The Chicago Bears have given their fans more than just a reason to believe this season - they've given them a reason to dream big. After stumbling out of the gate with an 0-2 start, the Bears have stormed back with a vengeance, winning nine of their last ten games and claiming the top spot in the NFC North. And if that wasn’t enough to make Thanksgiving weekend feel like a holiday miracle, their 24-15 win over the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles on Black Friday was the exclamation point on a statement stretch of football.
But the good news didn’t stop there.
Thanks to a surprise upset by the Carolina Panthers over the Los Angeles Rams - a 31-28 thriller - the Bears now find themselves sitting atop the entire NFC. That’s right: the road to the Super Bowl, at least for now, runs through Chicago.
And here’s where it gets even more poetic - the Bears can thank the Panthers for more than just the scoreboard help. In a twist of fate that’s still rippling through the league, Carolina continues to shape Chicago’s future, long after the blockbuster trade that sent the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft to Charlotte.
Let’s rewind.
When the Bears traded the top pick to Carolina in 2023, the Panthers used it to select Alabama quarterback Bryce Young. In return, Chicago landed wide receiver DJ Moore and a haul of draft capital that has become the bedrock of this Bears resurgence. That deal wasn’t just a win - it was a franchise-altering pivot.
Take a look at what Chicago’s done with those picks.
Right tackle Darnell Wright, taken 10th overall in 2023, has been a rock on the offensive line. He’s helped stabilize a unit that’s giving Caleb Williams time to work and opening lanes in the run game.
Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, a second-rounder that same year, has had his ups and downs but remains a key piece in the secondary. Then there’s wide receiver Luther Burden III, the 39th overall pick in 2025, who’s already shown flashes of elite YAC ability and looks like a future star in the making.
Even punter Tory Taylor, selected in 2024, has made an impact - and Bears fans know the value of a field-position weapon in tight NFC battles.
But the crown jewel of that trade? Caleb Williams.
Thanks to Carolina’s 2-15 finish in 2023 - a season that bottomed out quickly - Chicago ended up with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft. And they used it to select Williams, the dynamic quarterback out of USC.
It was a bold move, especially after passing on both Young and C.J. Stroud the year before.
But the gamble is paying off. Williams has brought a new energy and edge to the Bears offense, and he’s looking like the kind of quarterback you can build a decade around.
Ironically, it was Bryce Young - the quarterback the Bears passed on - who helped push Chicago into the NFC’s top seed this week. Young had his best game as a pro against the Rams, tossing three touchdowns and posting a 147.1 passer rating in a performance that showed flashes of why he was the No. 1 pick. Carolina’s win didn’t just shake up the playoff picture - it gave the Bears a clear runway to the NFC’s top spot.
The Panthers, now sitting at 7-6, are still very much alive in the NFC South race. And while Young’s season has been a rollercoaster, his breakout performance against Los Angeles could be a turning point - not just for him, but for a franchise still trying to find its footing after that massive trade.
So yes, Bears fans have plenty to be thankful for this season. Their team is rolling, their rookie quarterback looks the part, and the defense is coming into form.
But maybe - just maybe - they should send a thank-you card to Carolina, too. Because in a league where every decision echoes for years, the Bears’ present is still being shaped by a deal that changed everything.
And in a season full of surprises, that might be the most unexpected twist of all.