The Chicago Bears had a far more disappointing season than anyone anticipated. After a 4-2 start with the consensus first overall pick, Caleb Williams, at the helm, the team fell apart, going on a 10-game losing streak. It prompted a coaching change and a vast roster overhaul during the offseason.
Now, the former Detroit Lions offensive mastermind Ben Johnson has taken over the head coaching job, potentially unlocking Williams. However, for one analyst, the next step for the Bears franchise as a whole involves replicating Johnson’s tried-and-tested formula.
Could the Chicago Bears Become the Detroit Lions 2.0?
Last year, the Detroit Lions had the best offense on PFSN’s Offense+ metric in the league. Some of that was Johnson’s creative genius, alongside the excellent quarterbacking of Jared Goff, who finished second on PFSN’s QB+ metric.
However, the Lions’ dual rushing attack, led by David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs, added an extra wrinkle. The duo earned the nickname Sonic & Knuckles. The Bears can use that formula with D’Andre Swift already on the roster.
According to Brandon Austin of PFSN, Chicago needs to target Travis Etienne Jr. from the Jacksonville Jaguars to complement Swift. Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson have severely augmented the offensive line.
But Etienne could be the missing ingredient to make the offense more unpredictable and allow Williams to thrive. Austin made the case for Etienne using the numbers the Bears had last year.
Ranking in the bottom five in yards per carry, third-down conversion rate on the ground, and yards after contact, adding Etienne would add some flexibility to their attack. Moreover, after his season in 2024, the asking price might be cheaper for the RB than before.
“Etienne is coming off a down year with just 558 rushing yards and saw his role reduced. His yards per carry (3.7) and yards per touch (4.3) were career lows. Still, he’s a 26-year-old former first-rounder who topped 1,000 rushing yards in his first two seasons and caught 58 passes just two years ago.”
After selecting Bhaysul Tuten in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, combined with the emergence of Tank Bigsby in the backfield, the Jaguars have a surplus at the running back position. In the final year of his contract, Etienne could be the expendable option for head coach Liam Coen.
Travis Etienne Jr. is just one of five RBs to rush for 1,000+ yards in 2022 and 2023 💥 pic.twitter.com/IHUAWjVoAY
— PFF JAX Jaguars (@PFF_Jaguars) February 26, 2024
It offers Chicago the perfect opportunity to swoop in and add a dynamic skill-position player for a minor price. “Etienne is set to earn $6.1 million in 2025 and be a free agent after the season. A change of scenery might be what he needs,” Austin added.
With the success of Johnson’s vision in Detroit, it might not be far-fetched to imagine that he could make the most out of the situation in Chicago. A reasonable price for Etienne, with the potential to unlock an offense among the three worst in the league last year, might be a wise choice for the Bears.