Hard to believe, but we're already at the halfway mark of the 2025 NFL season. And the Chicago Bears? They're not the same sorry-ass squad that's been sleepwalking through autumns past. At 5-3 and tied for the NFC North lead, they actually resemble a competent, dangerous football team for once. But don’t let the record do all the talking — you’ve got to dig deeper to see what’s really cooking (and what still smells funky) under the hood.
This isn't a love letter. It's a blunt-force breakdown of every position group on this roster — who's carrying their weight, who's riding coattails, and who needs their Halas Hall key card revoked.
Quarterbacks: B
Caleb Williams has arrived, folks. He isn't just surviving in Ben Johnson's scheme; he's thriving. Completion percentage is up. INTs are down. His 93.5 passer rating, 7.5 YPA, and 4.7% TD rate scream growth. Hell, he has a 124.0 rating when trailing. That's clutch.
He’s also moving the chains with his legs (183 rushing yards, 2 TDs), and his 8.7 ADoT shows he's not afraid to sling it. Sure, he's still inconsistent — that PFF rollercoaster proves it — but he's trending way up and that's all you can ask for from your 2nd year QB.
Verdict: He's cooking with real gas now. If he irons out the inconsistencies? League trouble.
Running Backs: B+
Swift’s box score might look clean, but don’t get seduced by fantasy stats. Early on, he ranked 60th in success rate, 70th in total EPA, and averaged just 2.5 yards after contact. Translation: dude was leaving meat on the bone. But since the bye week? He’s flipped the switch. Ben Johnson stopped forcing him into traffic and started leaning into what Swift actually does well — stretching runs wide in outside zone. And it’s working.
Then there’s Kyle Monangai, who just detonated for 170+ yards last game. Seventh-rounder, by the way. Between Swift hitting stride and Monangai flashing juice, this backfield’s starting to look like Sonic and Knuckles 2.0 — exactly the kind of thunder and lightning setup Johnson made work in Detroit.
Verdict: Shaky out of the gate, but this group is finally hitting stride and showing real signs of life.
Wide Receivers: B+
Rome Odunze is that dude. Finally, the Bears have a WR1 worth fearing — something this team hasn’t had since Brandon Marshall was bullying corners. He leads in yards, touchdowns, and target share (unfortunately drops too). DJ Moore? Steady as ever. No drops, clutch catches, and tough yards after the grab.
Then you’ve got Luther Burden III and Olamide Zaccheaus filling their roles perfectly. OZ has been Mr. Clutch on key downs — especially third down — while Burden was starting to find his groove before a concussion slowed him down. Still, the upside is real.
When your depth guys can make plays and your stars are consistent? That’s when you get ranked 4th in explosive pass plays. And trust me — that’s not by accident.
Verdict: This group has legit juice. They’re giving Caleb options all over the field.
Tight Ends: C
Let’s be real: the TE room has been mostly underwhelming. Cole Kmet's been in and out with injuries, and Bears fans were rightfully scratching their heads over using the 10th overall pick on a guy who wasn’t getting enough looks. But that changed in a big way last game. Enter Colston Loveland — the rookie just announced himself as TE1 of the future. That Week 9 breakout (118 yards, 2 TDs)? That’s why he went in the first round.
To be fair, both Loveland and Kmet have held up well in the run game, so they’re not getting dinged there. But this group needs to show it can be more than just functional blockers. We want consistent production, not just a flash in the pan.
Verdict: Loveland is finding his rhythm, and if the ground game stays consistent, this tight end group could become a serious problem for defenses down the stretch.
Offensive Line: A-
Massive overhaul, and it's finally paying off. Caleb’s no longer running for his damn life like he was in 2024. Thuney and Dalman have firmed up the interior, and Wright’s finally looking like the first-round mauler fans were promised — that Week 9 PFF grade of 94.1? Straight up dominant.
This group gave up 68 sacks last year. Sixty. Eight. This year? Less than 15 so far, and they're hovering around top 10 in the league. That’s a ridiculous turnaround. Run blocking is still a work in progress though — the Bears sit at 18th in Run Block Win Rate — but you can see the physicality creeping in.
Verdict: Night and day from last season. The pass protection is legit. If the run blocking levels up too, this line becomes a real strength.
Defensive Line: D+
Montez Sweat got the bag and promptly disappeared. Four sacks? Doesn’t tell the full story. He’s caused three turnovers on his own and has respectable pressure numbers — top-10 among edge defenders. But let’s be real — when you sign a $98 million deal, “decent” isn’t cutting it. And once again, the man has zero help.
The Bears rank dead last in pass rush win rate (12%) for a reason. Dayo Odeyingbo? Total flop before getting shut down. The only sliver of hope is Austin Booker, who just came off IR and looked promising in limited snaps. But one flash ain’t enough.
The interior? No better. Gervon Dexter’s shown glimpses, but Billings is a run-only guy and Grady Jarrett’s contract might be the worst investment since NFTs. That run defense? Flat-out worst in the league at 5.1 YPC allowed.
Verdict: All bark, no bite. This line’s dragging the whole defense down.
Linebackers: B+
Let’s be real: this unit has been the most consistently solid part of the defense since the Bears brought in Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards. Edwards had been the more dependable of the two since signing, but this year? Tremaine said, "hold my beer." The man is balling out — 73 tackles, 4 picks, and he’s flying sideline to sideline like a heat-seeking missile.
Edwards still provides that steady presence when he’s healthy, and Sewell has been decent in rotation. He’s stout against the run but more of a liability in coverage. They’re not flashy blitzers, but they make tackles, force turnovers, and don’t miss many assignments.
Verdict: Strong, steady, and keeping the defense from completely collapsing.
Secondary: C-
Kevin Byard is holding this secondary together with duct tape and sheer willpower — 4 picks, veteran leadership, and consistently showing up when it matters. Brisker brings the heat in the box, doing the dirty work no one wants to talk about. But the corners? Man, they've been a mess.
To be fair, the group has been absolutely decimated by injuries. Jaylon Johnson's barely played, Terrell Smith's done for the year, and both Tyrique Stevenson and Kyler Gordon have been in and out. That’s left the Bears trotting out practice squad guys against WR1s, and it shows — 72.2% completion rate allowed, dead last in the NFL.
Throw in too many blown coverages and straight-up bad technique, and you’ve got a back end that bleeds yards. The only saving grace? Turnovers. Wright, Stevenson, and Byard have all snagged picks. But outside of those splash plays, there’s not much to hang your hat on.
Verdict: Ballhawks in spurts, burn victims in others. Dangerous dangerous mix.
Special Teams: C
This was the toughest group to evaluate because it’s the definition of a mixed bag. Tory Taylor has been everything we hoped for out of Australia — booming punts, flipping field position, doing his job at a high level. Then there’s Jake Moody, who basically stole a win or two while Santos was sidelined.
Speaking of Cairo, he’s nails from inside 50 and automatic on extra points. But over 50 yards? Forget it. And in today's NFL, where kickers are drilling 60-yarders like chip shots, that’s a problem.
And don’t get me started on the return game — it’s a trainwreck. Bottom-five unit, gave up a touchdown to start last game, and the Bears keep shooting themselves in the foot with return penalties. If that doesn’t get fixed soon, Richard Hightower might be polishing up his resume come January.
Verdict: Peaks and valleys. But nothing catastrophic — yet.
Coaching: A+
You know we had to save the best for last. Let’s be honest — this team wouldn't be anywhere near 5-3 if not for the guy steering the ship: Ben F*ckin’ Johnson. Fun stat? The Bears have already matched Eberflus's win total from last season... in eight games. That tells you all you need to know.
Johnson took an offense that was dead on arrival and turned it into a damn juggernaut. Top 5 in total offense, top 10 across most major categories, and leading the league in explosive plays. He’s not just designing plays — he’s building belief. The third-down jump alone is absurd.
But don’t sleep on the staff he brought with him, especially Dennis Allen. Sure, the defense is the weaker unit, but it’s not all on him. Injuries have gutted this group. Despite that, the Bears lead the league in takeaways and rank among the best on third down. Yeah, the pass rush and run defense are still gross, but Allen’s been cooking with scraps. You can’t make a five-star meal when all you’ve got is a can of beans and spoiled milk.
Verdict: Johnson's building something real. If Allen cleans up the trenches, watch out.
Final Verdict
This team is a playoff-caliber squad with real upside. The offense is borderline elite, the defense is opportunistic, and coaching is finally an asset instead of a liability.
But until that D-line gets a pulse and the run defense stops playing matador, this team has a ceiling.
Still, for the first time in years? I havent had to look at tankathon yet... and thats a win for us Bear's fans.
Final Team Grade: B
