'Tis the season: Our Christmas Wishlist for the Bears heading into 2025

Christmas is upon us and this year it's extra special for NFL fan as it'll feature with a doubleheader on Netflix -- the Kansas City Chiefs taking on the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens facing the Houston Texans. A doubleheader on the same day the NBA has a full slate of games, and NFL football is once again stealing the spotlight, featuring four teams all vying for playoff positioning.

Meanwhile for the Chicago Bears, not much of anything has fans or anyone around the team feeling jolly this holiday season. A current nine-game losing streak has The Grinch himself laughing at the current state of the team, unwilling to steal any more sadness from Bears fans around the world.

Looking to find something positive for the Bears for the Christmas holiday, here are five of the biggest items on a wishlist that everyone should be asking for.

A respectable head coach who understands the Chicago Bears

It's easy to put that they need a new head coach atop the Christmas list for Bears fans, but there are specific qualities worth mentioning that need to come with the new coach. The next head coach of the Bears needs to understand what this city was built on with Bears football and history, but also who they are working to become in 2025 and beyond, with quarterback Caleb Williams leading the way. All the talk has been about finding an offensive head coach to pair with Williams, and have someone who can get the most out of him, but the next head coach also has to understand that the Bears franchise needs a defense to pride itself on. And, at the end of the day, a quarterback with all the franchise stats means nothing, if the wins don't come with those stats.

A new and improved offensive line

Before the injury status of left tackle Braxton Jones (who suffered a serious ankle injury and should be back by next training camp) there was legitimate discussion about the Bears needing four offensive linemen this offseason. It never hurts to bring in depth at any position in the NFL, but it's even more concerning that even with all the cap space and draft capital the Bears have, they need to make sure to allocate the proper resources into bringing in the best available options, whether through the draft or free agency. The team could certainly use an upgrade at center and the guard positions, while the pending status of Teven Jenkins is up in the air.

Chicago could opt to bring back Jenkins on a one-year prove it deal, to show he can stay healthy for one full year, then be brought back on a longer contract after the 2025 season. That would only happen if they felt comfortable with Jenkins, and would only be welcomed if they found clear and precise upgrades to the center and right guard position. Whoever is on the offensive line, they'll have to be a key area of focus for the next head coach.

Defensive pass rush

In the first year after signing his four-year, $98 million contract extension, Montez Sweat has not proven to have been worth the money for the Bears. Only 4.5 sacks on the season and 34 sacks as a team, the Bears need to find a way to get to opposing quarterbacks. This could be an area of focus for the 2025 NFL draft, if a player such as Abdul Carter out of Penn State was available to them in the first round, or a player on the free agent market becomes available and interested. Sweat may find better production with another quality pass rusher opposite of him, but the need for beefing up the defensive line is just as dire as the offensive line.

A firm decision on Ryan Poles

There's a ton of talk surrounding the immediate future of general manager Ryan Poles, including if he will even be around when the 2025 offseason begins. Team president Kevin Warren stood by and supported Poles during a mid-season press conference after the firing of head coach Matt Eberflus, but the reassurance of job security didn't feel all that reassuring. It would be nice for the Bears to either link Poles to his new head coach and sign him to an extension or rid themselves of him completely before bringing in the new coach. Poles has had some bright moments in the role, including the trade that ultimately landed Caleb Williams and DJ Moore (among others) in Chicago, but he's failed at building the trenches on either side of the ball. There needs to stop being turnover from head coach to GM to quarterback.

The Bears have to make a firm decision, if Williams is their guy, they need the right coach to connect with him and get the most from him, and that coach needs to be comfortable with the general manager above him and they must work in unison.

Break ground on a new stadium

Whether it's on the Chicago lakefront, Arlington Heights, or at this point, the moon, the Bears need to break ground on a new stadium in 2025. Obviously it will be a multiple year project for the team to build their new home but it is very much needed and wanted. The team can't afford to be patient with the rebuilding of their roster, but there would be no greater excitement than to break open the doors of a new stadium in a couple of seasons from now with Williams fully taking over as the franchise quarterback, with a winning and respectable football team, and a new stadium to go along with it. Kevin Warren was brought on as team president mainly to get this stadium deal done, and now it is time for a deal to happen. No matter where in the Chicagoland area it may be, a new stadium is a must.

Stocking Stuffers: Extra bonus gifts for the Bears and their fans

Keenan Allen to return in 2025

The yardage stat may not be there for Keenan Allen this season, but he's one touchdown away from tying a career high (8) this season. Allen has been consistently reliable for most of his time in his lone season with Chicago, providing a safety valve on the field for Williams but he's also a much needed and welcomed presence inside the locker room. Allen will be a free agent at the end of the season, and while he's said he'd love to run it back in Chicago, there needs to be some positivity at the end of the year for him to want to truly return, and he should only be brought on a deal that makes sense financially.

The return of a healthy Jaquan Brisker

There is no denying the impact Jaquan Brisker has on the field, and he is truly missed out there in the Bears secondary. Having been out since suffering a serious concussion in the Week 5 win over the Carolina Panthers, Brisker's return would be welcomed with open arms, not only for the help he would provide the defense, but just knowing he's doing well enough to play again. Brisker has not received the level of attention or concern as a player like Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who has also had serious concussion issues, but there is real concern for Brisker. Having dealt with at minimum three diagnosed concussions in the past three seasons, if Brisker can get back on the football field for the Bears, it'll be a positive and exciting sign for both himself and the team.

A loving fanbase, especially about Caleb Williams

The reality is Bears fans just want to get back to winning football. Times have been miserable of late in Chicago for their beloved football team, but can there be some togetherness for a young quarterback? Yes, there have been failed experiments with Mitch Trusbisky and Justin Fields, but those players are gone and the fanbase really needs to move on and stop worrying about their exes. Yes, many would like to have more wins than having Williams thrive with individual stats, but it's okay to admit the season is lost and the play of Williams is the only thing worth watching. It has been absolutely embarrassing to see Williams get beat up behind a poor offensive line, continue to put up the numbers he has, and still get dragged by fans of the team on social media. He's not the next JaMarcus Russell, at least not early on, and only time will tell how great Williams can become. But it'd be a Christmas miracle to see the fanbase actually rally around him rather than point the finger at him.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 'Tis the season: Our Christmas Wishlist for the Bears for 2025