Chicago Bears
· 2026-06-29
The Chicago Bears finished 2025 with a top 10 offense, but ESPN's Bill Barnwell has ranked them 15th in his annual ranking of all 32 NFL teams by offensive playmakers.
Barnwell's ranking intentionally excludes offensive line quality, which matters for the Bears, as their line led by Joe Thuney helped Chicago allow just 24 sacks in 2025.
The Bears' offense will face a test with their next game vs Carolina Panthers on 2026-09-13.
Rome Odunze, the Bears' WR1, enters the season as a question mark after a foot injury cut his 2025 short.
Colston Loveland looked like a future star, but he'll now have to prove he can produce over an entire season.
And D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai combined for more than 1,700 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns last season.
Barnwell credited Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams with inflating the perception of the Bears' skill position group.
But the Bears' offense in 2026 will almost certainly be better than 15th in real terms once Caleb Williams and Johnson are factored back in.
The Bears are currently standing 8th in the National Football Conference with a 9-8 record, on a W5 streak.
So the team is looking to build on this momentum.
But until the young stars prove they can sustain their production over a full season, some national analysts will continue viewing Chicago's offensive ceiling with hesitation.
The Bears' rebuilt offensive line, led by Joe Thuney, will be key to their success.
And with a healthy Rome Odunze, the Bears' offense could be even more potent.
But for now, the ranking stands, and the Bears will have to prove themselves on the field.