Bears will find out if they're
ready for prime time with tough opener against Vikings
[September 05, 2025]
By ANDREW SELIGMAN
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — The Chicago Bears landed the top prize on
the coaching market when they hired Ben Johnson, counting on him to
get the most out of prized quarterback Caleb Williams.
It's time to start delivering.
The Bears host J.J. McCarthy and the Minnesota Vikings on Monday
night in a matchup that could show just how ready they are for prime
time.
“I’m really just focused on the preparation level of it right now,”
Johnson said. “And I know what I want that to look like. And I think
really the challenging part here this week is the players are still
trying to figure out what that game week’s truly going to look like.
We’ll get in a rhythm here the further along we go. But the coaching
staff as well, it’s a lot of our guys. It’s our first time with me,
and I give them a lot of credit.”
The Bears won't have to wait to find out how they stack up against
the tough NFC North coming off a 5-12 finish. Though the Vikings
have a debuting quarterback in McCarthy, they're coming off a 14-3
season and are loaded at nearly every position.
As if opening against Minnesota isn't tough enough, the Bears must
play at defending division champion Detroit next week. The Vikings
and Lions were a combined 29-5 last season.
Johnson, who has never been a head coach, established himself as one
of the NFL's most creative play-callers over three years as
Detroit's offensive coordinator. He joined the Lions' staff in 2019.
Johnson helped Jared Goff re-establish himself as a top quarterback
following a trade from the Los Angeles Rams in 2021. The Bears
strive for similar results with Williams, though the circumstances
aren't the same. Goff, after all, made two Pro Bowls and led the
Rams to a Super Bowl appearance over five seasons.
“We’re going to grow together," Johnson said. "This offense is going
to grow together with him. There will be some bumpy steps along the
way, but that’s OK. That’s the nature of doing it. I feel really
good about where he’s at right now, and there’s no reason why we
can’t win this year.”
Turning to McCarthy
The Vikings, who lost to the Rams in the wild-card round of the
playoffs, begin their fourth year under coach Kevin O’Connell and
general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah with their sights set high
despite a quarterback who has yet to take a snap in the regular
season.
McCarthy, a product of suburban Chicago who went 27-1 as a starter
at Michigan before the Vikings took him 10th overall in the 2024
draft, sat out as a rookie after having season-ending knee injury
during training camp. But he's starting his career in an enviable
position.
Not only does he have a coach in O'Connell who helped revive
quarterback Sam Darnold's career, he gets to throw to one of the
NFL's best receivers in two-time All-Pro Justin Jefferson. He also
has an elite defense, coordinated by one of the most aggressive and
creative play-callers in Brian Flores.
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Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell on the sidelines during
the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the
Tennessee Titans, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP
Photo/John Amis)
“Pure excitement. Pure confidence,” McCarthy said
this week, describing his emotions about his debut. “I absolutely
can't wait to get on the plane with the boys and get out there.”
Better protection
Williams was sacked a franchise-record and league-high 68 times last
season after being drafted No. 1 overall. He held the ball too long
at times, but the blocking didn't help, either.
Bears general manager Ryan Poles tried to address that, acquiring
two-time All-Pro guard Joe Thuney in a trade with Kansas City and
guard Jonah Jackson in a deal with the Rams and signing former
Atlanta center Drew Dalman to big contract.
Spread it around
Johnson has been challenged by figuring out ways to keep everyone
involved on offense. The Bears have solid wide receivers in veteran
D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze and playmaking tight ends in Cole Kmet
and rookie Colston Loveland.
“That’s what keeps me up at night, is trying to make sure that all
of our horses are fed,” Johnson said. “They’re super talented
players, and we just need to get them a little space and the ball in
their hands, and they can make big things happen.”
Completing his comeback
The Vikings have been pleased by the progress of standout left
tackle Christian Darrisaw in his recovery from a torn ACL suffered
in Week 8 last season. O'Connell has urged caution with an eye on
the 17-game big picture, but all signs have pointed to him to him
playing in Chicago.
“He had a great camp, checked every box from a workload standpoint,”
O'Connell said.
___
AP Pro Football Writer Dave Campbell in Minneapolis contributed to
this report.
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