Top storylines to watch as the Chicago Bears kick off the 2026 offseason program going into the second season under Ben Johnson
The Chicago Bears return to team facilities on Monday for the start of the 2026 offseason program and there’s plenty of storylines to follow leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft later this week.
The Chicago Bears will be returning to the team facilities on Monday, April 20 for the start of the 2026 offseason program going into the second season under head coach Ben Johnson.
After an impressive debut season with Johnson at the helm, the team’s head coach remains adamant that what his squad accomplished in 2025 is getting thrown out of the window. The Bears are starting this season from scratch and it’s the right mindset.
“We got to go back to work just like we did a year ago,” Johnson explained at the NFL Annual Meeting. “It doesn’t get any easier. It’s going to continue to get harder. They’re going to feel that pressure from the coaching staff so that when we get to these games in the fall that we’re going to be ready for it.”
During the first phase of the NFL offseason program, teams are not allowed to conduct on-field activity. This first phase is simply for team meetings, strength and conditioning work, and rehabilitation. After two weeks, teams can move into Phase 2 and begin light on-field work. Even still, there’s plenty of storylines to monitor this week.
First arrival of new faces set to join the team
While the majority of the newly acquired players technically already arrived to the team facilities to sign their contracts, this week will be the first time the new faces can officially join the rest of the roster.
The Bears already had plenty of overhaul this offseason ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft by trading for veteran center Garrett Bradbury and then signing a full free agent class headlined by safety Coby Bryant and linebacker Devin Bush.
“There’s a common theme with the guys that we brought in,” general manager Ryan Poles said. “We wanted to get faster and more explosive, and I know we did that. We want guys that are passionate about football, that play our style and our brand of football, and I know we did that. And then especially the leadership, [we wanted] to continue to enhance our roster so that we can continue to push forward [and] be a championship-caliber team. I know we got better through this phase.”
Braxton Jones is the man with the most to prove over the next few days
When the Bears re-signed former fifth-round pick and starting left tackle Braxton Jones to a one-year deal, it was a low-risk move that gives Jones another chance to prove himself. He’s already made a strong impression on his head coach when he came in to sign his contract during the free agency period.
“I’m excited about where he’s at right now,” Johnson said of Jones. “He came in when he signed the contract and he looked like a brand new man, as far as I’m concerned. This guy was beefed up, he was probably 310 pounds, and he looked yoked up. I know he’s very determined to get his career trajectory back to where it was before.”
If Jones can showcase this week during workouts that he’s indeed a new man and back to his peak health, perhaps that changes the team’s draft plans later in the week with offensive tackle being viewed as a potential first-round option.
The return of 2025 fifth-round pick Zah Frazier
The Bears were excited to add cornerback Zah Frazier in the fifth-round of the 2025 NFL Draft, especially defensive backs coach Al Harris. Frazier took part in the team’s rookie minicamp last spring but was not seen again for the rest of the year after dealing with an undisclosed personal matter.
Frazier is now expected to be back in the team’s plans for 2026 and someone I’ll be excited to see return with the rest of the team and eventually see what kind of potential he can bring to the outside CB position.
