Pro Football Focus’s end-of-year ranking for the Chicago Bears offensive line is startlingly high.

The Chicago Bears’ offensive line (O-line) ranking by Pro Football Focus (PFF) at the end of the 2024 season has been a topic of much surprise and discussion among fans, analysts, and pundits. For a team that has often been plagued by inconsistency along the line of scrimmage in recent years, the Bears’ performance, as reflected in PFF’s end-of-year rankings, is startlingly high. The ranking suggests that the Bears’ O-line made significant strides in 2024, which warrants a deep dive into how they achieved this turnaround and what it means for the team moving forward.

1. The State of the Bears’ Offensive Line Before 2024

Over the last several seasons, the Chicago Bears’ offensive line has been a glaring weak point. Historically, the O-line has struggled with pass protection, run blocking, and creating consistent push in short-yardage situations. While individual players like Cody Whitehair and James Daniels have shown flashes of potential, the unit as a whole has been unreliable. This has not only hindered the running game, particularly for running backs like David Montgomery and Khalil Herbert, but it also placed enormous pressure on quarterbacks.

In 2023, the Bears finished with one of the lowest O-line rankings in the league, with PFF’s evaluation of their blocking metrics pointing to poor pass-blocking efficiency, missed assignments, and penalties. A season that began with great optimism—especially with the addition of quarterback Justin Fields, who possesses immense athletic potential—quickly turned into another year of struggles in the trenches.

However, the narrative was set to change in 2024. The Bears’ front office made substantial investments in the offensive line, adding key players and retooling the position group. With new coaching staff in place, including a renewed emphasis on developing a better running game and offering more protection to Fields, there was hope that the unit would evolve.

2. PFF’s 2024 Ranking of the Bears Offensive Line

PFF’s end-of-year rankings for offensive lines in 2024 were startling for the Bears due to how high the unit ranked compared to previous years. At the conclusion of the regular season, the Bears’ O-line earned a ranking that placed them significantly higher than the bottom of the league, where they had been in recent years. The exact position can vary depending on different interpretations of PFF’s evaluation system, but the consensus was that the Bears’ O-line had firmly entered the middle tier of NFL offensive lines and could be pushing toward the top 10.

This dramatic improvement can be attributed to several factors: the talent infusion, a more cohesive unit, and better overall coaching. To understand how the Bears managed such a leap, we need to break down the critical elements that led to their O-line’s success.

3. Key Players and Acquisition Impact

In 2024, the Chicago Bears made several key acquisitions to improve their O-line. Most notably, the addition of right guard Nate Davis, a former Tennessee Titan, was a pivotal move. Davis brought stability to the interior and became a strong presence alongside center Cody Whitehair, who had been one of the few consistent performers on the line. The Bears also invested a high draft pick in an offensive tackle, securing a player who could start immediately and contribute to the pass protection and run-blocking schemes.

Veterans like Braxton Jones and Teven Jenkins also took significant steps forward. Jones, in particular, proved that he could handle the left tackle position, offering Fields better protection and reducing the number of pressures the young quarterback faced. Jenkins, who had struggled with injuries and inconsistencies in previous seasons, showed much-improved play in 2024, earning positive reviews from PFF and establishing himself as a key piece of the unit.

The success of the individual players, coupled with the overall better health and more consistent play from the line, contributed significantly to the Bears’ improved ranking. These players not only executed their assignments better but were also able to complement each other, leading to greater success in both the running game and pass protection.

4. Coaching Adjustments and Scheme Changes

Another critical factor in the Bears’ offensive line turnaround in 2024 was the role of coaching. Under head coach Matt Eberflus, the Bears had made a concerted effort to fix their offensive line woes. The arrival of offensive line coach Chris Morgan provided a fresh perspective on developing and coaching the unit. Morgan’s experience with other NFL teams, including the Atlanta Falcons, helped bring a new sense of discipline and cohesion to the line.

Moreover, the Bears adapted their offensive system to play to the strengths of their line. The focus was on establishing the run and making use of play-action passes that allowed the offensive line to be more effective in short bursts, as opposed to being forced into long third downs where they had to pass block against opposing pass rushers. With Justin Fields’ dual-threat ability and mobility, the Bears’ offensive line could afford to focus on creating space for the run game and improving its protection schemes on rollouts and bootlegs. These changes meant that the offensive line was less exposed to pressure and had more success in executing their blocking schemes.

By using motion and misdirection, the Bears’ offense became more unpredictable, and their offensive line became better suited to those calls. This allowed the unit to function more cohesively and improve their overall performance across the board.

5. PFF’s Grading System and Key Metrics

Pro Football Focus evaluates offensive lines based on a variety of metrics, including pass blocking efficiency, run blocking grades, and overall unit cohesiveness. For the Bears, the improvements in these areas were key to their rise in the rankings.

Pass Blocking Efficiency (PBE): The Bears saw an improvement in their pass-blocking efficiency, which is a key statistic for determining how well an offensive line protects the quarterback. In 2024, Fields was sacked less frequently than in previous years, and the Bears allowed fewer pressures on dropbacks. This allowed Fields to make plays in the passing game and also avoid some of the constant hits that had become the norm in earlier seasons.

Run Blocking: The Bears’ ability to create lanes for their running backs improved significantly. With a more consistent line, the Bears’ running game became one of the league’s more formidable units. The addition of Davis at guard helped open running lanes up the middle, and the combination of Jenkins and Jones on the outside gave Fields more space to operate on designed runs. The improvement in run blocking helped to take pressure off Fields and allowed the offense to be more balanced.

Penalties: The Bears also cut down on penalties that had plagued their offensive line in the past. Holding calls, false starts, and other mistakes can stall drives and put a team in tough situations, but the Bears’ O-line showed more discipline in 2024, which helped improve their overall effectiveness.

6. Looking Ahead: What Does This Mean for the Bears?

The dramatic improvement in the Chicago Bears’ offensive line has profound implications for the team moving forward. First, it alleviates some of the pressure on Justin Fields. With better protection, Fields can progress as a passer, focusing on reading defenses and making quick decisions rather than constantly being under duress. Furthermore, a solid offensive line also helps in the development of the running game, and with Khalil Herbert continuing to show promise, the Bears’ offense could become far more balanced.

Additionally, the improved O-line provides the Bears with more flexibility in terms of their offensive scheme. They can use more traditional pocket passing, leaning on play-action, and also employ zone-blocking schemes to diversify their approach. With more options at their disposal, the Bears become a more dangerous and unpredictable offense.

As the Bears head into the 2025 season, the success of their offensive line will likely be a key factor in determining the direction of their offense. With continued development, both in terms of the players and coaching, the O-line could become one of the league’s more formidable units, allowing Fields to reach his full potential as the team’s franchise quarterback.