4 bold predictions for the Chicago Bears in 2025

The Chicago Bears will begin the 2025 NFL season with some of the most exciting storylines in the NFL. New head coach Ben Johnson is the headliner, and the continued development of second-year QB and 2024 first-overall pick Caleb Williams isn’t far behind.

Bears fans are cautiously optimistic as training camp slowly approaches. Perhaps this will be the team that ends Chicago’s playoff drought, one that’s been ongoing since 2020. Maybe the 2025 season will be more of the same disappointment that Bears Nation has become numb to. Either way, it’ll be a wild ride.

Here are four bold predictions that should make the Chicago Bears one heck of a team to follow this year.

Caleb Williams will surpass 4,000 passing yards

Yes, Bears fans. It will finally happen in 2025: the Chicago Bears will have a 4,000-yard passer.

All of the ingredients are there for Williams to break Chicago’s curse of never fielding an offense that was competent enough to jump the 4K mark. His offensive line is one of the better units in the NFC, his pass-catchers are a group of exciting playmakers who can win on all three levels of the field, and his play-caller is arguably the best in the NFL right now.

If Williams doesn’t throw for 4,000 yards in 2025, then something went terribly wrong. And I don’t see that happening.

Two words: MVP Caleb Williams

pic.twitter.com/mc1EBlUuZ5

— NFL Updates on X (@NFLUpdatesOnX) June 20, 2025

Ben Johnson will win his Bears debut in convincing fashion

The Chicago Bears open the 2025 season at home on Monday Night Football against the division rival Minnesota Vikings in a game that will set the table for the rest of Johnson’s debut season.

He’ll square off against Kevin O’Connell, another young head coach who’s already secured his spot atop the NFL’s most talented offensive minds. If Johnson gets embarrassed, questions about his readiness to be the top dog will already begin.

I don’t expect that to happen, though. The Bears will face Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy in his first-ever start, which gives Dennis Allen’s defense a clear advantage in the opener. They should be able to rattle the young passer enough to allow Johnson to shake the nerves that naturally come with doing anything for the first time.

And once those nerves disappear, the fireworks will begin. Bears win in a big way, and Johnson will be all the rage entering Week 2.

Montez Sweat will have more than 12 sacks

One of the most disappointing developments from the 2024 season was the ineffective play of Montez Sweat, who ended the season with just 5.5 sacks. It was an underwhelming performance from a player whom the Bears have identified as their franchise pass rusher.

I expect him to bounce back in 2025 in Allen’s more aggressive defense. The only thing that could hold Sweat back is the lack of a legitimate pass-rusher opposite him. Sure, Dayo Odeyingbo could develop into that guy — he’s being paid like that guy — but we’ll have to wait and see.

Regardless, Sweat is too good to post back-to-back seasons of less than 10 sacks. He’ll regain his form this year and be a double-digit monster once again.

D’Andre Swift will lose his starting job by Week 4

On the other end of the spectrum is Swift, whose first season in Chicago was a disappointment, to say the least. He failed to reach 1,000 rushing yards and it was mostly his fault. Sure, he was a victim of poor offensive line play and a terrible play caller, but his season total of 959 yards easily could’ve topped the 1K mark had he managed to do a better job running through tackles or getting north-south on several carries.

Johnson is a no-nonsense head coach who won’t accept mediocre play. The presence of rookie Kyle Monangai and third-year back Roschon Johnson will be just enough to challenge Swift for starter’s reps, which I believe he’ll ultimately lose by the time the calendar flips to October.

D’Andre Swift is SET UP pic.twitter.com/gqh4fZRum9

— CHGO Bears (@CHGO_Bears) May 5, 2025

Could this prediction prove to be dead wrong? Absolutely. And, I hope it is. There are a lot of people who still believe Swift will benefit as much as any skill player in Johnson’s offense, but he belongs in the “I’ll believe it when I see it” category.