Category: Latest Bears News

Bears to be featured on HBO’s ‘Hard Knocks’ in 2024

The Bears will be featured on “Hard Knocks,” which premieres Aug. 6.

The Chicago Bears will be featured on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” this summer, the NFL announced Thursday.

The Bears were one of three teams that could’ve been forced into being the subject of the hit HBO docuseries this summer, along with the Denver Broncos and New Orleans Saints.

The qualifications were missing the playoffs for the past two seasons, not having a first-year head coach and not having been on “Hard Knocks” in the past decade.

“We are honored to feature such an iconic NFL franchise on ‘Hard Knocks,'” said Shannon Furman, NFL Films senior director and supervising producer. “The Chicago Bears have a talented roster, coaching staff and front office all determined to match the expectations of a hungry fanbase. We are thankful to the entire organization for opening their doors to us for what is sure to be an exciting training camp this summer.”

Bears chairman George McCaskey has been vocal about not wanting to be featured on “Hard Knocks” over the past couple of years. But, ultimately, the NFL couldn’t pass up the opportunity to highlight the charter franchise entering arguably its most anticipated season in decades.

They’re ushering in a new era with No. 1 pick Caleb Williams, they have a young, ascending defense, they’re looking to make that next step to contend for the playoffs and they’re one of 10 teams never featured on the show before.

“ ‘Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears’ will provide our passionate fans across the world the ability to experience this unique and critical time in the history of our franchise,” said team president Kevin Warren.

The five-episode series premieres Tuesday, Aug. 6 at 8 p.m. CT on HBO and will stream on Max.

This position along Bears offensive line could be a strength in 2024

The Bears offensive line remains a work in progress, but they should be excited about the potential of Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright.

The Chicago Bears offensive line has been a work in progress since general manager Ryan Poles took over three years ago. While it’s far from a finished product, there have certainly been improvements made, including at tackle.

Pro Football Focus recently released their top 32 offensive tackle rankings, and the Bears had not one, but two guys on the list: Braxton Jones (31) and Darnell Wright (32).

Most people would agree that Jones is an above-average left tackle, but is he elite? Probably not. However, Wright may be elite one day on the right side. He was sensational in his rookie year. We’ll see if Wright becomes a Pro Bowl-caliber guy in the coming years. He has the talent to do so.

Although Jones is ranked higher than Wright, most people believe that Wright will jump higher on this list in the coming years. He’s a big part of their core and plans for the future.

Although it isn’t perfect, there is a lot of hope for this Bears offensive line, and these two tackles have a lot to do with it. If a guy like Teven Jenkins can stay healthy, they might be good enough to be a playoff-caliber offensive line.

WATCH: Bears rookies Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze hook up for big gain in OTAs

The Bears rookie duo of Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze are putting on a show at OTAs.

The Chicago Bears are nearing the end of organized team activities ahead of mandatory minicamp in June, and rookie quarterback Caleb Williams has been a focal point throughout the spring.

While Williams has battled some anticipated ups and downs early this offseason, his connection with fellow rookie, wide receiver Rome Odunze, has been thriving.

The Bears social accounts shared a clip of Williams connecting with Odunze during the second week of OTAs, where Williams perfectly placed a pass to Odunze with cornerback Tyrique Stevenson in coverage.

Williams and Odunze, drafted first and ninth overall, respectively, have quickly developed a connection that was first on display during rookie minicamp. While Odunze missed the first week of OTAs due to hamstring tightness, he was back on the practice field this week and the rookie duo picked up right where they left off earlier this month.

With the receiver trio featuring DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and Odunze and an impressive veteran secondary including Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon, Tyrique Stevenson, Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard, those 1-on-1 battles are going to be must-see during training camp.

PFF believes Bears rookie Caleb Williams is already a top-20 QB

Pro Football Focus released their QB rankings, where Bears rookie Caleb Williams made the top-20 before even stepping on the field.

The Chicago Bears knew that they were making a great decision when they selected Caleb Williams with the first overall pick. He was a star quarterback at USC and that included a Heisman Trophy. 

He comes to the NFL with high expectations. Being in Chicago makes it even harder because they’ve never had a modern franchise quarterback take them to the highest level.

After failing to find the guy in first-round picks Mitchell Trubisky and Justin Fields, the Bears are hoping they’ve finally found their franchise guy who can help turn the team around.

Pro Football Focus ranked every starting quarterback in the NFL ahead of the 2024 season. Williams landed at No. 19, which is very generous for a player who hasn’t yet taken an NFL snap.

Williams is ranked higher than a few guys that have had success in the NFL, including Pittsburgh’s Russell Wilson. If Williams is better than him already in Year 1, the Bears could be a much better team than people think.

Let’s be clear about something: Williams will have his rookie struggles. Every NFL player ever has. His ceiling, according to NFL experts, is very high. If he reaches it, he’ll exceed that No. 19 ranking. Still, it’s awesome to see him already ranked in the top 20 when there are some really good quarterbacks in the league.

ESPN believes Bears QB Caleb Williams is set up for immediate success

Bears rookie Caleb Williams has entered arguably the best situation for a No. 1 pick QB.

The Chicago Bears are kicking off a new era with quarterback Caleb Williams, who was selected with the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

ESPN believes Williams has been set up for immediate success in his rookie season. And it’s easy to see why. General manager Ryan Poles has been carefully crafting an ideal situation for his new rookie quarterback.

That starts with assembling an arsenal of weapons including wide receivers DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and rookie Rome Odunze, running back D’Andre Swift and tight ends Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett. Chicago’s offensive line has also improved, and the Bears have a potential top-10 defense looking to build off their impressive finish last season.

Yes, Williams easily has the best situation of any quarterback chosen No. 1, at least since 1980. In my value estimates, the difference between the Bears’ skill players and the 2009 Lions is roughly the same as the gap between the Lions and the No. 12 team (Jeff George and the 1990 Colts).

We’ll start with DJ Moore, who has cracked 1,000 receiving yards in four of the past five seasons and is coming off career highs with 1,364 yards and eight touchdowns in 2023. Then comes Keenan Allen, who had 1,000 receiving yards in five of the past seven seasons for the Chargers and had 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns in only 13 games last season. The Rome Odunze pick makes Williams the first quarterback picked No. 1 to play with a first-round wide receiver from the same draft.

At tight end, the Bears will have both Cole Kmet (73-719-6 in 2023) and Gerald Everett(51-411-3 for the Chargers last season). The starting running back, D’Andre Swift, had 1,049 yards and five touchdowns for the Eagles and will be backed up by last year’s Bears starter, Khalil Herbert. Even the offensive line is better than you think — it was fifth in pass block win rate and second in run block win rate last season.

Expectations are certainly high for Williams heading into his rookie season. While there will certainly be growing pains, as with any rookie, the Bears have done everything they can to make this acclimation period as smooth as possible for Williams.

Former Bears RB Tarik Cohen signs with Jets

Former Bears RB Tarik Cohen is getting another shot in the NFL, signing a one-year deal with the Jets.

Former Chicago Bears running back Tarik Cohen is getting another shot in the NFL. Cohen is signing a one-year deal with the New York Jets, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Cohen suffered a torn ACL on a punt return in 2020. He struggled to return from the injury, which caused him to miss the entire 2021 season, and Chicago released him with an injury designation in March 2022. Cohen continued to rehab, but he unfortunately suffered a setback during training, tearing his Achilles in May 2022.

After a series of ups and downs, Cohen is getting back healthy, and the Jets believe he can be a playmaker for them as a return specialist.

“Tarik, explosive playmaker, he’s starting to get back healthy,” Jets coach Robert Saleh said, via the New York Post. “With the new kickoff rules and these kick returners, they’re going to touch the ball over 100 times a year, which is significant — at least that’s what we’re anticipating. And a guy like him, he’s still young, obviously coming off his injuries, and we’re excited to have him aboard.”

Cohen, a fourth-round pick in the 2017 NFL draft, was a dynamic playmaker with the ball in his hands — whether it was on offense or special teams as a punt returner. He signed a three-year, $17.25 million extension with the Bears just before his knee injury during the 2020 season.

The Carolina Panthers signed Cohen to their practice squad last year, where he spent a duration of the 2023 season. Carolina signed Cohen to a reserve/future contract in January, but he was released on May 10. Now, Cohen gets another shot to prove himself with the Jets.

Bears’ top 3 receivers ranked among best in NFL by PFF

Pro Football Focus named Bears wideouts DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze among the top 32 WRs.

Some people might say you’re a No. 1 wide receiver in the NFL if you’re one of the league’s 32 best. But some teams have more than one player who meets the criteria, others zero. It seems the Chicago Bears have three to be very excited about.

According to Pro Football Focus, the Bears have one of the best receiving trios in the NFL. Sam Monson ranked the top 32 receivers in the NFL heading into the 2024 season, and Chicago is well-represented with DJ Moore, Keenan Allen and rookie Rome Odunze.

There are a few teams represented on this list twice. However, the Bears are the only team that has three players featured. That is a luxury that this franchise has never had. It would be nice to see these guys go out there and live up to it.

Moore was Chicago’s highest-ranking wideout at No. 12, and it’s easy to see why. Moore, acquired in the massive trade of the No. 1 pick in 2023, is coming off a career year with 96 receptions for 1,364 yards and eight touchdowns.

Allen, acquired via trade this offseason, is next on the list at No. 22. He’s had at least 100 receptions and 1,000 receiving yards in five of the last seven seasons. Last season, Allen was sixth in the NFL with 108 receptions — and he did that in just 13 games — for 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns.

Odunze rounded out Chicago’s top three at No. 29, which is great for a rookie. He’s coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with Washington, including 92 catches for 1,640 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2023. Odunze was also the third rookie named along with Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers.

Moore, Allen, and Odunze are all capable of being the team’s WR1, but it doesn’t sound like any egos are going to keep them from being a great trio. Winning is the most important thing in the NFL and having a receiving room this good can help you win if everyone is bought in. They seem to be.

Bears’ Braxton Jones, Darnell Wright make PFF’s list of top NFL offensive tackles

Both starting offensive tackles cracked PFF’s top 32 players at the position heading into the 2024 season.

The Chicago Bears spent the offseason overhauling their offense, from drafting quarterback Caleb Williams and wide receiver Rome Odunze to acquiring veterans such as wide receiver Keenan Allen and running back D’Andre Swift. While the skill positions were upgraded, general manager Ryan Poles chose to maintain the status quo with most of the offensive line, specifically at the tackle position.

While many fans wanted to see an upgrade, one NFL analyst believes both Bears starting tackles can be considered near the top of the position rankings.

Zoltán Buday of Pro Football Focus (PFF) recently released his top 32 offensive tackles heading into the 2024 season, and both Bears starting tackles just barely cracked the list. Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright came in at No. 31 and 32, respectively, making the Bears one of nine teams to have both of their tackles listed. Here is what Buday had to say about Jones:

A fifth-round pick out of Southern Utah in 2022, Jones proved in 2023 that his impressive rookie season was not a fluke. Although he was slowed down by an injury and had a bit of a decline from his 2022 season, he is still one of 24 offensive tackles to have earned pass-blocking grades over 70.0 in each of the last two seasons.

And Wright:

The only second-year player on this list, Wright’s 66.0 run-blocking grade ranked first among his rookie class. In addition, he was also promising in pass protection toward the second half of the season after going through some growing pains in the first month. After giving up one sack in each of his first five games in the NFL, the former Tennessee Volunteer allowed just three sacks in his final 12 games.

The Bears invested a first-round pick in Wright, who was selected with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. As Buday points out, he’s the only player from his draft class to be included in this list, beating out the likes of Paris Johnson Jr., Broderick Jones, and Dawand Jones. Wright started all 17 games of his rookie season and has a bright future ahead of him.

As for Jones, many wondered if Poles would look to upgrade at the left tackle position this offseason. The 2022 fifth-round pick has been solid, but with players such as Joe Alt and Olu Fashanu available in this year’s draft, it seemed possible the Bears could move off Jones in favor of someone else. Poles chose to go in a different direction, however, meaning Jones gets to keep his starting spot as he continues to develop.

At first glance, seeing both Bears tackles at the very bottom of the list might not move the needle for fans. Seeing as there are 64 starting offensive tackles in the league, Jones and Wright are essentially considered average players at their position at this point in their careers. But on the other hand, they’re both still young and ascending. Plus, having two capable tackles is a far cry from what this offensive line looked like just a couple of years ago. With the additions at the other positions, the Bears offense is shaping up to be a solid unit in 2024.

Bears QB Caleb Williams featured on NFL’s ‘100 days away from kickoff’

Bears rookie QB Caleb Williams was featured on the NFL’s “100 days away from kickoff” graphic.

The Chicago Bears ushered in a new era with the selection of quarterback Caleb Williams at first overall in the 2024 NFL draft (thanks to the Carolina Panthers and the impressive trade general manager Ryan Poles made the previous year).

Fans are eager for Williams to make his on-field debut, and we’ve officially reached the 100-day mark until NFL kickoff on Sept. 5. There’s a lot of excitement for Williams’ potential, even in his rookie season, as he enters arguably the best situation for a No. 1 quarterback ever.

The NFL shared a graphic on social media about this offseason milestone, and they used some of their most recognizable players. One of them is Williams, the only rookie among the group.

Other players on the graphic include Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes, San Francisco’s Christian McCaffrey, Houston’s C.J. Stroud and Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson. These are some of the best players in the league on this image, and they felt the need to put Williams on it. We can only hope that he lives up to the hype.

Chicago is a big market that creates a lot of social media engagement, so that probably has something to do with it. But there is no doubt that Williams will be an extremely marketable player for both the team and the league.

Beyond the excitement with Williams is the simple idea that football is close to returning. Those 100 days until kickoff are going to fly by with training camp and preseason in the middle of it to help pass the time.

DJ Moore sounds off on pre-draft throwing session with Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze

Bears WR DJ Moore reflected on a pre-NFL draft throwing session with Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze.

Before Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze were drafted by the Chicago Bears, they participated in a throwing session along with Bears veteran wide receivers DJ Moore and Keenan Allen.

While it was clear that Williams would soon be drafted by Chicago, the same couldn’t be said for Odunze. But things couldn’t have worked out better for the Bears when they were able to land both Williams and Odunze, at first and ninth overall.

Moore recently reflected on that pre-NFL draft throwing session with Williams and Odunze, which served as foreshadowing for the pair joining the team.

“At that point, it was so like he [Ryan Poles] was playing that game of ‘You’re not supposed to know who we’re drafting but we all know who he’s drafting,'” Moore said Thursday. “He kind of knew what was going on. I had the offense for a like a few days so I kind of knew everything that was going on with the offense and the ins and outs with it.

“When I got out there I was just helping them along. He [Williams] was asking questions, Rome was asking questions. I was like ‘Do y’all know something we don’t know out here? Are y’all both coming?’ And we ended up taking both so it worked out.”

With Odunze on the roster, the Bears have one of the best receiver trios in the NFL (and the best in franchise history). It’s an ideal situation for Williams, who’s being set up for immediate success as a rookie.