materialized. After Jefferson’s new contract, Tyreek Hill‘s agent said he would ensure his client gets his money reworked to make him a top-five highest-paid WR in the NFL.

After being drafted in the third round, Allen played the first 11 years of his career with the Chargers. Last season, he finished with over 100 catches and 1,000 yards, proving that he can still be a difference-maker. Los Angeles traded him away in March to the Midwest for a fourth-round pick, needing to make difficult personnel decisions because of their salary cap space.

The Chicago Bears will step into the national limelight this offseason as they are set to be featured on HBO’s Hard Knocks throughout their training camp. This marks a historic first for the Bears, who have never allowed HBO’s cameras inside their camp since the series began in 2001.

Despite Chairman George McCaskey’s long-standing opposition to the program, which he reiterated during league meetings in March, the allure of showcasing the franchise’s new talent and rising prospects proved too compelling. The decision to feature the Bears was largely influenced by the presence of quarterback Caleb Williams, the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft, and the team’s upward trajectory after finishing 7-10 in the 2023 season.

“We’re told there is some interest in other teams being on the program, and we welcome that interest,” McCaskey told ESPN. Yet, the narrative around Williams and the Bears’ potential made them an ideal choice for HBO and NFL Films.

The Bears’ selection for Hard Knocks is significant. It marks the first time the show will feature a team with a rookie quarterback selected first overall since the Cleveland Browns in 2018 when Baker Mayfield was the focus. This opportunity places the Bears in a unique spotlight, highlighting their journey and challenges as they prepare for the upcoming season.

“We are honored to feature such an iconic NFL franchise on Hard Knocks,” said NFL Films senior director and supervising producer Shannon Furman. “The Chicago Bears have a talented roster, coaching staff and front office all determined to match the expectations of a hungry fan base. We are thankful to the entire organization for opening their doors to us for what is sure to be an exciting training camp this summer.”

The Bears will report to training camp in late July, ahead of their Hall of Fame game against the Houston Texans in Canton, Ohio, on August 1. The first episode of Hard Knocks will air on August 6 at 9 p.m. ET, promising an in-depth look at the team’s preparations and dynamics.

For Bears general manager Ryan Poles, the exposure aligns perfectly with the team’s ambitions. “The 2024 training camp will be big for us in preparation for achieving our season goals, and we look forward to bringing the fans at home along for the journey,” Poles said.

The 2024 NFL Draft has come and gone. After the pomp and circumstance ended in Detroit, more attention turned to what lineup teams would trot out to the field when football officially returned in early September. One team in particular, the Chicago Bears, looks to have, at least on paper, one of the most exciting offenses in the league. Starting with the No.1 overall pick in this year’s draft, Caleb Williams, here is a rundown of what to expect from each of the projected starters on the Bears attack:

Quarterback: Caleb Williams

Not much more can be said about Williams. During his stints at Oklahoma and USC, he threw for 92 touchdown passes and 10,082 yards on his journey to becoming the top NFL prospect in his class. A glance at social media reveals some fans and analysts question his attitude and leadership qualities. Still, Williams’ ability to improvise in the pocket, exceptional arm strength, and laser accuracy should negate any minor concerns about the quarterback. The Bears have never had a 4,000-yard passer –  Williams should change that rather quickly, maybe even in his rookie year.

Running Back: DeAndre Swift

The former Eagles and Lions rusher signed with the Bears in March on a three-year deal worth $24 million. In 2023, Swift had his best professional season yet, amassing 1,049 yards and five touchdowns with Philadelphia. With his several years of experience, Swift should act as a security blanket for Williams should he experience growing pains as he transitions into an NFL offense.

Wide Receivers: DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, Keenan Allen

The Bears can make the case that they have the best wide receiver trio in football. Moore is arguably a top-10 wideout in the NFL after a 2023 campaign that saw him record 1,364 yards and eight touchdowns with Chicago. Moore also made an extraordinary effort versus the Washington Commanders, torching their secondary for 230 yards and three touchdowns, showing he could take over any game. 

Moore is joined by new additions Rome Odunze and Keenan Allen. Odunze, the rookie receiver out of Washington selected with the ninth pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, should significantly impact day one. He led the FBS in receiving yards in 2023 and played a massive role in the Huskies making the national championship. Meanwhile, Allen is coming off his sixth 1,000+ yard season with the Chargers and looks to be back to full health after missing four games with a heel injury. While his trade from Los Angeles, where he spent all of his 11-year career, was surprising, his production is still expected to be prolific, especially with Williams feeding him the ball.

Tight end: Cole Kmet

Kmet is one of the more underrated players in his position. He’s never quite the focal point of an offense but steps up when asked; he should be an excellent red-zone target for Williams. Kmet had a career-high 719 receiving yards in 2023 and continues to be an excellent run-blocker. He is an asset not only for his new quarterback but also for Swift, who hopes to build on his career year with the Eagles by having a trustworthy protector at his side.