Explore the latest Chicago Bears coaching ranks as ranked by ESPN’s Ben Solak and discover their potential for the upcoming season.

The NFL offseason is often filled with articles projecting how teams will do in the upcoming year. Most of this is done through random rankings by various outlets, whether it’s ranking players, schedules, or even coaching staff. ESPN’s Ben Solak ranked all 32 NFL coaching staffs based on past performance, future expectations, in-game decision-making, and more.

While most Bears fans believe the team made monumental improvements to the coaching staff, Solak only has them up three spots from last year, going from 25 to 22. Here is what Solak said about the Bears.

I would usually hesitate to stick a first-time head coach this high, but I can’t look you in the face and say, “I’d rather have the Cardinals or Panthers or Falcons staff over this group.” Johnson has deservedly been the apple of the league’s eye for a few coaching searches now. Yes, plenty of great offensive minds have tried and failed at the CEO position. But Johnson learned under one of the best in Dan Campbell, and he has taken this process from coordinator to head coach slowly and carefully. Those are positive, albeit early signs.

Also a good sign: Getting Allen at defensive coordinator. Last year’s unit was a league-average group, but the Saints were a top-10 defense by points per drive surrendered and success rate with Allen at the helm from 2021-2023. It might take some time to onboard the current personnel into the defensive structure, as I’m not sure Allen has the man coverage guys he needs just yet. But eventually, I’m confident Allen can build a consistent top-10 defense for Chicago.

Perhaps I’m too far out on a limb here — the four other first-year coaches are within the bottom-five teams on this list. But if I have to plant a flag, this Bears staff feels like the right group for it.

Thoughts on the Bears’ Coaching Staff Ranking

From the tone, it sounds like he is doing the staff a favor by putting them “this high”.

Yes, the Bears have a first-time head coach, which is a reason for the low ranking; however, Ben Johnson is not new to the game. He has an elite play caller who has a clear vision for the game and should take quarterback Caleb Williams to the next level.

Some questionable teams ahead of the staff were Shane Steichen’s Colts at 18 and Mike Macdonald’s Seahawks at 16. Steichen may have had a lot of success with Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia. Still, he has failed to get production out of the 4th overall pick in Anthony Richardson, so much so that the team is holding an actual quarterback competition for the starting spot. Meanwhile, the Seahawks are also under a microscope with Sam Darnold replacing Geno Smith as the starting quarterback. Yes, Macdonald’s defense was stout last year, but he ended up changing playcallers in the middle of the season.

Preseason rankings shouldn’t mean much to Bears fans, but if this staff is considered the 22nd best at the end of the year, then we should be seeing a little more panic.

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