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To: ggersh who wrote (7434)	7/8/2025 10:26:10 PM
From: Investor2	Respond to of 7475

Bears 2025 position preview: Running back Jul 08, 2025 at 10:56 AM Larry Mayer Senior Writer The following is the second of nine position previews in advance of training camp. Veteran running back D'Andre Swift returns for a second season with the Bears after producing a career-high 1,345 yards from scrimmage in 2024. Starting all 17 games, Swift rushed for 959 yards and six touchdowns on 253 carries and caught 42 passes for 386 yards. His three rushing TDs of at least 35 yards were the third most in the NFL. "I think very highly of him," said coach Ben Johnson, who worked with Swift in Detroit. "He's an explosive athlete. There are a number of things that he can do, both in the running game and the passing game. I do think that he can help ignite an offense because he's got that playmaking ability." Related Links Bears 2025 position preview: Quarterback Chicago Bears announce open practice schedule and ticket information for 2025 Chicago Bears Training Camp by LRS and Family Fest Behind the Scenes \| 2025 Chicago Bears photo shoot PHOTOS: Chicago Bears 2025 season schedule Swift spent his first three NFL seasons with the Lions when Johnson was Detroit's tight ends coach (2020-21), passing game coordinator (2021) and offensive coordinator (2022). When Johnson called plays for the first time in 2022, Swift averaged a career-high 5.5 yards per carry. Swift is excited about reuniting with Johnson in Chicago. "The offense we have and all the concepts and the run game and all of the different stuff that he's doing, he's one of the smartest football minds I've ever been around," Swift said. "He's really, really intelligent." Swift has also enjoyed working with new running backs coach Eric Bieniemy. The no-nonsense assistant boasts 26 years of NFL experience, nine as a running back and 17 as a coach, including 10 seasons with the Chiefs as running backs coach (2013-17) and offensive coordinator (2018-22). "His style of coaching is something I kind of gravitate to, to be honest with you, holding everybody accountable," Swift said. "The little stuff is big stuff with him, as well, like the details and everything like that. The type of coach that you want to play for. He isn't going to let anything go by the wayside, just like Ben and everybody else on the staff. I think that you kind of turn your level up as well." D'Andre Swift #4 RB Height: 5-8 Weight: 204 lbs College: Georgia Also back this year is Roschon Johnson, a 2023 fourth-round pick from Texas. The 6-foot, 227-pounder has appeared in 29 games over his first two seasons, rushing for 502 yards and eight TDs on 136 carries and catching 50 passes for 313 yards. Roschon Johnson #23 RB Height: 6-0 Weight: 227 lbs College: Texas The Bears addressed the running back position in the draft, selecting Kyle Monangai in the seventh round out of Rutgers. They view the 5-8, 211-pounder as a physical, tough runner who possesses high football and personal character. At Rutgers, Monangai appeared in 52 games the past five years and rushed for 3,221 yards and 27 TDs on 669 carries. He was named first-team All-Big Ten last year after rushing for a career high 1,279 yards, his second straight season eclipsing 1,200 yards on the ground. Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle describes Monangai as "a guy who runs angry." "There's a lot to be developed there when guys run that way," Doyle said. "He's a physical runner who's going to come in and do the dirty work and really going to add to that room and compete, and that's really what we were looking for in that slot." Last month Johnson identified Monangai as one of four under-the-radar players who impressed him in offseason workouts. "Kyle Monangai has really stepped up," Johnson said. "I appreciate the attention to detail and the pride he takes and how quickly he's picking things up." Kyle Monangai #25 RB Height: 5-8 Weight: 207 lbs College: Rutgers Also competing for playing time in training camp and the preseason will be veteran Travis Homer, second-year pro Ian Wheeler and rookie Deion Hankins. Homer returns for his third year with the Bears after spending his first four NFL seasons with the Seahawks. He appeared in 10 games in 2024, all as a reserve, rushing for 23 yards on six carries, catching three passes for 11 yards and registering six special teams tackles. Travis Homer #21 RB Height: 5-10 Weight: 211 lbs College: Miami Wheeler joined the Bears last year as an undrafted free agent from Howard. He rushed for 43 yards and two touchdowns on five carries in a preseason win over the Bills but suffered a season-ending knee injury in the preseason finale. Ian Wheeler #33 RB Height: 5-10 Weight: 206 lbs College: Howard Hankins was signed by the Bears this year as an undrafted free agent. He played in 59 games over six seasons at UTEP (2019-23) and Texas State (2024), rushing for 2,876 yards and 25 TDs on 610 carries and catching 16 passes for 140 yards. Deion Hankins #35 RB Height: 5-11 Weight: 226 lbs College: Texas State-San Marcos

To: ggersh who wrote (7434)	7/8/2025 10:27:49 PM
From: Investor2	1 Recommendation Recommended By ggersh Respond to of 7475

Bears 2025 position preview: Quarterback Jul 07, 2025 at 10:22 AM Larry Mayer Senior Writer The following is the first of nine position previews in advance of training camp. Caleb Williams will look to build on a promising first NFL season during which he registered a 93.8 passer rating and set Bears rookie passing records with 351 completions, 3,541 yards and 20 touchdowns. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft also became the first Bears quarterback to start every game in a season since Jay Cutler in 2009. In addition, Williams was one of only four NFL quarterbacks with at least 20 TDs and six or fewer interceptions, joining Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen and Justin Herbert. Related Links Chicago Bears announce open practice schedule and ticket information for 2025 Chicago Bears Training Camp by LRS and Family Fest Behind the Scenes \| 2025 Chicago Bears photo shoot PHOTOS: Chicago Bears 2025 season schedule Case Keenum excited to continue NFL career in Chicago Williams no doubt will benefit from the arrival of coach Ben Johnson, who was hired by the Bears after coordinating one of the NFL's most prolific offenses in Detroit. Over the last two seasons, the Lions led the league in points (30.1) and yards (402.2) per game. In 2024, Detroit scored an NFL-leading 68 touchdowns and ranked second with a franchise-record 409.5 yards per game while winning the NFC North title with a 15-2 mark. At his introductory press conference in January, Johnson described Williams as a "phenomenal talent" and revealed that the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner was a "large component" in Johnson wanting to become the Bears' coach. This summer in training camp, Williams' growth and development will continue to be paramount. Asked what impressed him most about the young quarterback during offseason workouts, Johnson said: "There's always a throw or two every single day. The movement stuff outside of the pocket, it's what we thought coming into town here, the ability to create. Sometimes you get wrapped up … being in the perfect play all the time … and really with him, it doesn't matter so much what the play call is. If it's the perfect play, then it's great, it's there. If it's not, then he's able to find a way to make it work." Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle has enjoyed working with Williams. "Caleb is hungry for growth," Doyle said. "The sky's the limit with his athletic ability, with his talent. But being around him, just the person himself, I think he really wants to do well. I think he wants to be great. It's really important to him. He's been very open to accepting feedback, accepting coaching and really starting to build that relationship where we're going to build this thing and really hit his ceiling." In 2025, Williams will play behind a fortified interior offensive line after the Bears acquired Pro Bowl guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson in trades with the Chiefs and Rams, respectively, and signed top free agent center Drew Dalman. Caleb Williams #18 QB Height: 6-1 Weight: 226 lbs College: USC Backup plan The Bears boast a deep quarterback room, with veteran free agent acquisition Case Keenum joining young returnees Tyson Bagent and Austin Reed. Keenum has appeared in 80 NFL games with 66 starts over 12 seasons with the Texans (2013-14 and 2023-24), Rams (2015-16), Vikings (2017), Broncos (2018), Commanders (2019), Browns (2020-21) and Bills (2022). The University of Houston product has completed 62.3% of his passes for 15,175 yards with 79 TDs and an 84.6 passer rating. Keenum figures to be a valuable member of the offense regardless of how much he plays. A seasoned pro who led the Vikings to the 2017 NFC Championship Game, he will be an excellent resource for Williams and other young teammates. Case Keenum #11 QB Height: 6-1 Weight: 220 lbs College: Houston That includes Bagent, who returns for a third season. Though he attempted only two passes last year while backing up Williams, Bagent showed promise in 2023 as an undrafted rookie from Division II Shepherd University. After beating out veterans P.J. Walker and Nathan Peterman for the No. 2 spot, Bagent appeared in five games and won two of four starts, passing for 859 yards and three TDs. At Shepherd, Bagent set the record for most touchdown passes across all NCAA divisions with 159. He won the Harlon Hill Trophy as the Division II National Player of the Year in 2021 and was named Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Player of the Year in 2022. Tyson Bagent #17 QB Height: 6-3 Weight: 212 lbs College: Shepherd Reed signed with the Bears last year as an undrafted free agent out of Western Kentucky. He spent the season on the practice squad after an impressive preseason during which he completed 12 of 16 passes for 123 yards with one TD and a 117.4 passer rating. After redshirting at Southern Illinois in 2018, Reed transferred to West Florida and led the Argonauts to the Division II national championship, passing for 4,084 yards and 40 TDs. In 2022, he was voted Conference USA Newcomer of the Year and chosen second-team all-conference at Western Kentucky after throwing for 4,744 yards and 40 touchdowns and rushing for 224 yards and eight TDs on 91 carries. Austin Reed #16 QB Height: 6-1 Weight: 214 lbs College: Western Kentucky

To: ggersh who wrote (7434)	7/9/2025 4:03:08 PM
From: Investor2	1 Recommendation Recommended By ggersh Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 7475

Bears 2025 position preview: Receiver Jul 09, 2025 at 09:58 AM Gabby Hajduk Writer The following is the third of nine position previews in advance of training camp. DJ Moore and Rome Odunze, two of the Bears' top offensive weapons from 2024, highlight the receiving corps, which also features a handful of new faces. Moore led the Bears with a career-high 98 receptions and 966 receiving yards while tacking on six touchdowns in 2024, following an impressive 2023 debut campaign in Chicago where he caught 96 passes for 1,364 yards and eight TDs. Related Links Bears 2025 position preview: Quarterback Bears 2025 position preview: Running back Moore is the most experienced receiver on the Bears roster, having played 114 career games and tallying 558 receptions for 7,531 yards and 35 touchdowns. Bears receivers and assistant head coach Antwaan Randle El is excited to work with Moore's versatile skillset. "With DJ, he's done it, in terms of he has played the position over and over again," Randle El said. "He's a veteran, he is the guy that we can get the ball to in a lot of different ways. I just see him in a lot of ways. A lot of times, he's catching these screens, but he can run routes. He can come inside and do some things, too. I'm excited about that." DJ Moore #2 WR Height: 6-0 Weight: 213 lbs College: Maryland As the group's veteran leader, Moore also serves as a mentor to Odunze and rookie Luther Burden III. However, Moore appreciates learning from the young players as well. "They're keeping me young, even though I'm not that old in the room," Moore said. "But just seeing them just follow behind my lead and just grow from there. Rome's taken a step up this year, I can already tell. And then Lu, who we drafted in the second round, I can't wait to see what he does. I saw him in rookie minicamp doing a lot of things." ------- Odunze enters his second NFL season after being drafted by the Bears with the No. 9 overall pick in 2024. As a rookie, the Washington product played in all 17 games with 12 starts, accumulating 54 catches for 734 yards and three touchdowns. He joined Hall of Fame tight end Mike Ditka as the only rookies in Bears history to amass at least 50 receptions and 700 yards. "I'm extremely impressed," coach Ben Johnson said of Odunze. "To be a second-year guy, you would expect a little bit more inconsistency. And yet the way he approaches the meeting room, the walk-through, the drill work, it's very much like a seasoned pro. Some of the best that I've been around. And he's still learning. I know there's a lot of information that's getting thrown his way. Coach Randle El is doing a great job with him right now. We're going to see a lot of growth from him, not just in the springtime, but in camp." Odunze said he spent the spring and summer improving both physical and mentally in order to make the 2025 season "the best that I've had in this league." "That comes to a lot of different aspects, to focusing on the playbook, to focusing on the weight room, getting faster, getting stronger, all those different things," Odunze said. "When it comes to goals-wise, I like to think about the team and winning games and making the playoffs. Individually, wanna go for 1,000 [yards], double digit [touchdowns]. "I think when you're doing the right things and you're having success, and the team is having success, all the statistics and those numbers will come." Rome Odunze #15 WR Height: 6-3 Weight: 214 lbs College: Washington ---------- One of the newest additions to Johnson's offense is veteran Olamide Zaccheaus, who is entering his seventh NFL season. Zaccheus joined the Bears during the first wave of free agency in March after previously playing for the Falcons (2019-22), Eagles (2023) and Commanders (2024). The seventh-year pro has accumulated 149 receptions for 1,998 yards and 13 touchdowns in 89 career games. In 2024, Zaccheaus played in all 17 games with six starts in the regular season, totaling a career-high 45 receptions for 506 yards and three touchdowns. He also made a splash on special teams, returning 17 punts for 179 yards, finishing with the NFC's second highest punt return average (10.9). "The culture here, the history, the tradition," Zaccheaus said. "I feel like it's a great time to be in Chicago. I just want to do my part and try to just win some games and make a run for the whole thing." Olamide Zaccheaus #14 WR Height: 5-8 Weight: 199 lbs College: Virginia --------- The Bears also added receiving talent through the draft by selecting Burden out of Missouri in the second round. Over three collegiate seasons, Burden started 34 career games, totaling 192 receptions for 2,263 yards and 21 touchdowns. Burden earned First-Team All-Southeastern Conference recognition in 2023 and 2024. In 2023, the St. Louis native was named AP Second-Team All-American after recording 1,212 receiving yards, the third-most by any SEC player. While Burden missed most of the Bears offseason training with an injury, Johnson is excited about the rookie's potential. "You saw the highlights, right?" Johnson said. "He's a playmaker waiting to happen. Went to the same high school, I believe, as [Lions receiver] Jameson Williams. 'Jamo' texted me right after we took him and he said, 'You got a dog just like me.' Luther has that same confidence. He's got that same swagger to him, for 6-foot, 200-plus pounds. "It's rare to see somebody with his movement skills. He can stop on a dime and accelerate just like that. Give him a little bit of space and he can make big things happen. So a dangerous player, weapon, call him what you want, but I see big things in his future." Luther Burden III #87 WR Height: 6-0 Weight: 210 lbs College: Missouri --------- The Bears receiving corps also features veterans Devin Duvernay, Tyler Scott and Miles Boykin. Duvernay signed with the Bears in April after spending his first five NFL seasons with the Ravens (2020-23) and Jaguars (2024), tallying 105 receptions for 977 yards and five touchdowns across 72 appearances. The veteran is also an experienced return specialist, averaging 12.0 yards on 88 punt returns and 24.9 yards with two touchdowns on 87 kickoff returns. Duvernay was named to the Pro Bowl as a returner in 2021 and 2022 and received All-Pro honors in 2021 with a league-high 13.8-yard return average. Devin Duvernay #12 WR Height: 5-11 Weight: 202 lbs College: Texas ---------- Scott enters his third season with the Bears with 28 career games under his belt. He was drafted No. 133 overall by the Bears in 2023 and has totaled 18 receptions for 173 yards. The Cincinnati product has been a special teams contributor as well. He returned eight kicks for 207 yards in 2024. Tyler Scott #10 WR Height: 5-10 Weight: 182 lbs College: Cincinnati ------- Boykin joined the Bears in April after spending portions of the 2024 season on the Giants and Seahawks practice squads. Boykin has played in 73 career games since being drafted in 2019 by the Ravens, where he played until 2021 before heading to the Steelers from 2022-23. Miles Boykin #84 WR Height: 6-3 Weight: 231 lbs College: Notre Dame ------- Also competing for a playing time during training camp will be veterans Samori Toure and Maurice Alexander, second-year pro John Jackson as well as undrafted rookies Jahdae Walker and JP Richardson. Samori Toure #83 WR Height: 6-1 Weight: 196 lbs College: Nebraska -------- Maurice Alexander #13 WR Height: 5-10 Weight: 173 lbs College: Florida International ------ John Jackson #82 WR Height: 6-0 Weight: 213 lbs College: Nevada ----- Jahdae Walker #20 WR Height: 6-3 Weight: 206 lbs College: Texas A&M --------- JP Richardson #26 WR Height: 5-11 Weight: 192 lbs College: TCU

To: ggersh who wrote (7434)	7/11/2025 6:07:55 PM
From: Investor2	1 Recommendation Recommended By ggersh Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 7475

Chicago Bears give GM Ryan Poles a contract extension through 2029, tying him to coach Ben Johnson GM Ryan Poles walks on the field before the Bears play the Seahawks on Dec. 26, 2024, at Soldier Field. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune) By Sean Hammond \| shammond@chicagotribune.com \| Chicago Tribune and Dan Wiederer \| dwiederer@chicagotribune.com \| Chicago Tribune PUBLISHED: July 11, 2025 at 4:46 PM CDT The Chicago Bearshave rewarded general manager Ryan Poles with a contract extension that will keep him with the team for the next five seasons, per multiple reports. The news was first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Friday afternoon and registered as somewhat surprising timing as the Bears prepare to report to training camp later this month. The extension reportedly will match the length of Poles’ contract with that of new coach Ben Johnson, who was hired in January as the successor to Matt Eberflus. Poles and Johnson will now be under contract through the 2029 season. From the top of Halas Hall, there’s optimism that a 2025 resurgence is forthcoming under the guidance of the coach Poles hired and the roster he has rearranged and fortified. Still, any outside skepticism about Poles’ ability to generate a breakthrough on the field remains warranted. It’s fair to acknowledge that the Bears have rewarded the 39-year-old Poles more on the basis of hope and optimism than tangible achievement. Through three seasons as GM, Poles has posted a .294 winning percentage and he has overseen two seasons in which his teams lost 10 consecutive games. The Bears have finished in last place in the NFC North in all three seasons since Poles entered Halas Hall. After taking over as GM in 2022, Poles spent the first year of his tenure trading veteran players and shedding expensive contracts while amassing young talent. He executed a blockbuster trade for the No. 1 draft pick in 2023, a deal that — with some help from a woeful 2023 Carolina Panthers team — eventually landed the Bears quarterback Caleb Williams with the No. 1 pick a year later. They also added receiver DJ Moore and a handful of additional draft picks, which later netted tackle Darnell Wright, cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, punter Tory Taylor and receiver Luther Burden III. But on-field wins have been harder to come by. During last season’s freefall, some around the league wondered aloud about Poles’ job security. The Bears went 84 days between their fourth and fifth victories, fired offensive coordinator Shane Waldron in Week 11 and dismissed Eberflus 18 days later. That was hard evidence that the Bears, with Poles at the controls, had bungled Williams’ rookie season badly. Such curiosity about Poles’ future registered as particularly poignant with the Bears needing to hire a new coach to help relaunch Williams in Year 2. But with the backing of Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren and Chairman George McCaskey, Poles was given the authority to spearhead the coaching search that eventually landed Johnson. “I trust him,” Warren said of Poles as the coaching search began in January. “He’s a hard worker. He’s young, he’s talented, he’s curious. I think his greatest attribute is he’s willing … to raise his hand and say here are something things where he fell short. “He’s as hard on himself more than anyone (else) could be hard on him, and he strives every single day to do the right thing.” Bears general manager Ryan Poles, right, speaks as coach Ben Johnson listens at a news conference on March 13, 2025, at Halas Hall in Lake Forest. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)When the Bears hired Johnson in January, they touted high expectations for Poles and Johnson as a pair. Both began their post-playing days as graduate assistant coaches at Boston College, working in the same cubicle just one year apart from each other. Related Articles Chicago Bears rookie outlook: Can LB Ruben Hyppolite II harness his speed within Dennis Allen’s scheme? After 3 seasons with Chicago Bears, Lake Zurich’s Jack Sanborn is ‘grateful’ for new start with Dallas Cowboys Chicago Bears rookie outlook: How quickly can Colston Loveland build a rapport with Caleb Williams? Chicago Bears training camp includes 11 practices open to public — and Family Fest is back at Soldier Field What to know as Bears, Fire and White Sox pursue new homes — and Blackhawks and Sky eye expansion “There’s some shared history there,” Johnson said during his introductory news conference in January. “There’s a lot of connections that may or may not have already been put together that people understand. I truly believe in the character and integrity of this man.” Since last season ended with a 24-22 road win over the rival Green Bay Packers, Poles not only helped the Bears land Johnson as their new leader, but he also steered an offseason of bold trades and signings. The Bears brought in three veteran interior offensive line starters in Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman and Jonah Jackson, plus two defensive line starters in Grady Jarrett and Dayo Odeyingbo. When the Bears report to training camp on July 22, they will do so with 40 new players on the 90-man roster and 17 new coaches — including Johnson, defensive coordinator Dennis Allen and offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. Asked about their partnership just hours after the 2025 NFL draft concluded, Poles said it “feels natural.” “He’s been a pleasure to work with,” Poles added. “I’m grateful for that and our relationship as we continue to build that through this journey. It’s been smooth.” Pairing the length of the contracts now puts the coach and GM on equal footing moving forward. It should, in theory, bring continuity to the franchise’s football operations for the foreseeable future.