The Chicago Bears were remarkable in many senses last season. Beyond their worst-to-first finish in the NFC North, they also accomplished several notable statistical feats. Second-year quarterback Caleb Williams broke the franchise’s passing yards record and led a league-high six fourth-quarter comebacks. The Bears rushed for the third most collective yards and led the NFL in turnover differential as well. Yet despite this objectively successful year, head coach Ben Johnson still knows there are areas to improve. Johnson just called out some of the team’s biggest issues on offense at the NFL’s Annual League Meeting.
Drops Plagued the Chicago Bears in 2025
GettyThe Chicago Bears traded veteran wide receiver DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a 2026 second-round draft pick.
ESPN’s Courtney Cronin Johnson reported that Johnson was openly frustrated with how the coaching staff handled the receivers last season. “Johnson isn’t happy with the offensive staff for how they didn’t coach WRs to get open enough,” Cronin Johnson reported. “Emphasized getting back to fundamentals in OTAs on catching the ball to address drop issues.”
Johnson is known for his tough-love approach, and his assessment is statistically correct. The Bears’ 29 total drops were the fifth-most last season, according to Pro Football Reference.
Sports Illustrated’s Mike Moraitis broke down the Bears’ 2025 drops.
“The biggest offenders were running back Kyle Monangai and wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus, who tallied six and five, respectively. Of course, Zaccheaus is no longer in Chicago, and neither is DJ Moore, who posted three drops. Wide receivers Luther Burden and Rome Odunze had four and two, respectively, and running back D’Andre Swift chipped-in with four of his own. Tight ends Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet were better in that area, with Loveland finishing with just one drop, and Kmet with two.”
DJ Moore’s departure specifically vacates 85 additional targets for the remaining pass-catchers and puts more emphasis on the need for them to catch the football.
GettyChicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze recorded 44 catches for 661 yards and six touchdowns in 2025.
When addressing Johnson’s separation issue, it doesn’t stand out as much as the drops. Luther Burden III’s 4.6 yards of separation actually ranked first in the NFL according to Next Gen Stats. For reference, the league average yards of separation falls between 2.8 and 3.6. Rome Odunze fell to the bottom of that range last year at 3.0. But Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet finished at the top of that range with 3.7 and 3.6, respectively. Ultimately, it never hurts to improve in any area, and Johnson clearly felt that the coaching staff could improve.
Johnson won’t let anything slide, big or small, and perhaps his attention to detail and persistence are what have made him such a successful coach so far.
Bears Also Focused On Improving Defense Ahead of Next Season
While Johnson didn’t directly call out the defense, the Bears have made clear moves in the offseason to improve that side of the football. The Bears have signed seven new defenders to the roster so far through the free agent portal. Key signings include defensive back Coby Bryant, linebacker Devin Bush, and defensive lineman Neville Gallimore. Despite leading the league in interceptions, Pro Football Focus graded the Bears as the 20th-best defense in 2025. With Johnson steadying the ship on offense, the defense will need to hold up their end of the bargain if they hope to compete with the top teams in the NFC, and the Bears’ offseason moves so far reinforce that.
The 2026 NFL Draft is quickly approaching, and it will be interesting to see which side of the ball the Bears choose to add to in the first round.
Bears HC Ben Johnson Calls Out Coaching Staff In Eye-Opening Statement