Matt Eberflus needed to do a lot of things to get fired midseason. It had never happened in Chicago Bears history. Yet he managed to pull it off. It came from a variety of factors. There was the ongoing offensive ineptitude sparked mostly by his horrible staff choices. Players hinted at his inability to communicate properly or hold guys accountable. However, his ultimate downfall came from horrific game management, especially in the 4th quarter. Never was that clearer than against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving when he refused to call a timeout with 30 seconds left, allowing the clock to run out despite being just outside field goal range. People were flabbergasted by the gaffe, including those on the opposite sideline, Ben Johnson among them.
The Bears’ new head coach appeared on Breakfast Ball for FS1, where co-host Danny Parkins, a former Chicago radio host for 670 The Score, couldn’t resist asking him about a hypothetical game situation. Then he immediately referenced the Lions game moment for moment. As he did so, Johnson did some that was an unmistakable dig at Eberflus for his awful blunder.
Ben Johnson didn’t need to say anything.
He refused to denounce Eberflus by name, but that single gesture said it all. If he’d just called timeout, it would’ve likely given the Bears a reasonable chance to at least get a field goal opportunity to force overtime. Instead he expected his rookie quarterback, who’d just been sacked on the previous play, to have complete awareness for what he needed to do. That was a cardinal sin for any head coach. It was his job to recognize when his quarterback wasn’t on top of things. The fact he sat there paralyzed on the sideline doing nothing said it all. Even Bill Cowher said after the game that Eberflus “froze.” Ben Johnson will face a situation like that at some point in the future. He’s already aware that he must have far better situational awareness if he wants to avoid becoming the butt of jokes like his predecessor.
With a new head coach coming in, it was only a matter of time before staff changes followed. The only unknown was whether any of them would be retained. It isn’t unheard of. Ben Johnson should know that. He was retained from one staff to another in both Miami and Detroit. Fans waited to see if certain names on Matt Eberflus’ staff might get the same treatment. Well, things aren’t off to a good start. Adam Jahns of The Athletic revealed five major names are not expected to return next season.
They are interim head coach Thomas Brown, wide receivers coach Chris Beatty, quarterbacks coach Kerry Joseph, offensive line coach Chris Morgan, and defensive coordinator Eric Washington. While losing Brown is unfortunate, none of these can be considered a surprise. Morgan is one fans have wanted gone for some time after watching their quarterbacks get constantly pressured and sacked at alarming rates over the past three seasons.
The Chicago Bears are taking a logical approach.
As the play caller on offense, it only makes sense Johnson would clear out the entire offensive staff. He likely has an idea of who he wants to bring in. He doesn’t know anybody in the current group and has no reason to be impressed. As for the defensive side, only removing the coordinator for the time being is understandable. He will want to bring in his preferred candidate first and let him assess what assistants to keep or bring in from there. It is believed that it will be former New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen. He almost certainly has people in mind for his defensive staff. It will be fascinating to see what new faces the Chicago Bears bring in over the next few days. Urgency is needed, as other teams are hoping to land prominent names as well.
Apr 3, 2024; Oakland, California, USA; Boston Red Sox catcher Reese McGuire (3) and pitcher Kenley Jansen (74) celebrate their 1-0 victory over the Oakland Athletics at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-USA TODAY Sports
The Chicago Cubs have added additional catcher depth, signing free agent Reese McGuire to a minor league deal.
The 29-year-old has been a career backup throughout his seven-year MLB career and while you can’t count on much offense from McGuire he’s been able to stick around in the big leagues thanks to his good defense behind the plate.
The Cubs and catcher Reese McGuire have agreed to a minor league deal, source tells @JustBB_Media
McGuire, 29, saw action in 53 games for the Red Sox, posting a .575 OPS while throwing out 25% of runners in 2024. He has a .664 career OPS over parts of 7 seasons.
Despite the bad offensive numbers McGuire has been a positive fWAR player in every year except for the shortened 2020 season. Back in 2021, he put up a 1.5 fWAR and then McGuire had a 1.4 fWAR in 2022.
McGuire is a good pitch framer and has thrown out 27.4% of base stealers in his career. The 29-year-old has a career slash line of .252/.300/.352, with 16 home runs in 1,038 plate appearances. He only hit .209, in 2024 with the Boston Red Sox, but in the previous two seasons McGuire did slash .268/.308/.365, an 85 wRC+, which is not terrible for your backup catcher.
So, McGuire joins veteran Carlos Perez as the depth options at catcher entering spring training for the Cubs. He’s coming on a minor league deal, so there’s no pressure to add him to the active roster on Opening Day. McGuire as your extra emergency catcher at Triple-A would be fine.
I mentioned the embarrassing arrest record and well, yeah it is. Back in 2020, McGuire was charged with a misdemeanor count of indecent exposure after he was found masturbating in his car in a shopping center parking lot in Dunedin, Florida.
He pleaded no contest to a charge of disorderly conduct and was fined $500.
McGuire has played for the Blue Jays, White Sox and Red Sox after being a first-round pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2013.
Nov 20, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine (8) defends against Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
The last month of watching the Miami Heat and Jimmy Butler clash over their future together has not made Chicago fans miss their former shooting guard. That being said, if his departure from South Beach somehow turns into the Bulls parting ways with Zach LaVine and bringing in a new face of the franchise, most would ask where to sign. It’s been rumored that several teams, including the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks, have checked on Butler’s status and gauged Pat Riley and company’s asking price. Will his departure be accelerated with a reaffirmed trade request from Butler’s camp and a new two-game suspension?
Beal To Chicago, LaVine To Milwaukee
Each passing day feels like a growing blockbuster trade is happening behind the scenes of the Butler fiasco. Phoenix recently acquired three first-round picks to bolster their offer to Miami. Bradley Beal’s no-trade clause is the most significant roadblock to a potential trade now, which some think may be waived for an opportunity to join his former college coach, Billy Donovan. Before being drafted third overall in 2012 by the Washington Wizards, Donovan and Beal made an Elite Eight run in 2011 together at the University of Florida.
“It was amazing for me and very well needed. I always say it was short-lived because I love Billy Donovan, and I wanted to win him a national championshiop, and I always told him that even when he is coaching with the Bulls now… It was amazing, man.”
Bradley Beal via Pippen Ain’t Easy
Can Chicago truly unload their most overpaid, underperforming player of this decade and shake things up with Bradley Beal?
From One Overpaid Star To The Next
Even if this is Arturas Karnisovas’s lone opportunity to ship away LaVine, he must proceed cautiously. Beal’s contract is one of the few leaguewide that is more lucrative than LaVine’s, while he’s a year older and has a no-trade clause attached to it. While changing up the face of the franchise and adding a three-time All-Star who has been one of the best scoring guards leaguewide over his career might seem enticing, it’s a nearly identical situation to what their current All-Star guard provides. Should the Bulls accept a swap if accompanied by the newly gained draft capital from Phoenix or young assets from Miami or Milwaukee?
The Bulls could emerge as a team involved in the Jimmy Butler trade.
Bradley Beal to the Bucks is a very realistic option on the table, but so is reuniting with his former college coach Billy Donovan.
Zach LaVine would go to Milwaukee, while Chicago nets Beal and draft capital. pic.twitter.com/4gEJwsicld
Is this move away from LaVine clever, desperate, or irresponsible? While many agree that he needs to be in new threads after the February trade deadline and missing his third consecutive All-Star nod despite his top-15 leaguewide salary hit, adding Beal and young assets might be a rare scenario where the Bulls lose a LaVine trade.
Sep 29, 2024; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees third baseman Jon Berti (19) fields a ground ball by Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Liover Peguero (31) but is unable to get the throw to first base in time during the fourth inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
Truth is that no free agent infielder was really going to excite Cubs fans at this point of the offseason, but Jon Berti is pretty damn solid as the veteran bench player to back up Matt Shaw and give the team cover for Nico Hoerner.
The Cubs reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with Berti on Wednesday night. FanSided’s Robert Murray had the signing first.
Free-agent infielder Jon Berti and the Chicago Cubs are in agreement on a contract, according to sources familiar with the deal.
You can tell how much Berti was valued by the Cubs because despite being limited to only 25 games in 2024 with the New York Yankees the 35-year-old secured a guaranteed deal in Chicago.
According to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand, Berti will make $2 million and has the chance to earn an additional $1.3 million in incentives.
Berti gets $2 million for one year from the Cubs, per source. Deal includes $1.3 million in incentives.
Berti has a career 95 wRC+ in 461 MLB games, so he’s been a bit below league average since making his debut in 2018. The right-handed hitter was a late bloomer, getting his first cup off coffee in the big leagues with the Toronto Blue Jays and then settling into a utility role with the Miami Marlins from 2019-2023.
The infielder has started games at second, third and shortstop, while also starting 63 games in the outfield.
The numbers aren’t going to jump off the page, but Berti has been a solid role player for several years. In 2022 and 2023, he was worth 2.2 fWAR and 2.1 fWAR with the Marlins. Berti plays good defense and is a good base runner. In 2022, Berti stole 41 bases in 102 games.
Berti has a career slash line of .259/.337/.366. He’s not going to hit for much power, Berti’s career high in a single season in home runs is seven in 424 plate appearances in 2023. He ended that year with a 101 wRC+, slashing .294/.344/.405.
He’ll also take his fair share of walks, carrying a career 9.6 BB%.
The concern is that Berti is coming off a calf injury that sidelined him from the end of May until the second week of September last season. He ended the year slashing .273/.342/.318, in 74 plate appearances. Hopefully that leg injury hasn’t taken away too much of Berti’s athleticism and can still be a versatile player for the 2025 Cubs.
Obviously you’re not thinking of Berti as an every-day player for the Cubs, but as insurance early in the season with Hoerner’s status unclear for Opening Day he’s a fine addition to the roster.
Again, is this a blockbuster move? No. The Cubs aren’t going after Alex Bregman, he’s out of the question. The Cubs want Matt Shaw to play third base and they’re not going to block him. So, signing Berti, who can fill in if the rookie struggles, is completely acceptable, while he also provides a backup option at second base and shortstop.
Jan 22, 2025; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson answers questions during a introductory press conference at PNC Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
There is no more wondering. Ben Johnson is the franchise’s 19th head coach. That means the latest Chicago Bears 2025 mock offseason has a better idea of how things could shake out in the next few months. GM Ryan Poles will collect insight from his new coach and craft a plan for finding the right players to fit his vision. One can safely assume things will differ from those under Matt Eberflus. Certain names on the roster will be out. From there, it is about how aggressive the team will be in overhauling specific areas. It isn’t difficult to guess where the focus will be. Here is a look at how things could go.
The latest Chicago Bears 2025 mock offseason is more focused.
Staff building:
Defensive coordinator – Dennis Allen
Offensive coordinator – Jim Turner
Special teams coordinator – Darren Rizzi
Allen has already been reported as a likely possibility. He had the Saints playing as a top-10 unit for a solid five-year stretch. Rizzi has produced a top-5 special teams group almost every year in New Orleans. He worked with Johnson in Miami for several years. Turner is one of college football’s most respected offensive line coaches and also worked alongside Johnson with the Dolphins. He played a big part in helping them develop Mike Pouncey, Ja’Wuan James, and Billy Turner.
Cuts:
Gerald Everett – $5.48 million
Ryan Bates – $4 million saved
Dominique Robinson – $1.1 million saved
Re-signings:
Jack Sanborn – RFA tender for $3.185 million
Josh Blackwell – RFA tender for $3.185 million
Jaylon Jones – 1-year deal for $1.1 million
Doug Kramer – 1-year deal for $1.1 million
Bill Murray – ERFA tender for $840,000
Chris Williams – ERFA tender for $960,000
Daniel Hardy – ERFA tender for $960,000
Jonathan Owens – 1-year deal for $1.255 million
Jacob Martin – 1-year deal for $1.255 million
Free Agency:
RG Trey Smith – 4-year deal for $88 million
C Drew Dalman – 3-year deal for $36 million
EDGE Chase Young – 1-year deal for $10 million
WR Darius Slayton – 1-year deal for $6 million
TE Mike Gesicki – 1-year deal for $2 million
Fortifying the offensive line is priority #1 for the Bears, and they waste no expense. Smith is by far the best option available and they make that clear by making him the highest-paid guard in the NFL. Then, for good measure, they also added a capable center in Dalman, drastically improving their interior. Slayton adds some needed speed at wide receiver, while Gesicki should be a solid #2 option at tight end. Young gives them insurance at the edge rusher position ahead of the draft.
The Draft:
1st Round – Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
Given how free agency went, the Bears have some flexibility with this pick. As a result, they land a talented pass rusher who can pair nicely with Montez Sweat. Scourton has excellent size, is a good athlete, and has shown significant progress in his fundamentals as a pass rusher. Dennis Allen loves big defensive ends who can get after it. Scourton fits that mold. This would give the Bears that critical trio of rushers they need.
2nd Round – Wyatt Milum, OL, West Virginia
Johnson showed in Detroit that he loves his offensive linemen to be big boys with plenty of power. Milum checks those boxes. He’s large at 6’6, 317 lbs, and displays loads of strength both in his grip and his anchor against the pass rush. He can displace defenders in the run game with plenty of nastiness in his style. Most expect him to move inside to guard, which is where the Bears need him.
2nd Round (via CAR) – Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
Having an interior pass rush is vital to success in today’s NFL. Chicago may already have Gervon Dexter, but they can’t justify passing on someone like Nolen if he’s still available. The kid is the class three-technique type with explosive athleticism to shoot gaps and power to drive offensive linemen back. He won’t eat up blocks as a run defender, but that isn’t a big deal with the upside he offers.
3rd Round – Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State
Johnson’s offense features running back position loads, which means he will need multiple talented bodies. Judkins was an absolute workhorse for the national champion Buckeyes. He’s well-built, tough, strong, and difficult to bring down. He’s explosive enough to hit for big plays and is reliable in pass protection. If the Bears wanted somebody perfect to pair with D’Andre Swift, this is their guy.
5th Round – Jared Wilson, C, Georgia
He won’t win awards for size or power, but Wilson is a tenacious and athletic blocker who improved significantly over the course of the 2024 season. This Bears 2025 mock offseason can’t end without some type of draft investment at center. Wilson needs some development, but he’s got the building blocks of a future starter.
6th Round – Malachi Moore, S, Alabama
Kevin Byard isn’t getting any younger. The Bears have to start thinking about life after him at safety. Moore isn’t the most physical presence, but he makes up for that with tremendous athleticism, instincts, and ball skills. He has seven interceptions and 25 passes defended in college.
7th Round – David Walker, EDGE, Central Arkansas
Being on the shorter side (6’2) as an edge rusher and coming from an FCS program will make it difficult for Walker to go high in the draft. At the same time, when you post 31 sacks in three seasons, it is hard not to take notice. This kid has a natural feel for getting the quarterback. Such types are worthwhile gambles.
Ben Johnson wanted to become the Chicago Bears’ head coach. That had become true going back to 2023. He regularly took his family to Cubs games and fell in love with the atmosphere the city brought to its sporting events. He’d hoped the head coaching job would open last season, but the Bears opted to give Matt Eberflus another year. That didn’t work out. Once the position opened up, Johnson knew he was interested. However, he didn’t intend to jump in blind. So, he started gathering information.
He needed to know more about the organization and its inner workings. Talking to GM Ryan Poles was a key part of that, but it would be nice if it came from somebody more familiar. That is where his agent, Rick Smith, came to the rescue. According to Albert Breer of the MMQB, he put Johnson in touch with a former client of his who just so happened to work in the Bears front office.
And then, third, there was Johnson’s own research. It helped Smith and Johnson having Jeff King, the Bears’ senior director of player personnel, and the No. 3 guy in Poles’s scouting department (behind Ian Cunningham and Poles himself), as a sounding board. King was repped by Smith as a player, and gave the agent and his client perspective for the amount of change in the building—and the big steps being made to modernize the operation.
Jeff King helping land Ben Johnson earns him folk hero status.
The Bears’ director of player personnel already had a growing reputation, thanks to his April trade with Buffalo, which helped land Austin Booker. Most believe he is the heir apparent to Ian Cunningham as assistant GM whenever he ends up landing a general manager job elsewhere. Poles trusts him implicitly. Whatever it was he told Ben Johnson during their communication was what the coach needed to hear. The interview last week eased any lingering doubts. After that meeting, the decision was made. He wanted the Bears job.
Nobody knows what the future holds for Johnson. He is a highly regarded play-caller on offense, which means he should be able to elevate Caleb Williams at quarterback. Whether he can be a locker room leader is unknown. He feels he’s ready. King didn’t seem to mind lending him a hand, knowing from the Bears’ own research that he was one of the top candidates. If this works out, the young exec may never have to buy a beer in Chicago again.
Jan 22, 2025; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears new head cach Ben Johnson is greeted by general manager Ryan Poles at his introductory press conference at PNC Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
Ryan Poles knew around Christmas that Ben Johnson was the guy he wanted as the next Chicago Bears head coach. He and team president Kevin Warren had extensively researched the offensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions. His reputation as a playcaller spoke for itself, and his personality as a leader soon became apparent as well. However, the Bears GM knew he faced a serious challenge. If he wanted to lure Johnson to Chicago, the two would need to candidly discuss what happened over the past three years.
A team doesn’t go 5-12 in the third year of a rebuild without something going wrong. Sure, a big part of it was picking the wrong head coach in Matt Eberflus. That said, Poles couldn’t duck responsibility for some questionable roster decisions he’s made. According to Albert Breer of the MMQB, the Bears GM met with Johnson 1-on-1 during their interview last week. In it, Poles didn’t beat around the bush. He was up front that he’d made some clear mistakes during the first few years in charge.
First, in Poles, Johnson saw a guy who was exceptionally smart, and had made plenty of mistakes, as most folks do in a new job, over his first three years—and, as such, knew what not to do. The first part of Johnson’s Chicago interview was one-on-one with Poles, and Poles was sincere with Johnson about his early missteps, and his desire to have a coach with strong convictions and go find the right players for that coach.
Ryan Poles knows he can hide from his missteps.
Fans have made sure of that. Trading for Chase Claypool, signing Nate Davis, and drafting Velus Jones are likely the three that stand out the most. His nickel-and-dime approach to the offensive line probably isn’t viewed with much reverence as well. Part of the issue has been too much of a focus on physical traits and not enough on football character. Claypool and Davis are perfect examples. Both are big guys and tremendous athletes. They’re also both seriously lacking in work ethic and passion for the game.
It is clear things must change going into this off-season. Ryan Poles made sure to convey that understanding to Johnson. The two would collaborate in the evaluation process moving forward. Don’t be surprised if they focus more on accomplished football players than good athletes. Ryan Pace had the same issues when he first took over ten years ago. It took a few years for him to get away from prioritizing athleticism over proven commodities. Poles seems on the same track.
Jan 17, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic (9) warms up before the game against the Charlotte Hornets at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
Chicago has been trying to flip their 34-year-old two-time All-Star center for quite some time. To be exact, ever since DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso hit the road. After a scorching hot start to his 2024-25 campaign, the price tag for Vucevic was the highest it had been in several years, frankly, the most expensive since the Bulls traded for him in March of 2021. After failing to reach any trades over the last few months of 2024, things have only gotten more complicated over the previous three weeks. Although teams are starting to nest in the standings and gain an accurate outlook on the 2025 postseason race, Vucevic’s play has worsened this month. His points, field goal percentage, and three-point field goal percentage have all decreased in the last 22 days, making his asking price again insignificant. What is the current offer on the table from Golden State, and is Chicago smart to take a deal now or wait until the trade deadline draws desperation from the league’s potential suitors?
Package Around Moses Moody
Arturas Karnisovas dealt a flurry of assets away in March of 2021 when he acquired Orlando’s All-Star center. As evidenced by Patrick Williams inking a new extension to lucrative amounts of money that has little to no support from the fanbase, Karnisovas has a difficult time admitting his faults and parting ways with pieces that he personally brought to the clubhouse. Vucevic is the latest example. Chicago’s smartest move would’ve been to sell him last month while he was pacing Nikola Jokic and Domantas Sabonis in the stretch-five category, shooting lights out from three-point land. At that time, a first-round return was not out of the question. Now, it is far-fetched and doubtful.
The Bulls and Warriors have remained engaged in trade talks centered on Nikola Vucevic for weeks.
Chicago desires a 1st-round pick for Vucevic, but Golden State is only willing to include 2nd-round draft capital.
Moses Moody or Kyle Anderson would be the best salary-filling assets that the Bulls could acquire without a third team getting involved. Even then, they would need to account for more of a salary gap to match Vucevic’s $20 million annually. Only Moody would supply any value moving forward, and if he’s coming to Chicago, draft capital will not be attached.
Vucevic’s Drastic Decline
The 6’10” center has had a roller coaster of a season in Chicago. During the first several months, he was a legitimate candidate to make his third All-Star roster, averaging over 20 points, ten rebounds, and greater than 50% shooting from the field. He was also sniping at an incredible rate from deep, nearly 50% on three-point attempts through three months of play. In January, things have taken a significant turn for the worse. This will mark his first month under 20 points per outing and less than 50% from the field, combined with his worst stretch from the charity stripe and an atrocious 28.8% from three-point land. It could not have come at a less opportune time for Chicago’s front office.
Vucevic is shooting 31.4% from 3 over the past 14 games. He’s 0-2 from 3 tonight. The Bulls completely blew an opportunity to trade him while he was disguised as a stretch 5. pic.twitter.com/RslAUYjqgK
The movie “Draft Day” starring Kevin Costner, isn’t a favorite among critics or casual moviegoers. However, football fans love it. While not entirely realistic, it provides an amazing glimpse of what goes into a pre-draft process and how it can have long-term consequences for a franchise. During the pivotal moment of the draft, Costner’s character, Sonny Weaver, stuns the NFL when he takes pass rusher Vontae Mack over Wisconsin star quarterback Bo Callahan. After leaving the room, he leaves behind a slip of paper with a single note written on it: “Vontae Mack, no matter what.” It spoke to the value of conviction even in the face of mounting public pressure. It appears Kevin Warren had his own such moment these past couple of weeks.
The Chicago Bears team president spoke to the media about how the organization hired new head coach Ben Johnson. He shared an amazing story about how he was at a local restaurant when he received a complimentary drink with a note attached to it. Just three words were inscribed: Hire Ben Johnson.
It gets better. The unnamed fan soon revealed himself. His name is Jerry Steiner. It was he and his girlfriend who sent the note. Warren was gracious enough to send back a pair of shots in return. The Bears president plans to give the note to Johnson.
It’s likely Kevin Warren knew the outcome before that note arrived.
Whispers suggest the Bears knew Johnson was their guy as far back as Christmas. Remember, they’d been heavily researching candidates since after Thanksgiving. From there, it was a process of seeing if the coach was on the same page. Everything came together during the virtual meeting last week. Johnson indicated he wanted the job. The only assurance he asked for was that he and Ryan Poles would be free to run the football operations themselves without interference from Warren or ownership. He got it.
Just 48 hours after Detroit’s season ended, Johnson was hired as the Bears’ head coach. He is the 19th in franchise history, and the one many hope will finally lead them back into the light. Kevin Warren has always been a person who dreams big. He wanted to make a splash. If both Poles and the fans wanted Johnson, he was duty-bound to do everything he could to get it done. That required a strong pitch and a hefty contract. For once, the president delivered.
