Grading the 2025 Bears Offense That Stole Our Hearts

If you told me in August that I’d be sitting here in January, staring at an 11-6 record and an offense that actually looks like a professional operation, I would have asked what you were smoking and where I could buy some.

For years — decades, really — watching the Chicago Bears offense has been like watching a car crash in slow motion. You know it’s going to be bad, you know someone’s getting hurt, but you can’t look away. It’s been a factory of sadness. A place where quarterbacks go to die and offensive coordinators go to get fired.

But 2025? This year was different.

It wasn’t just “better.” It was a complete revival. Ben Johnson didn’t just paint over the cracks; he tore the damn house down and built a mansion. We’re talking 25.9 points per game. We’re talking nearly 370 yards of offense every single Sunday. And most importantly, we’re talking about a franchise quarterback who finally — finally — looks the part.

We didn’t just survive the season; we thrived. But don’t get it twisted — this isn’t a puff piece. We aren’t handing out participation trophies. Some guys played like gods, and some guys… well, some guys were just collecting a check.

Let’s tear this roster apart, position by position, and see who actually earned their keep in this fever dream of a season.

QUARTERBACK: The Caleb Williams Experiment (Year 2)

Caleb Williams Grade: A-

The Raw Numbers:

• 3,942 Passing Yards (Franchise Record – Finally)
• 27 Touchdowns, 7 Interceptions
• 58.1% Completion Rate (We’ll get to this)
• Sacks Taken: 24 (Down from 68… yes, you read that right)

The Reality: Let’s address the elephant in the room immediately: The sacks.

In 2024, watching Caleb Williams drop back was borderline malpractice. It was 68 sacks. Sixty-eight. That’s not football; that’s assault. I spent half of last season screaming at my TV and the other half praying his ACLs would survive the winter.

This year? He took 24. That is a 64.7% reduction. That is absurd. That is a statistical glitch in the matrix.

Now, the haters (and the box score scouts) will look at that 58.1% completion rate and say he’s inaccurate. They’re wrong. Stop looking at spreadsheets and watch the tape. Caleb’s “time to throw” went up to 3.20 seconds, yet the sacks plummeted. Why? Because he stopped playing like a rookie running for his life and started playing like a surgeon. He learned that throwing the ball away isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a survival skill.

His pressure-to-sack rate dropped from 28.2% (which was pathetic) to 12.2% (which is elite). He turned 2nd-and-10 disasters into 3rd-and-4 manageable situations just by not eating dirt.

The “Clutch” Factor: Stats don’t measure guts. Caleb had six fourth-quarter comebacks. Six. When the game was on the line, when the defense was gassed and the fans were chewing their fingernails off, #18 didn’t flinch. He broke Erik Kramer’s single-season passing record — a record that stood since 1995, which is frankly embarrassing for this franchise, but hey, the curse is broken.

The Bad: Is he perfect? Hell no. His short game still gives me ulcers. How do you hit a guy 40 yards downfield in stride but skip a 5-yard swing pass to the running back? It’s maddening. His completion percentage under 10 yards dropped to 77%. That’s lack of focus, plain and simple. He gets bored with the easy stuff. He wants the homerun every time.

Verdict: He’s not Bo Nix. He’s not going to dink and dunk you to death. He’s Josh Allen 2.0. He’s chaotic, he’s frustrating, and he’s absolutely electric. For the first time in my life, we have a quarterback who matters.

RUNNING BACKS: The Vet and The Rook

D’Andre Swift Grade: B+

The Raw Numbers:

• 1,087 Rushing Yards (4.9 YPC)
• 9 Touchdowns
• 2 Fumbles (Early season brain farts)

The Reality: Swift is exactly what we thought he was: A luxury sports car that looks great on a clean track but hates potholes.

When the line opened holes? He was gone. 4.9 yards per carry is nothing to sneeze at. He was reliable, he stayed healthy (16 games!), and he put up over 1,000 yards. In Chicago, where we worship running backs like deities, that usually gets you a statue.

But let’s look closer. His advanced metrics were… average. He ranked 60th in success rate. 60th! That means when we needed 4 yards, he got 3. He wasn’t creating on his own; he was riding the coattails of an offensive line that was mauling people. He’s a “Get what’s blocked” runner.

The “Value” Check: He did his job. He kept the offense on schedule. But was he a game-changer? Not really. He was the steady hand while the rookies provided the juice. A solid B+ for doing exactly what you were paid to do, but don’t expect me to buy his jersey.

Kyle Monangai (The Steal) Grade: A

The Raw Numbers:

• 783 Yards (4.6 YPC)
• 5 Touchdowns
• Drafted: Round 7, Pick #233 (Basically free)

The Reality: Ryan Poles, you magnificent bastard.

Finding a starter in the 7th round isn’t scouting; it’s witchcraft. Monangai runs like he’s angry at the ground. He’s 5’8”, 207 pounds of pure leverage. While Swift was dancing looking for a hole, Monangai was creating one with his face mask.

Since Week 9, he was top-10 in the league in yards after contact. “The first defender rarely brings him down” isn’t just coach-speak; it’s the truth. Watch the Week 9 tape against Cincy. 176 yards. He looked like Maurice Jones-Drew reincarnated.

Verdict: This kid isn’t a backup. He’s a co-starter. He has zero ego, blocks like a linebacker, and breaks tackles for fun. He is the heartbeat of this run game moving forward.

WIDE RECEIVERS: The Disappearing Act & The Future

DJ Moore Grade: C+

The Raw Numbers:

• 50 Receptions (Down from 98)
• 682 Yards (Down from 966)
• Attitude: Questionable

The Reality: First off, I love DJ. Or, I used to love DJ even more. But this season? What the hell happened?

A 49% drop in receptions isn’t a slump; it’s a cliff. And don’t give me the “too many mouths to feed” excuse. Great players demand the ball. DJ looked checked out. When we were winning? He was fine. When we were losing? He was invisible. Zero touchdowns in losses. Zero.

There were rumors all year about his effort, and frankly, the tape backs it up. Lazy routes. Bad body language. He played like a guy who already cashed the check. He saved his grade with that game-winner in the playoffs, but for $60M+? We need a WR1, not a mood ring.

Rome Odunze Grade: B-

The Raw Numbers:

• 44 Receptions, 661 Yards
• Contested Catch Rate: 72.2% (Elite)

The Reality: Injuries suck. Odunze was robbing defensive backs blind before he got hurt. A 72.2% contested catch rate is insane for a young WR — better than Mike Evans, better than Kelce. When the ball is in the air, it’s his. Period.

But… a 48.9% overall catch rate? That’s ugly. Some of that is Caleb forcing deep shots, but some of that is on Rome. He needs to clean up the easy stuff. He’s a Ferrari with a flat tire right now. High ceiling, frustrating floor.

Luther Burden III Grade: A-

The Reality: This kid is a problem. A legitimate, headache-inducing problem for defensive coordinators.

After the bye week, he turned into Deebo Samuel-lite. You get the ball in his hands, and good things happen. He breaks ankles in a phone booth. He ran routes from the slot, he took handoffs, he returned kicks. He is the “Swiss Army Knife” cliché come to life.

He was Caleb’s safety valve. When the play broke down, Burden was open. That’s an innate skill you can’t teach. He’s going to be a star in this league for a long time.

Jahdae Walker Grade: B+

The Reality: Who? Exactly. An undrafted kid from Texas A&M who caught the game-tying TD against the Packers? Give him a lifetime contract. I don’t care if he never catches another ball. That one play was worth his entire salary.

TIGHT ENDS: The Passing of the Torch

Colston Loveland Grade: A+

The Raw Numbers:

• 58 Receptions, 713 Yards
• 193 Postseason Receiving Yards (NFL Rookie Record)

The Reality: We have a unicorn, folks.

I’ll admit it — I scratched my head at the pick. “Another tight end?” I said. “We have Kmet!” I was an idiot.

Loveland isn’t a tight end; he’s a weapon. He moves like a receiver and blocks… well, enough. He set the NFL record for rookie tight end receiving yards in the playoffs. He broke Sam LaPorta’s record. Do you know how hard that is?

He was PFF’s highest-graded rookie. Not highest-graded rookie tight end. Highest-graded rookie period. He is George Kittle with better hair. He is the future of this offense.

Cole Kmet Grade: B-

The Reality: Kmet took one for the team this year. He went from “The Guy” to “The Blocker,” and he did it without complaining. His stats tanked, but his value didn’t. He did the dirty work in the trenches so Loveland could shine. A true pro, even if his fantasy owners hate him now.

OFFENSIVE LINE: The Miracle on the Lakefront

Left Tackle: The Revolving Door Grade: C+ (Combined)

The Reality: Braxton Jones? Hurt. Theo Benedet? Spunky but overwhelmed. Ozzy Trapilo? Flashed brilliance then blew his knee out.

This position is the one terrifying crack in the foundation. We survived with duct tape and prayers at Left Tackle this year. If Poles doesn’t address this in the offseason, he’s negligent. You can’t protect a franchise QB with undrafted free agents forever.

Joe Thuney (LG) Grade: A++

The Reality: Put this man in the Hall of Fame today.

He allowed zero sacks. Zero. In 16 games. He had an 88.5 pass-blocking grade, which led the entire NFL. He is a machine. He is a wall. Trading a 4th round pick for him wasn’t a trade; it was highway robbery. We robbed the Chiefs blind.

When Trapilo went down in the playoffs, Thuney moved to Left Tackle. He’s 30+ years old playing a position he hasn’t touched in years, and he held his own. That is legendary stuff.

Drew Dalman (C) & Jonah Jackson (RG) Grade: B

The Reality: Dalman was the brain. Jackson was the muscle.

Dalman missed time last year, but this year he was the anchor. Smart, tough, consistent. Jackson scared the hell out of me in Week 1 (three pressures and two penalties? Come on), but he settled in. By the playoffs, he was mauling people. They weren’t flashy, but for the first time in a decade, I wasn’t terrified of interior pressure.

Darnell Wright (RT) Grade: A

The Reality: Darnell Wright is a violent human being, and I love him for it.

He played 99% of the snaps. He was an AP Second-Team All-Pro. He erased edge rushers. Remember when people said he was a “reach” at #10? Those people are quiet now. He is the cornerstone. He is a refrigerator with feet. He’s an elite run blocker and a developing pass protector who shut down the league’s best in Week 18.

Final Verdict

Overall Offensive Grade: B+

This wasn’t just a good season; it was a necessary one. We exorcised the demons of 2024. We proved that you can develop a quarterback in Chicago. We proved that the McCaskey curse might actually be lifting.

The Good:

• The Sack Reduction: Going from 68 sacks to 24 is the single most important stat of the decade.
• The Rookies: Poles hit a grand slam. Loveland, Burden, Monangai—these aren’t depth pieces; they are stars.
• The Run Game: #2 in the NFL. We bullied people.

The Bad:

• Left Tackle: It’s a mess. Fix it.
• DJ Moore: Is he part of the future or an expensive memory?
• Red Zone: We left too many points on the board.

We went 11-6. We were dangerous. And for the first time in forever, I’m not dreading next September. I’m counting down the days.

Bear Down.