The Chicago Bears have several players under pressure heading into the 2025 season, which marks Ben Johnson’s first year as head coach.
That includes a key player at the defense’s weakest position group: Edge rusher. With the injuries to the secondary, there’s even more pressure on the pass rush to get the job done. The defensive line was an issue for the Bears going into the offseason, and they didn’t address it the way that they needed to. There was no great addition opposite Montez Sweat.
Due to this fact, there is tremendous pressure on Sweat to dominate in 2025. He didn’t have a very good year in 2025, as he only had 5.5 sacks and two forced fumbles amid injury struggles. But the Bears need more than that after what they gave up and paid him.
Back in 2023, split between Chicago and the Washington Commanders, Sweat had a career year with 12.5 sacks. That’s the player that the Bears need to show up this season. If Sweat reaches that level, the defense might not be as bleak as it appears right now, especially with the injury concerns.
Has Sweat been a disappointment since coming to Chicago? It started off promising, but the production in 2024 makes this answer more of a yes than a no. If he either gets hurt or fails to produce 10 sacks or more, the Bears are in trouble with his contract. General manager Ryan Poles will have certainly acquired the wrong guy.
To win in the NFL, you need to build around a productive quarterback, a strong left tackle, and a great pass rusher. The Bears think that Caleb Williams can be that franchise quarterback. They certainly don’t have their left tackle of the future. Sweat has yet to be truly elite for a full season in Chicago. That’s a lot of pressure on the latter to be better.
Without a second top edge rusher with him, Sweat will often be double-teamed. That is less than ideal, but he is paid to be a guy who overcomes that obstacle for as long as he has to deal with it.
If Sweat has a great year in 2025, Chicago’s defense will look much better. If he often has weeks where he’s invisible, the Bears may find it hard to win. There are some elite quarterbacks on the schedule. Without a pass rush worth mentioning, those guys will put up points in bunches.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears DE Montez Sweat must rise to occasion in 2025
Reporting by Vincent Parise, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
