After a close defeat for the Chicago Bears in their opening game of the 2025 NFL season against the Minnesota Vikings, ESPN commentators Joe Buck and Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinee Troy Aikman shared their perspectives with fans. The Bears, led by new head coach Ben Johnson and rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, held a 17-6 lead entering the fourth quarter but ultimately lost after the Vikings adjusted late in the contest.
Chicago’s offense faced issues with penalties and inconsistent play from both Williams and running back D’Andre Swift. On defense, while there were strong early moments against Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy, fatigue became a factor as the game progressed.
Despite these setbacks, Buck commented on-air, “I don’t want to speak on behalf of the city but I think that this feels different,” adding, “This feels like, okay yeah they lost the game, Caleb Williams looked like a more poised quarterback. They’ve got Ben Johnson. This is the start. I think Bears’ fans think, and rightfully so, that this is the beginning of something exciting with the Chicago Bears. It won’t be one week, it’ll be a chunk of the season, maybe an entire season.”
He reiterated his view: “This feels different. … I think Bears fans think and rightfully so, that ‘This is the beginning of something exciting for the Chicago Bears.'”
Aikman also offered encouragement regarding the team’s direction under Johnson: “I think they’ve got the right staff,” Aikman said. “There’s a lot of optimism around right now. It looked good for a while and this is going to be a tough loss, of course. But, I do think this is different. I think fans will feel different even though this is a devastating loss, as they’ve experienced at other times.”
Across Week 1 of NFL play, only one first-year head coach won their opening game—Liam Coen with Carolina—highlighting how difficult immediate success can be in coaching transitions.
The focus moving forward for Chicago will be how players and staff respond to early adversity as they try to build momentum throughout Johnson’s first season.
