The Chicago Bears are buzzing in June 2025 as Colin Cowherd predicts playoffs and Rex Grossman sets high goals for Caleb Williams. Are the hype and projections real?
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
The offseason buzz in Chicago just hit a fever pitch. On a day the Bears officially announced their 2025 training camp schedule, the national conversation shifted from hopeful optimism to bold predictions. Fox Sports' Colin Cowherd officially stamped the Bears as a 2025 playoff team, while a former Super Bowl quarterback for the franchise set an eye-popping statistical benchmark for rookie Caleb Williams. The message is clear: the expectations for this new era of Bears football are soaring.
He could throw for 4,200-4,300 yards. The talent is there... the system is there. - Rex Grossman on Caleb Williams' potential in 2025.
It's one thing for fans to be optimistic, but it's another when seasoned analysts start buying in. Colin Cowherd didn't just suggest the Bears would be improved; he predicted on 'The Herd' that they'll be playing postseason football. He pointed to the combination of Caleb Williams' talent, an arsenal of offensive weapons, and the schematic genius of new head coach Ben Johnson. Adding fuel to the fire, former Bears QB Rex Grossman went even further, forecasting a massive rookie season for Williams. Grossman predicted a 4,200-4,300 yard season, citing Johnson's dynamic, play-action-heavy system as the perfect fit for the rookie's skillset. These aren't just hopeful whispers; they are loud declarations that Chicago is a team on the rise.
Fans will get their first chance to see if the hype is real when the team reports for training camp. The Bears officially released the 2025 schedule, which will feature 11 practices open to the public. This camp is arguably the most anticipated in over a decade, offering the first live look at Williams running Ben Johnson's offense and a chance to scout the key position battles that will define the season.
While Williams' development is priority number one, the most critical question facing the team is who will protect his blindside. The battle for the starting left tackle spot is set to be the main event of training camp. Incumbent Braxton Jones will have to fend off stiff competition from promising rookies Azie Trapillo and Kiran Amegadjie. The winner of this three-way fight will be tasked with keeping the franchise's most valuable asset upright, making it the single most important competition to watch this summer.
While the excitement builds, there is a bit of unresolved business. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, a league-wide contract dispute is holding up the signings of over 30 second-round picks, including the Bears' selections. The issue centers on the structure of the contracts rather than the dollar amounts. While it's not a Bears-specific problem, it's a situation to monitor as training camp approaches, as the team would certainly prefer to have its entire draft class signed, sealed, and delivered.
The optimism isn't just happening in a vacuum. On the 'Bears Weekly' podcast, the team's top analysts, including Jeff Joniak and Tom Thayer, dove deep into the NFC North landscape. The consensus is that the Bears' aggressive offseason and stellar draft class, featuring immediate impact players like Rome Odunze and Tory Taylor, have significantly closed the gap in the division. The discussion highlighted how Ben Johnson's new system could be a game-changer, setting the stage for a competitive season and an intriguing Hall of Fame Game matchup against the Houston Texans on August 1.
The narrative is set, the predictions have been made, and the dates are circled on the calendar. While a minor contract dispute with rookies lingers, the overwhelming feeling is one of pure, unadulterated anticipation. All eyes now turn to the start of training camp and that first taste of action in the Hall of Fame Game on August 1. The Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams era is about to begin, and for the first time in a long time, it feels like the national hype might actually be warranted.
