2018 Season Review

The 2018 season for the Chicago Bears was the start of a bring future for the Bears organization. Starting off, 3-3 the Bears rallied back winning 9 of the final 10 games.  The new Head Coach Matt Nagy silenced doubters when he leads the Bears to their first postseason appearance in over 8 years with a 12-4 record. Matt Nagy is a young and offensive minded coach, something that the Bears Organization needed. The 2nd overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, Mitchell Trubisky, developed well throughout the season under Nagy’s system. Nagy had the 9th ranked offense in the NFL and the #1 ranked defense in the entire league. With the acquisition of Kalili Mack, to an already stacked defense, the “Monsters of The Midway” were back in the NFC North. The Bears fell short in the second round of the postseason to the Eagles 16-15… we will not talk about the missed kick. Overall, the Bears exceed expectations and will be a force in the NFL for years to come.

The Off Season

Coaching Changes

The Bears have a very strong roster with a lot of depth and youth on both sides of the ball. So the 2019 offseason purpose was more to solidify the roster and resign players. Before free agency, the Bears lost a key part of their coaching staff in Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio. Fangio was offered a head coaching position in Denver, Fangio was a key part to the Bears defensive success. So the Bears replaced Fangio with Chuck Pagano, a well-respected coach who had a lot of success with the Colts and many other teams. The decision to bring in Chuck Pagano to fill Fangio’s shoes was brilliant by GM Ryan Pace.

Free Agent Acquisitions

The Bears had a wild offseason, losing Bryce Callahan, Adrian Amos and trading Pro Bowl running back Jordan Howard. For Jordan Howard, the Bears received a sixth and fifth-round pick, which helps us regain the picks we lost in the Khalil Mack trade. The Bears had a huge decision to make either keep Callahan or Amos, 2019 offseason was filled with talented FA safeties. Amos was offered a 4 year 36 million dollar deal from the Green Bay Packers, the Bears wouldn’t counter the offer, Amos will be wearing green and yellow week one against the Bears. Letting Amos walk the Bears went out and signed Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to a 1 year 3 million dollar “prove it” contract. Clinton-Dix played his first four seasons with the Packers until getting traded to the Redskins before the start of the season. Clinton-Dix also played alongside Eddie Jackson at Alabama so there is already chemistry between the two Pro Bowl safeties. Callahan, who proved throughout the year that he is one of the best nickel cornerbacks in the league, followed Fangio to Denver. The Bears responded by signing veteran cornerback Buster Skrine to a 3-year deal in hopes to add some depth to the cornerback position. The Bears also signed Seahawks running back Mike Davis to a 2 year 6 million dollar deal, in hopes to fill the hole left by the trade of Jordan Howard. Don’t be surprised if the Bears take a running back with their second round pick. Nevertheless, Ryan Pace always has something up his sleeve when it comes to free agency, signing two speedy receivers, Cordarrelle Patterson and Marvin Hall. This will give Trubisky some more weapons on an already talented offense.

Draft Needs

Due to the acquisition of Khalil Mack, the Bears won’t have a pick in the draft until the 3rd round. However, the Bears roster already has a lot of depth and youth so another trip to the playoffs is still in reach. Don’t be surprised if Ryan Pace makes it back into the 2nd round or even 1st round. The Bears still have a question at the Running Back position, will 5’6 Tarik Cohen be able to carry the load for the Bears? Maybe, Mike Davis will be the primary Running Back, or will Ryan Pace jump back onto the draft board and grab a player he desperately wants.

The key for the Bears to have a successful draft is the continue to add pieces around Trubisky. He is their franchise quarterback and needs to have the team built around him.