Chicago Bears Earn Their “A” - And Set the Stage for Something Bigger in 2026
The Bears won’t be suiting up for Super Bowl LX, but make no mistake - the 2025 season was a major step forward for a franchise that’s been craving stability and relevance for years. With 11 wins, an NFC North title, and a playoff victory over the rival Packers, Chicago didn’t just exceed expectations - they redefined them.
Let’s start with what matters most: the Bears finally have their quarterback and their head coach. That’s not just a box to check - it’s the foundation of everything.
First-year head coach Ben Johnson brought structure, creativity, and confidence to a team that desperately needed all three. And Caleb Williams?
The second-year QB looked every bit like the franchise cornerstone Chicago hoped he’d be.
Williams’ command of the offense was the kind of leap you want to see in Year 2. He spread the ball around with poise and precision, helping four different pass catchers top the 650-yard mark. Rookie tight end Colston Loveland led the way with 713 yards - an impressive debut that gave the Bears a reliable, athletic option over the middle and a potential long-term weapon for Williams.
Up front, the offensive line took a huge step forward. The revamped interior gave the offense some much-needed push in the run game, while right tackle Darnell Wright delivered an All-Pro season that anchored the unit.
The result? A ground attack that racked up 2,456 yards - good for third in the league.
That kind of balance is what makes an offense sustainable, and it’s what gives Chicago real reason to believe this wasn’t a one-year flash.
Defensively, the Bears were opportunistic - and then some. They led the league with 33 takeaways, a stat that doesn’t just reflect talent but also coaching and awareness. That kind of ball-hawking mentality kept them in games and gave the offense extra chances to capitalize.
But it wasn’t all perfect. The defensive line struggled to consistently generate pressure, finishing 25th in quarterback pressures, per Next Gen Stats.
That’s the kind of number that can haunt you in the postseason, where games are often won or lost in the trenches. GM Ryan Poles will need to address that this offseason - whether it’s through free agency, the draft, or both.
A more disruptive front could unlock even more from a defense that already showed it can take the ball away with the best of them.
Still, the big picture is this: the Bears earned their “A.” They found their coach.
They found their quarterback. They won the division.
They beat their biggest rival in the playoffs. And they did it with a young core that’s only going to get better.
That’s not just a successful season. That’s a launching pad.
The bar is officially raised in Chicago.