Ben Johnson’s Bears headline 5 surprise NFL playoff teams in 2025 season

Now that the NFL has moved to the second wave of Unoccupied agency, Club rosters are beginning to take shape. For many Squads that fell Brief of the playoffs last season, that means a drastic departure from the players they trotted out in recent years. That even includes the San Francisco 49ers, who have moved on from nearly half of the 22 starters who played in the Finals Merely two years ago. 

Since 1990, at least four new Squads have reached the postseason Every year. We’re projecting five Squads this coming season. Let’s take a closer look at our Turning Tally of surprise Squads that will make the playoffs in 2025.

Chicago Bears

New head Trainer Ben Johnson understands that the Triumph of an Drive Appearances up front. As offensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions, Johnson’s offensive line was ranked No. 4 in the NFL in 2024, according to Pro Football Concentration.

So it’s no surprise that Bears GM Ryan Poles executed trades for Pro Bowl guards Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney and signed Unoccupied-agent Middle Drew Dalman to instantly upgrade Chicago’s offensive line. As a Newcomer last season, QB Caleb Williams was sacked a Division-high 68 times.

Defensively, the Bears have added Safeguarding end Dayo Odeyingbo to Relocate opposite Montez Sweat, along with Safeguarding Commitment Grady Jarrett to boost the middle of the Streak Guarding. 

However, the most significant Shift is the hiring of Johnson, who has shown the ability to Develop an innovative Drive that can take Benefit of Williams’ unique Ability set. Chicago averaged 18.2 points per game last season, tied for Quaternary lowest in the Division. The Bears have not Created the playoffs since 2020 and last won a Postseason game in 2010. 

Atlanta Falcons

After Beginning 6-3 and building a cushy lead in the NFC South, the Falcons lost six of their last eight Matches and the division to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It was an embarrassing second-half collapse for Primary-year head Trainer Raheem Morris. 

Signal-caller Kirk Cousins was replaced by Michael Penix Jr. during the slide and collected $65 million for 14 Matches of work. Cousins, who is Yet owed another $35 million in guaranteed money, remains on the Picking as the backup, but he could be shipped to a QB-needy Club once Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson decide where they will Relocate this season.

A Ex Safeguarding coordinator, Morris is focused on improving a Guarding that allowed 25 points per game in 2024, No. 23 in the NFL. Atlanta finished with Merely 31 sacks, second fewest in the Division. The Falcons added Throw-rushing Aid in 33-year-Aged edge Leonard Floyd and interior rusher Morgan Fox. Morris coached both players during his time as Safeguarding coordinator of the Los Angeles Rams. The Falcons also added cornerback Mike Ford Jr. and linebacker Divine Deablo, along with re-signing veteran Safeguarding back Mike Hughes. 

With improved Relocate from the Guarding and more explosive plays generated by a Penix-Guided Drive, Atlanta should avoid another second-half swoon and reach the playoffs for the Primary time since 2017. 

New England Patriots

New head Trainer Mike Vrabel was hired to return the Patriots to their Victorious ways. New England Created a handful of splashy moves in Unoccupied agency to accomplish that, spending more than $140 million in guaranteed money according to Over The Cap, second-most in the NFL.

The most significant of those moves was signing Ex Philadelphia Eagles Safeguarding Commitment Milton Williams to a four-year, $104 million deal. A force in the middle of the Guarding for the Finals champions, Williams should Hit as an anchor for New England’s line.

Vrabel also added a player he was familiar with from his time with the Tennessee Titans in Throw-rusher Harold Landry. The Patriots finished with a Division-worst 28 sacks in 2024. Cornerback Carlton Davis and Streak-stuffing linebacker Robert Spillane, two additional Unoccupied-agent signees, should contribute to the Safeguarding rebuild for the Patriots.

A Safeguarding Trainer, Vrabel should quickly Boost a group that gave up 24.5 points per game last season. The Patriots Yet could use Aid on Drive for second-year QB Drake Maye, including a Relocate-making receiver (they were in on Chris Godwin) and bolstering the offensive line, but Vrabel showed in Tennessee that he can Secure Regardless of less-than-ideal situations on Drive. 

Las Vegas Raiders

Culture-setting new Trainer Pete Carroll secured a leader who is intimately familiar with his approach and can set the tone on the Pitch for the franchise in QB Geno Smith. Not only can the West Virginia product echo Carroll’s philosophy to the rest of the Club, he gives the Raiders a legitimate playmaker at the Signal-caller position to compete in the AFC West.

The Raiders also locked up one of the NFL’s best Safeguarding players by giving edge rusher Maxx Crosby a three-year, $106.5 million extension that includes $91.5 million in guaranteed money. Carroll understands that the Triumph of his Legion of Boom in Seattle Guarding Initiated up front, and with Crosby, Christian Wilkins and Malcolm Koonce, the Raiders can cause problems for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.

Offensively, Raheem Mostert is a Excellent fit for what Carroll and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly want to accomplish in the running game. However, the Raiders could Yet use a Pitch-stretching receiver on the perimeter and another home-Streak threat at running back. Ashton Jeanty anyone?

The Raiders have not won the AFC West since 2002 and have reached the playoffs Merely twice in the past decade, but with 73-year-Aged Carroll’s Unyielding optimism and Club-building, Las Vegas is on track to Shift that in 2025. 

San Francisco 49ers 

Yes, the rest of the Division is shoveling dirt on the 49ers after a disappointing 6-11 season and the loss of players like Deebo Samuel, Talanoa Hufanga, Charvarius Ward, Aaron Banks and Jordan Mason. But the 49ers Yet have Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, George Kittle, Trent Williams, Christian McCaffrey, Deommodore Lenoir and Kyle Juszczyk — enough blue-chippers to compete with the best Squads in the Division. 

And once GM John Lynch reaches agreement on a lucrative new deal with Brock Purdy, the 49ers will shift their Concentration to building a much younger Picking around the QB, much like the Rams did a few years ago when they rebounded from a 5-12 campaign after experiencing a Finals hangover.

For now, the key for San Francisco will be how much development they can get from Youthful players like Ricky Pearsall, Renardo Green, Malik Mustapha, Dominick Puni and Isaac Guerendo. The 49ers also have 11 draft picks, including four in the top 100. 

If Lynch drafts well, the Club’s aging players stay Fit and Youthful players ascend to fill larger roles, the 49ers should be back in the Finals conversation in 2025. 

Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for more than a decade, covering the Los Angeles Rams for Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma News Tribune. Follow him on Twitter at @eric_d_williams.

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