ClutchPoints
The Chicago Bears enter the 2025 season with something they haven’t had in years: real hope. It’s not just about the presence of Caleb Williams, the franchise quarterback they’ve been waiting decades to find. It’s about the structure now surrounding him. Chicago’s brass landed Ben Johnson, who was the most coveted head coaching candidate of the past two hiring cycles. In doing so, it signaled a bold new era at Halas Hall. Johnson, fresh off orchestrating a top-tier Lions offense, chose the Bears in part because of Williams. Now, the city’s long-suffering football fans are daring to believe again.
With his rookie ups and downs in the rearview mirror, Williams enters 2025 training camp poised to seize full command of the Bears’ offense. His talent was undeniable in 2024. Williams had moments of brilliance flashed through, but those were often overshadowed by inconsistency and protection issues. Now, with Johnson steering the ship, Williams finally has the structure and leadership in place to unlock his potential.
Johnson’s arrival has already transformed the atmosphere in the Windy City. Inside the locker room, players speak of a cultural reset. For the first time in years, there’s widespread belief that Chicago has a coaching staff capable of maximizing its roster and crafting a system that grows alongside its young quarterback.
Quietly, the Bears have assembled one of the NFC’s most well-rounded rosters. The offensive line has been reinforced, the receiving corps, which is headlined by DJ Moore and Keenan Allen, is deep and versatile. In addition, the defense boasts the kind of speed and physicality that wins games in January.
Amid all the progress, though, one position group remains a step behind. It’s not a glaring weakness, but in an otherwise balanced roster, the running back room hasn’t kept up. It could become the subtle flaw that holds everything back.
Here we’ll try to look at the fatal flaw that the Chicago Bears must address in their 2025 NFL training camp.
If there’s a concern that could quietly undermine Chicago’s lofty goals in 2025, it’s the running back room.
The Bears didn’t make any splashy moves at the position this offseason. Their biggest addition came in the seventh round of the draft with the selection of Kyle Monangai. He is a powerful but untested back out of Rutgers. Instead, they’re doubling down on D’Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson. That’s a duo that’s more serviceable than spectacular.
Swift had a high-usage debut season in Chicago. He finished top-10 in the league in snaps, carries, and routes run. Yet despite the volume, the production didn’t match. He scored just six touchdowns and averaged a career-low 3.79 yards per carry. He often looked indecisive at the line of scrimmage and struggled to generate chunk plays. That’s a concerning trend in a system that wants to keep defenses honest with the run.
Roschon Johnson, while tough and dependable, didn’t fare much better....
