The Chicago Bears entered the 2025 season looking to turn the page on a disappointing 2024 campaign, and so far, the results have been encouraging. Under first-year head coach Ben Johnson and second-year quarterback Caleb Williams, the Bears’ offense has made noticeable strides.
The passing game has become one of the more efficient units in the league, and the overall offensive scheme appears more dynamic and cohesive. However, despite these improvements, the run game remains a glaring weakness that continues to hold back Chicago’s offensive potential.
Passing Game and Scheme Show Promise
The Bears’ offense has shown major improvement from the 2024 season. Williams is leading one of the better passing attacks in the NFL, with receivers doing a much better job getting open and creating explosive plays. The offensive line has vastly improved in pass protection and has been phenomenal in run blocking. The offensive scheme has also taken a significant leap under Johnson.
Chicago ranks 11th in the NFL in points per game (25.3), a 7.1-point increase from 2024. The team also ranks 15th in EPA per pass and 4th in Pass Block Win Rate. Despite these positives, the offense still ranks 28th in Success Rate and 22nd in EPA per play.
Several factors could be causing these inconsistencies, such as frequent pre-snap penalties. The Bears rank 7th in the league with 3.25 pre-snap penalties per game and are the fourth-most penalized team overall.
Much of this, however, could be attributed to players and coaches still adjusting to one another. As the season progresses, the Bears will likely cut down on these mistakes, allowing them to find more rhythm and consistency on offense.
D’Andre Swift Struggling to Find His Footing
The biggest factor holding the offense back is the lack of a consistent run game and the underwhelming play of running back D’Andre Swift.
At first glance, Swift’s 2025 box score numbers don’t look promising. He ranks 33rd in rushing yards, 23rd in touchdowns, and 38th in yards per attempt (minimum 25 carries). His advanced metrics are even worse: Among running backs with at least 25 carries, Swift ranks 34th in total EPA, 34th in EPA per rush, 28th in Success Rate, and 24th in Explosive Run Rate.
This lack of production is crippling the Bears’ offense. While poor rushing numbers can often be blamed on subpar blocking, that isn’t the case in Chicago. The Bears’ offensive line ranks first in the NFL in Run Block Win Rate. Johnson’s offensive system is built around a productive ground attack, especially on early downs. The Bears rank 12th in rushing attempts on early downs but 21st in Success Rate while facing the second-fewest defenders in the box (minimum of 50 carries).
https://twitter.com/sfdata9ers/status/1975620156320559522
This inefficiency frequently leaves the Bears in difficult third-and-long situations. Though they’ve managed to convert many of these, it’s not a sustainable formula for success. Until the run game improves, offensive inconsistency will persist.
How the Bears Can Fix the Run Game
There are two paths the Bears can take to fix their rushing attack in 2025. The first is to promote rookie Kyle Monangai to lead running back. Although Monangai hasn’t been much better than Swift on a per-snap basis, he’s only had 17 carries so far. A fresh presence in the backfield could spark the offense and give Johnson another option to balance the play-calling.
The second option is to make a trade. There have been rumors that Saints running back Alvin Kamara and Jets running back Breece Hall could be available, as well as Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III, who was linked to Chicago during the offseason. Regardless of the solution, it’s clear the Bears cannot continue with D’Andre Swift as their lead back if they hope to compete consistently.
A Foundation Worth Building On
The Bears have taken meaningful steps forward in 2025, and the foundation for a high-powered offense is clearly in place. Caleb Williams’ development, Ben Johnson’s innovative play-calling, and the dominance of the offensive line all point toward a bright future. But to unlock their full potential, Chicago must establish a reliable run game.
Whether the answer comes from within or through a trade, addressing the rushing attack could be the key to transforming the Bears from a promising team into a legitimate contender.
Leave a comment