The Bears are using a wave of Ben Johnson-fueled momentum into the opening of free company Monday, and it has no finish in sight.
Basic supervisor Ryan Poles set himself as much as play from a place of power in free company with a pair of acquisitions on the offensive line that addressed the Bears’ most important weak point and confirmed his acknowledgement of actuality: Every part the Bears do revolves round Johnson and quarterback Caleb Williams.
Upgrading the offensive line was paramount for Poles after the Bears broke the financial institution (a reported $13 million a yr) to rent Johnson, the most popular coordinator within the 2025 hiring cycle. The road was essentially the most obtrusive distinction between the items Johnson had when he began with the Lions in 2022 and what he was inheriting with the Bears in 2025.
Poles made the primary transfer Tuesday by buying and selling a sixth-round draft choose this yr to the Rams for former Professional Bowl (as an alternate) guard/heart Jonah Jackson. A day later, he made an excellent larger transfer by buying and selling a fourth-round draft choose in 2026 to the Chiefs for three-time All-Professional guard Joe Thuney.
Perhaps it’s a coincidence, however for those who had been relying on Johnson making everybody at Halas Corridor smarter, these trades alone supplied proof. Poles’ earlier huge splash on an offensive lineman in free company was former Titans guard Nate Davis — to a three-year, $30 million contract in 2023. Davis got here with some questions on his dedication to the sport and what it took to max out on his capability. That Titans coach Mike Vrabel didn’t need him appeared to be a doable crimson flag.
Because it turned out, these fears had been realized from the beginning when Davis blew off the primary two weeks of organized crew actions. Beset by accidents and private points — together with a dying within the household — and a questionable observe ethic, Davis was minimize in Week 11 final season after taking part in in 16 of 26 doable video games. It was a whiff that was greater than only a huge funding that didn’t work out; it was a knock in opposition to Poles’ judgment.
Jackson and Thuney are thought of significantly better dangers, however each will come to the Bears with query marks of their very own. Jackson has performed in solely 13 of his groups’ final 34 video games due to accidents with the Lions in 2023 and the Rams final season and a benching with the Rams. Thuney, who has missed two video games in 9 NFL seasons, turns 33 subsequent season and has to show he will be as productive and reliable at a stage when many Professional Bowl-quality gamers begin to wilt.
Each, nonetheless, are upgrades over Davis and include a reliable seal of approval. Jackson performed 4 seasons with the Lions when Johnson was on the employees, together with two (2022-23) when he was the offensive coordinator. Thuney signed with the Chiefs in 2021, when Poles was their assistant director of participant personnel. (And former Dolphins tight finish Durham Smythe, who agreed to a one-year deal Thursday, was a rookie when Johnson was their vast receivers coach in 2018.)
The acquisitions of Thuney and Jackson nonetheless depart Poles with $50.3 million in salary-cap house, in response to Over the Cap, heading into the authorized tampering interval Monday. (Free brokers can’t formally signal contracts till the brand new league yr begins Wednesday.)
And whereas an edge rusher and defensive sort out are at or close to the highest of the Bears’ want listing, don’t low cost them splurging on the Falcons’ Drew Dalman, the highest heart out there in free company. Poles is fixated on bettering a sore spot that mirrored poorly on him final season, however giving Johnson each likelihood to succeed is the largest motivating issue.
For the document, Poles denied Johnson would have extra affect in personnel issues than former coach Matt Eberflus did when he talked with reporters Feb. 25 on the NFL Scouting Mix in Indianapolis.
‘‘I feel it’ll stay the identical,’’ Poles mentioned. ‘‘We’re consistently speaking about how we have to go about bettering our crew, so these conversations will likely be occurring nearly every day, which is necessary in any relationship between . . . a GM and a head coach.”
However the actuality is that some GM/head coach relationships are extra necessary than others. And it already appears evident the Poles-Johnson relationship has the GM and head coach nearer to the identical airplane than at any time since Jerry Angelo was employed as GM in 2001.
Johnson nonetheless has many video games to win to show himself, however the Bears are extra motivated than ever to do issues his means as they speed up rigorously however purposefully by a important development zone. Poles’ foot is heavy on the gasoline pedal, however Johnson’s fingers are on the wheel.
