Over the course of the next few weeks, we will be taking an in-depth look at the Bengals’ 2025 opponents. The Bengals play their final game before the bye week at Paycor Stadium against the Chicago Bears in Week 9.
2024
The Bears came in last in the NFC North in 2024, finishing 5-12 and firing head coach Matt Eberflus after a 4-8 start.
2024 first overall pick Caleb Williams started all 17 games for Chicago, tossing 20 touchdowns to six interceptions. As a unit, the Bears averaged the fifth-fewest points per game in the NFL (18.2) and the fewest yards per game (284.6). On the defensive side of the ball, Chicago allowed the sixth-most yards per game (354.3) but was middle of the pack in points allowed (21.8).
Offseason Changes
The Bears offseason started at the top when they hired Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as the team’s next head coach.
Chicago focused on building in the trenches during free agency. After the team allowed a league-high 68 sacks in 2024, the Bears signed Atlanta Falcons C Drew Dalman to a three-year deal and traded for G Joe Thuney from the Kansas City Chiefs and G Jonah Jackson from the Los Angeles Rams. On defense, they brought in DT Grady Jarrett and DE Dayo Odeyingbo, both on three year deals.
The Bears continued to build its offense during the draft, selecting Michigan TE Colston Loveland in the first round and Missouri WR Luther Burden III in the second round to round out a receiving corps that includes WRs DJ Moore and Rome Odunze and TE Cole Kmet. They also drafted OT Ozzy Trapilo out of Boston College in round three.