The Bears’ 6-2 start has pushed them into the conversation as a legitimate Super Bowl threat, and the trade deadline addition of Jeffery Simmons only sharpened that picture. Most of the attention naturally lands on Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams, the obvious centerpieces of Chicago’s rise. But the turnaround has more layers than that.
Ryan Poles deserves a big slice of the credit. There were stretches during the rebuild when the Bears general manager looked squarely on the hot seat, and even last year it was fair to wonder whether his job was safe.
Now, though, Poles is the one who helped bring Williams and Johnson to Chicago, and that matters. He built a roster that made the head coach want to come here and gave the offense a chance to work with Williams.
The offensive line, the skill players, and the rest of the supporting cast around the quarterback all trace back to Poles as well. He has gone from being under fire to a real candidate for Executive of the Year.
The other major win for Poles was hiring defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. Week after week, the Bears are talked about like a defense with holes, needs, and obvious problems.
Week after week, they keep performing better than expected. That points straight to Allen.
Chicago is getting more out of Devin Bush, a free-agent addition Allen identified. His plan for Kyler Gordon has been excellent.
Rookie Dillon Thieneman has started fast. Even the edge rusher group has held up better than it looks like it should on paper.
With Jeffery Simmons now in the mix, the defense should be even scarier than it was when it was undermanned, and that may not be the case without Allen.
The offensive line also belongs in the conversation. Caleb Williams’ growth has been impressive, and Ben Johnson’s play-calling has been a big reason why, but both are being helped by the protection in front of them. Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney are the two names that stand out most there, and their presence has made the whole operation smoother.
In Other News...
Bears Injury Report Puts Pressure On Two Thin Position Groups
The Bears head into Week 8 with six players on the injury report, and the list comes at a tricky time for a roster already stretched in a couple of spots. Chicago is preparing for Seattle with key names on injured reserve in Coby Bryant, Dayo Odeyingbo and Cole Kmet, while the rest of the report leaves the team managing availability at positions where depth matters every snap.
T.J. Edwards has returned to practice after dealing with a hamstring injury, which is a welcome sign for a defense that wants its steadiness back in the middle. On the other side of the ball, Colston Loveland was a late concern after a neck issue, but he practiced fully on Saturday and is expected to play, while Kyle Monangai remains out again with a turf toe injury after not practicing for nearly a month. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Just Gave Fans A Reason To Believe This Team Is Real
The Bears have spent enough time trying to convince people they are more than a feel-good story, and back-to-back wins over last years Super Bowl representatives have gone a long way toward making that case. The latest came against the Seahawks, a game that offered a little bit of everything Chicago has been chasing: a defense that looked faster and more disruptive, a passing game that found rhythm, and a roster starting to look like it can win in more than one way.
Jeffery Simmons wasted no time making his presence felt in his Bears debut, giving the front seven a jolt that showed up all over the field. Caleb Williams, Luther Burden III, Montez Sweat, Rome Odunze and DAndre Swift also turned in notable performances, and the bigger takeaway for Chicago is that these wins no longer feel like isolated bursts. They are starting to look like evidence that this team may actually be building something real. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Face A Tyson Bagent Decision As QB Need Suddenly Grows
The quarterback market has a way of changing fast, and Baltimores latest injuries have only intensified it. Lamar Jackson hurt his right thumb on the first offensive play of the Ravens Week 8 game and is expected to have surgery and land on injured reserve, while backup Tyler Huntley also came out of the same game with a turf toe injury. With the Ravens suddenly staring at a depth problem under center, they have reportedly started checking in with teams around the league, including the Bears, as they look for help.
For Chicago, the name in the middle of it is Tyson Bagent, a backup who has drawn outside interest before and now sits in a spot where his value may be rising. The Bears are not in a hurry to part with him, especially not at a discount, which leaves this as one of those situations that could linger while Baltimore sorts out its quarterback room and Chicago weighs how much depth it can afford to give up. [Read more 🡒]