(670 The Score) Three months ago Monday, Halas Hall was all but cleared out from the team's disappointing 2024 season. Exit interviews were completed with players, and most of former head coach Matt Eberflus’ staff had been already dismissed.
So much has changed since then in Lake Forest. The Bears hired a new head coach in Ben Johnson, who overhauled nearly the entire staff with his own hires. General manager Ryan Poles was busy following Johnson's hiring, improving the roster with key upgrades on the offensive and defensive lines in March.
The Bears are optimistic about their potential but understand plenty of work awaits them. That work began Monday morning with the start of their offseason program. The first two weeks consist of Phase 1 work, which is limited to strength and conditioning along with rehabilitation.
The Bears and other teams with new head coaches got early starts to their work Monday. They were permitted to begin their offseason programs Monday before holding a voluntary minicamp on April 21-23.
“Get comfortable being uncomfortable,” Johnson said at his introductory press conference on Jan. 22 in a message aimed toward his players. “The bar has been set higher than it’s ever been set before. The only way for this team and for you as individual players to reach your potential is to be pushed and to be challenged, and that’s exactly what I and my staff plan on doing. We’re going to push. We’re going to challenge.
“Everybody in this building is going to be all about helping you guys out. How do you become the best versions of yourselves. That’s what it’s going to be about from start to finish.”
Phase 2 of the Bears' offseason program will begin April 21 with on-field work permitted for three weeks, though no live contact is allowed.
The Bears will begin their 10 practices for organized team activities on May 20, and those will run over the course of four weeks. The team will also hold its mandatory veteran minicamp on June 3-5 at Halas Hall.
The final workout of the offseason program will take place June 11 with an OTAs practice. The Bears will then break until training camp in late July.
The NFL will kick off its 2025 regular season on Sept. 4, with the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles expected to host the first game in primetime.
The league will unveil its full 2025 schedule later this spring.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.