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When the Bears appointed general manager Ryan Poles in January 2022, he said in his introductory press conference that the team was "gonna take the North and never give it back." However, through Poles' first three seasons, Chicago posted a 3-17 record against NFC North opponents.
Poles and the Bears have been aiming to improve to get back into NFC North and NFL relevancy, and in the 2025 offseason, they made a lot of significant moves. This included hiring arguably the top head-coaching candidate on the market in Ben Johnson.
Here's every move that the Bears made in the 2025 offseason.
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Bears 2025 key offseason acquisitions
Bears hire Ben Johnson as head coach
The Bears’ 2025 offseason started about as strong as it could, with the January hiring of Ben Johnson. Johnson had spent the previous three seasons as offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, guiding a unit that ranked in the top five each year under his leadership.
In 2024, his offense led the NFL in scoring, averaging more than 33 points per game during a 15-2 season. After the Lions fell to the Washington Commanders in the Divisional Round, Chicago quickly moved to bring Johnson aboard.
As Johnson told Bears employees in Lake Forest, Illinois: “This is exactly where we wanted to be.”
Ben Johnson 5 seconds after arriving at the Chicago Bears facility:
“NOW EVERYONE GET BACK TO WORK!!!”
“In all seriousness, this is exactly where we wanted to be. This is EXACTLY where we wanted to be.” pic.twitter.com/xEhBmosybH
When joining the Bears, Johnson stayed in the NFC North, which had three playoff teams in 2024. In his introductory press conference, he gave his respect for the other coaches in the division, while also throwing in a bite about Packers' head coach Matt LaFleur.
New #Bears HC Ben Johnson: “To be quite frank with you, I kinda enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year.” 🍿pic.twitter.com/qfny13ZCWT
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 22, 2025Chicago signed Johnson to a five-year deal worth $65 million, which is $13 million annually.
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Bears trade for two offensive lineman
In 2024, the Bears led the NFL with 68 sacks allowed. Entering the 2025 offseason, fixing the offensive line was a top priority. Johnson, Poles and company acted quickly in March, trading for two experienced linemen before free agency began.
On March 4, the Bears acquired Jonah Jackson from the Los Angeles Rams. Jackson had signed a three-year, $51 million contract with L.A. before the 2024 season, but appeared in only four games. Even so, he posted a 94.7% pass block win rate. Jackson and Johnson are familiar with one another from their time in Detroit, where Jackson was drafted in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Eight days later, Chicago bolstered the line again, sending a fourth-round pick to the Kansas City Chiefs for four-time Super Bowl champion Joe Thuney. A first-team All-Pro in both 2023 and 2024, Thuney signed a two-year, $35 million deal that keeps him in Chicago through 2027.
Thuney has led all guards in pass block win rate every season since 2021. By giving up two draft picks to land both Thuney and Jackson, the Bears made clear that protecting Caleb Williams is one of their top priorities.
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Chicago adds two big names on defensive line
The Bears continued to build in the trenches, this time on the defensive side when they signed Grady Jarrett to a three-year, $45 million contract. Jarrett spent the 2015 to 2024 seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, where he tallied 126 quarterback hits, 36.5 sacks and 77 tackles for loss. In 2019, Garrett was named a second-team All-Pro, notching 7.5 sacks and 69 total tackles.
Chicago also signed former Colts defensive edge Dayo Odeyingbo to a three-year, $48 million contract the same day. In 2024, Odeyingbo led Indianapolis with 33 pressures and 17 quarterback hits; Odeyingbo had 16.5 sacks in his four seasons with Indianapolis.
Chicago improves offensive line, signing Drew Dalman
During free agency, Chicago continued to bolster its offensive line, signing top available center Drew Dalman.
Dalman had 40 starts over the past three seasons and posted a 95.1% pass block win rate in 2024. He started just nine games that season due to an ankle injury, but when healthy, he is one of the most reliable centers in the NFL.
With Dalman on board, Johnson quickly overhauled the Bears’ offensive line, pairing him with new additions Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson to address the unit’s struggles throughout 2024.
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Bears sign two wide receivers to one-year deals
In March, Chicago signed Olamide Zaccheaus, who spent the 2024 season with the Commanders.
Zaccheaus, who signed a one-year deal with Chicago, was brought in to be the third wide receiver behind D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze. He played 17 games in every season from 2021 to 2024; in 2024 with Washington, he set career-highs in receptions (45) and finished over 500 yards for the second time in his career.
Chicago brought in a second wide receiver in Devin Durvernay, who is mainly known for his return game. He was an All-Pro returner for the Ravens in 2021, and spent 2024 with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Chicago re-signs Travis Homer
Homer was with the Bears for the 2023 and 2024 seasons, only had six carries, 23 yards and three catches for 11 yards in his final year with Chicago. But, with a new regime in town, the coaching staff opted to bring him back to provide Ben Johnson with more weapons at his disposal.
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Bears extend Kyler Gordon
In April, Chicago extended one of its starting corners, signing Kyler Gordon to a three-year, $40 million deal. The contract makes him the highest-paid slot corner in the NFL and keeps him in Chicago through the 2028 season. In 2024, Gordon recorded 75 tackles, five pass breakups, and one forced fumble.
This marks the second straight season the Bears have extended a starting cornerback. In March 2024, Jaylon Johnson signed a four-year, $76 million contract with the team.
Bears 2025 NFL Draft
With the Bears' first pick of the draft, they selected Colston Loveland 10th overall , a 6' 6" tight end out of Michigan. In three years with the Wolverines, Loveland tallied 1,466 yards and 11 touchdowns. He helped lead Michigan to a national championship in the 2023-24 season.
The pick was met with cautious criticsm, as top tight end prospect Tyler Warren was still on the board, but Loveland's high ceiling made him popular among insiders.
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 25, 2025The Bears once again focused on offense in the second round, selecting Luther Burden III with the 39th overall pick. In three seasons at Missouri, Burden recorded 192 receptions for 2,263 yards and 21 touchdowns, earning first-team All-SEC honors in both 2023 and 2024.
In 2023, Burden ranked ninth in all of college football with 1,212 receiving yards, third in the SEC behind Malik Nabers and Xavier Legette.
Chicago brought in six more draft picks:
- 2.56: Ozzy Trapilo, offensive tackle, Boston College
- 2.62: Shemar Turner, defensive tackle, Texas A&M
- 4.132: Ruben Hyppolite II, linebacker, Maryland
- 5.148: Zah Frazier, cornerback, UTSA
- 6.195: Luke Newman, offensive lineman, Michigan State
- 7.233: Kyle Monangai, running back, Rutgers
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