The Chicago Bears’ 2026 season was a breakout in every sense. In Ben Johnson’s first year as head coach, they climbed from last in the NFC North all the way to No.
- For a first-time head coach, that kind of leap is rare.
Now comes the harder part: proving it wasn’t a one-year spike.
That’s the concern raised in a Monday USA Today piece by Nick Brinkerhoff, who slotted the Bears at No. 20 on his “vibe check” radar. In other words, he’s not exactly buying them as one of the league’s most buzzworthy teams heading into this season.
Brinkerhoff framed the issue bluntly by asking whether Chicago has already “peaked” under Johnson. He wrote, “The Bears are no longer the hunters,” and added, “Opponents know what they’re up against and that will leave some wondering if the Bears peaked in 2025.”
He didn’t leave it there, though. Brinkerhoff also noted, “It sounds crazy, but the same was true of the Lions after 2023 and look at where they are now. Ben Johnson's second season gives fans a reason for hope, however.”
That comparison is a shot at the Detroit Lions, naturally. But there’s also a key difference: the Lions fell off after Johnson left, while Chicago still has him in place. That alone makes it hard to argue the Bears have already hit their ceiling.
The bigger question is whether Johnson can keep pushing Caleb Williams forward and turn that 2026 surge into something more than a one-season burst.
In Other News...
Lions Defense Suddenly Has Far More Camp Battles Than Expected
Training camp has a way of turning a settled depth chart into a guessing game, and the Lions defense is heading into July with more of those questions than expected. A group of 20 players is jostling for roster space across the front seven and the secondary, with battles at defensive end, tackle, linebacker, cornerback and safety all carrying some level of uncertainty as injuries, recent signings and staff projections reshape the picture.
Payton Turner is part of the intrigue up front, bringing the kind of pedigree that keeps a spot conversation alive even as health has been a recurring issue. Elsewhere, the linebacker mix has already shifted with Troy Reeder now in the fold, and the edge picture is getting more complicated as Hassanein adjusts to a different role. Add in the usual camp variables, from player availability to how many spots Detroit ultimately keeps, and this looks like one of those roster fights that could stay unsettled well into August. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Fans Can See The Fit But Brad Holmes Has A Problem
The idea of adding a disruptive interior force like Vita Vea is the kind of move that naturally catches the eye in Detroit. The Lions have spent real energy building a roster that can win up front, and a proven defensive lineman with his rsum would fit the kind of team Brad Holmes has tried to assemble. Even so, this is not the sort of fit that comes cheaply, and the appeal is obvious enough that it invites a closer look.
The problem is the same one that shadows a lot of ambitious roster ideas this time of year: the Lions have to live within their financial reality while protecting what they have already committed to for the future. Even if Tampa Bay is willing to engage, Detroit would have to navigate the cap, the cost of a trade, and the possibility of needing to extend Vea on top of everything else. For now, it remains one of those situations where the match makes sense on paper, but the path from interest to actual deal is anything but simple. [Read more 🡒]
Jimmy Rolder Is Suddenly In The Middle Of A Lions Battle
The Lions spent the spring trying to patch a linebacker room that changed when Alex Anzalone left in free agency, and Jimmy Rolder quickly became one of the more interesting names in that mix. Drafted to add depth, he made a strong impression during minicamp and OTAs, enough to get attention as a player who could carve out a real role sooner than expected.
Rolders path is still tied to how Detroit sorts out the rest of the group, but he has already given the coaching staff reasons to keep watching closely. His work in coverage and on special teams added to the appeal, and in a room where opportunities can open fast, that kind of versatility can push a rookie from afterthought to part of the conversation. [Read more 🡒]