New Year's resolutions for the Bears in 2025

The Chicago Bears have had a rough year in 2024, which was unexpected after a 4-2 start and featured the first in-season firing of head coach Matt Eberflus, along with offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. But the fact that the Bears appear to have found their franchise QB in Caleb Williams certainly helped ease the pain -- and gives fans optimism for 2025 and beyond.

There are plenty of things that the Bears need to address this offseason to better their football team for the upcoming season and beyond -- which starts with nailing the head coach hire and building around Williams . But for Chicago to get back on track, they're going to need to do several things this offseason.

Here are our New Year's resolutions for the Bears in 2025:

1. Hire the right head coach

The Bears' first big move of the offseason will be the hiring of their next head coach, who will be responsible for developing quarterback Caleb Williams and establishing a winning culture that has been lacking. Chicago will conduct to a wide-ranging coaching search, led by president Kevin Warren and general manager Ryan Poles, for a job that's arguably the most attractive vacancy. The favorite for the job appears to be Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who's led the NFL's top scoring offense and has raved about Williams' ability and potential. As for the experienced head coaching candidates, there's a reported mutual interest between the Bears and former Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll. Also, Chicago is expected to show interest in former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel.

2. Do what’s best at general manager

Following Eberflus' firing, Warren put his faith behind Poles as the team's general manager. But things quickly went from bad to worse since Eberflus' firing, where Poles holds the team's two longest losing streaks -- 14 games and 10 games (and counting). While Eberflus was an issue, Poles is responsible for his hiring and the team assembled, including an offensive line that has gotten Caleb Williams sacked a franchise-record 67 times with one game left this season. Poles is responsible for the product on the field, and if his presence is enough to dissuade a potential coaching candidate, the Bears need to do what's best for the organization and just start over with a new head coach and GM.

3. Fix the offensive line

One of Poles' biggest blunders during his three-year tenure as GM has been his refusal to dedicate resources to address the offensive line, and this year's unit is arguably worse than what he inherited in 2022. Williams has been sacked a franchise-record 67 times this season. And while some of them are on Williams, he's been the most pressured quarterback this season, and it's because of the unit Poles assembled. Right tackle Darnell Wright is the only starter who deserves to be starting next season, which means there's plenty of work to be done along the interior offensive line and finding a franchise left tackle. Free agency and the NFL draft should be dedicated to bringing in players who can solidify the offensive line and help give Williams a chance to develop.

4. Do right by Caleb Williams

For what it's worth, the first three resolutions are geared towards this very resolution, but it deserves its own bullet point. Despite the organization's dysfunction and the team's disaster of a season, Williams has quietly been having a solid rookie season. He's set a number of franchise and NFL records while making the kind of plays that show his talent and skillset -- and the importance of getting the right people in place in the organization to ensure they maximize his potential. Williams looks the part of a franchise quarterback, and it's up to the Bears to build around him. That starts with getting the right head coach to help develop Williams, addressing the offensive line and building a stable environment for Williams to thrive.

5. Address the defensive line

The trenches as a whole need to be a focal point this offseason for whoever is the general manager, and it's something Poles hasn't done well in three offseasons since coming to Chicago. The Bears need to find a viable pass rusher opposite Montez Sweat, who's had a down season with just 5.5 sacks, to help generate a pass rush that has been ineffective since Poles took over. The interior defensive line also needs an overhaul, where depth is a concern behind Gervon Dexter and Andrew Billings. Chicago's run defense has been among the worst this season, after being the best with roughly the same personnel this year, so there's plenty of work to be done across the defensive line.

6. Make headway on the new stadium

We've heard plenty about the Bears breaking ground on a new stadium, which is why president Kevin Warren was brought to Chicago, but there needs to be significant progress heading into 2025. The Bears remain firm on their commitment to building a stadium on the Chicago lakefront just south of current Soldier Field. But they also own the Arlington Heights property, where there has been progress made with a tentative agreement with the village and schools over taxes, which played a role in the shift to the lakefront.

7. Compete in the NFC North

The NFC North is arguably the best division in the NFL this season, with three teams earning playoff spots and sporting 11-plus wins heading into Week 18. But the Bears are occupying the basement with a 4-12 record after a 4-2 start that spiraled out of control. Chicago is 0-5 against the NFC North this season, with one game left against the Packers, but it'll most likely be 0-6 at season's end. Since his infamous "we're going to take the NFC North and never give it back," the Bears have gone 2-15 against the division, which is just unacceptable. If the Bears hope to be Super Bowl contenders, they need to start with competing in a talented division that won't be getting bad anytime soon.

8. Contend for the playoffs

If the Bears opt to retain Poles as general manager, it should be playoffs or bust in Year 4. This is a roster that has the talent to compete for the postseason, but coaching has held them back. If Poles is retained, he'll get the final say in the new head coach. If the right head coach is hired, this team should be a playoff contender as soon as next season, assuming Poles makes the necessary moves in the trenches and at other positions of need.

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: New Year's resolutions for the Bears in 2025