Nam Y. Huh/AP Photos
The roots of the Bears’ rebuild that has them in position to “take the North” — possibly this weekend — after a disastrous 2024 season of discombobulation are pretty easy to trace:
• Lovie Smith’s Texans beating the Colts in Week 18 in 2022 to give the Bears’ the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft.
• General manager Ryan Poles parlaying that pick into a haul from the Panthers that ultimately included the 2024 No. 1 overall pick the Bears used to get quarterback Caleb Williams, but also wide receiver DJ Moore, right tackle Darnell Wright, cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, punter Tory Taylor and wide receiver Luther Burden.