Good, Better, Best: The Chicago Bears’ Season in Review

About two and a half weeks since the Chicago Bears season came to an end at the hands of the Los Angeles Rams, now feels like the perfect time to reflect on a season that overall was very encouraging for the Bears faithful.

The Monsters of the Midway had a great first season under new head coach Ben Johnson. Bears fans saw their team have a winning season and the NFC North division title for the first time since 2018, almost eight years ago. The team also had their first playoff win in 15 years, something fans wondered if they’d ever see again.

For a team that entered the season with moderate expectations, that alone made 2025 feel different from the start.

Offense took an immense step forward this year with Caleb Williams at the helm. The Bears ranked sixth in the NFL in total yards per game and points scored, along with an eighth ranked passing offense.

While Williams did have his questionable moments, as any young quarterback does, he proved this year that he is capable of leading the Bears to victory consistently against good teams, such as the Eagles and Packers. His chemistry with wide receiver DJ Moore improved throughout the season, and rookie tight end Colston Loveland along with veteran Cole Kmet were reliable in crucial situations.

After many miserable years of Mitch Trubisky and Justin Fields, this was a breath of fresh air for Bears fans.

Johnson’s impact as a new head coach is astounding. The Bears fired Matt Eberflus after a dismal 2024-25 season, and immediately knew that Johnson was the guy they were looking for to help this team make the next step. Johnson’s offensive system helped the Bears offense adapt to beat good defenses, and he improved the team’s chemistry as the year went on.

However, the season also had its flaws. Throughout the final stretch of the season, the defense was a glaring issue with the team only having 35 sacks on the season and struggled against the run, even with Montez Sweat leading the pass rush.

Seven of the Bears 11 wins also came from lucky fourth quarter comebacks, and that’s just not a sustainable strategy to keep winning in the future.

The 20-17 loss to the Rams also exposed issues with the offensive line. Williams was pressured way too often, and inconsistency up front made it harder to sustain drives against elite defenses.

Looking ahead, the offseason presents an opportunity for the Bears to take that next step.

If I were Ryan Poles, my first priority would be to try and trade for Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby. The Raiders are in the midst of a brutal rebuild, and trading for Crosby would bolster the Bears defense immensely.

I would also target the offensive line to better protect Williams so the offense can reach its full potential while also retaining cornerstone players like Jaylon Johnson.

The season didn’t end the way Chicagoans hoped, but it was a major step forward. The Bears went from rebuilding to believing, and for the first time in years, the future in Chicago is bright.