The Chicago Bears are back in the double-digit win column for just the second time in the past 13 years, and this resurgence isn’t a fluke. It’s the product of a culture shift that’s taken root under head coach Ben Johnson.
In just a few months, Johnson has injected life into a team that had been stuck in neutral for far too long. His offensive vision, combined with a locker room that’s playing with confidence and purpose, has turned the Bears into a team nobody wants to face in December.
At the center of it all is rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, who continues to grow each week. The run game has found its rhythm again.
And somehow, despite a rash of injuries on defense, the Bears lead the entire league in takeaways - a stat that speaks to both preparation and opportunism. But while the coaching and veteran leadership deserve credit, the heartbeat of this team might just be its 2025 draft class.
Nobody expected this group of rookies to carry such a heavy load this early. But when the moment came, they didn’t blink.
Tight end Colston Loveland is already top 20 in receiving yards at his position. Luther Burden is creating separation at an elite level - fifth-best in the NFL, to be exact - and looks every bit like a future WR1.
Running back Kyle Monangai is averaging a strong 4.7 yards per carry and is within striking distance of a 1,000-yard season. That’s a trio of rookies making real impact plays on a weekly basis.
Still, the rookie that has Ben Johnson the most fired up isn’t any of the skill guys. It’s second-round pick Ozzy Trapilo - the offensive tackle who, just a few months ago, wasn’t even in the starting lineup.
Trapilo’s journey has been anything but linear. He played right tackle in college, but the Bears saw potential in him on the blind side and moved him to left tackle during training camp to compete with Braxton Jones.
Early signs were promising, but once the preseason hit, Trapilo hit a wall. Rather than force the issue, Johnson and offensive line coach Dan Roushar made the call to move him back to the right side.
It wasn’t a demotion as much as it was a reset - a chance to let the rookie develop at his own pace.
Then the season happened.
Braxton Jones struggled. Theo Benedet stepped in and looked solid - until a quad injury sidelined him.
Suddenly, Trapilo was back in the spotlight, this time as the starting left tackle. And over the past four games, he’s made the most of it.
In that stretch, Trapilo has allowed just eight pressures. That’s impressive on its own, but even more so when you consider who he’s been up against.
The Bears have faced four of the NFL’s top 15 teams in sacks during that span - including the Browns (3rd), Steelers (5th), Eagles (12th), and Packers (15th). We’re talking about edge rushers like Myles Garrett, Micah Parsons, and T.J.
Watt. That’s a murderers’ row of pass-rushing talent, and Trapilo hasn’t just survived - he’s held his own.
For a rookie tackle to step in midseason and play at that level, especially on the left side, speaks volumes. It’s not just about physical tools - it’s about mental toughness, technique, and the ability to learn from early setbacks.
Johnson has every reason to be excited. Left tackle was the last unsettled spot on this offensive line.
If Trapilo continues on this trajectory, the Bears may have found their long-term answer at one of the most critical positions in football.
So yes, the Bears are winning again. But more importantly, they’re building something. And if this rookie class - led quietly but confidently by a young left tackle who’s learning on the fly - keeps trending upward, the foundation in Chicago might finally be solid enough to support something special.