The Chicago Bears watched their season end in overtime against the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round of the playoffs earlier this month. It was a finish that felt both crushing and revealing. Late-game heroics forced overtime and showed how much this team had grown, even as missed opportunities and costly turnovers ultimately decided the outcome.
Playoff football rarely offers forgiveness. Chicago learned that lesson in on that cold January night at Soldier Field, where every mistake carried weight and every missed chance lingered. The loss will stay with this team for some time.
Still, when viewed honestly, the 2025 season cannot be labeled a failure. It was finally progress.
For several seasons, the Bears searched for identity through slogans rather than substance. Former head coach Matt Eberflus leaned heavily on his H.I.T.S. philosophy, hoping effort and intensity alone would elevate the roster.
That message never fully took hold. Players worked hard, yet accountability felt inconsistent and results rarely followed. The culture lacked traction when adversity arrived. Head Coach Ben Johnson changed that tone immediately.
Johnson did not rely on catchphrases. He relied on transparency, accountability, and honesty. His “Good, Better, Best” messaging resonated because it challenged players without alienating them. Standards became clear, and roles became defined. Praise was earned, and criticism carried purpose. Players knew where they stood and what was expected every week.
That clarity won over the locker room.
Young players developed faster because expectations were concrete. Veterans bought in because communication was direct. Mistakes were corrected instead of ignored. The result was a team that responded under pressure instead of fracturing. Late-game comebacks, steady leadership, and resilience became traits rather than exceptions.
This was not just a schematic change. It was a cultural one. And it finally stuck.
Johnson’s impact was immediate. Chicago invested heavily in the offensive line, particularly along the interior, and that commitment reshaped the offense from the inside out. The team traded for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson before free agency. Center Drew Dalman was signed at the beginning of free agency to become the anchor of the Bears’ offensive line. In a matter of days, the Bears turned one of their biggest roster weaknesses into a strength.
Quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked just 24 times in 2025 after absorbing 68 sacks the year before. Improved protection allowed the offense to operate with rhythm rather than survival. Williams grew comfortable commanding the offense instead of escaping pressure.
Offensive line coach Dan Roushar played a major role in that leap. His detailed coaching and scheming elevated both pass protection and the rushing attack, creating balance the Bears have lacked for years. That balance opened the door for young playmakers like tackles Darnell Wright and Ozzy Trapilo to grow.
Rookies Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III were not focal points early in the season. As the year progressed, both carved out meaningful roles within the offense. Burden emerged as a dangerous yards after the catch threat, consistently turning routine plays into explosive gains. Loveland became Williams’ security blanket, delivering timely receptions when stability mattered most.
Their development changed how defenses approached Chicago late in the season. That evolution became even more important once injuries tested the depth of the roster.
Rome Odunze was off to a scorching start before a stress fracture sidelined him in December. His return for the postseason reminded everyone of his importance. With a full offseason to heal, Odunze should enter training camp ready to reclaim a central role.
DJ Moore’s season unfolded unevenly on the stat sheet, yet his impact never faded. When Odunze went down, Moore stepped forward and delivered game winning touchdowns against Green Bay in Week 16 and again in the Wild Card round. Those moments showcased the chemistry many hoped to see between Moore and Williams.
As the Bears enter the offseason, they are faced with far less money to spend in free agency. The Bears are starting the offseason over the salary cap by over $12 million. General Manager Ryan Poles is faced with creating cap space by restructuring contracts, cutting players, and/or trading players. This typically happens annually with teams freeing up money to sign free agents or sign productive players to long-term deals.
One player being mentioned as a possible trade chip is Moore. Moving Moore would save over $28 million in 2026, but it would leave a massive void. Unless premium trade value materializes, continuity remains the wiser choice. Chicago should relish the fact they have three wide receivers in Moore, Odunze, and Burden that will thrive in Johnson and offensive coordinator Declan Doyle’s offense.
That same conversation applies at tight end.
Cole Kmet continues to provide value as both an elite blocker and a reliable receiving option. A post-June 1 move could save roughly $10 million and return a mid-round pick, yet dismantling a productive offensive core carries risk. Both Kmet and Loveland came on strong in the second half of the season. Chicago is finally building something worth preserving.
The Bears will face early offensive line questions in 2026 after Trapilo suffered a patellar tendon tear late in the Wild Card win against Green Bay. A temporary solution will be required while he recovers.
Chicago could re-sign Braxton Jones or Theo Benedet, though both struggled at times. Free agent options such as Joseph Noteboom, Cam Robinson, Fred Johnson, Hakeem Adeniji, Landon Young, and Max Mitchell offer short-term stability rather than long term answers.
Despite those looming questions, the offensive line’s improvement in 2025 fueled a rushing attack that became an identity. D’Andre Swift and rookie Kyle Monangai formed a physical one two punch that allowed Chicago to control tempo and close games.
Much of that success belonged to running backs coach Eric Bieniemy, whose demanding approach elevated the entire room. That performance earned him a return to Kansas City as their offensive coordinator. Replacing Bieniemy will be critical for continuity.
Duce Staley has emerged as a candidate due to his prior work with Ben Johnson in Detroit. Staley has found success in coaching running backs like LeSean McCoy, Miles Sanders, Darren Sproles, Nich Chubb, and the Bears’ Swift. Eric Studesville also fits the profile after coaching alongside Johnson in Miami and developing multiple 1,000 yard rushers, including Anthony Thomas, Tiki Barber, Marshawn Lynch, and De’Von Achane. Studesville also brings Chicago ties from his time with the Bears from 1997 through 2000. Either hire would help preserve the physical identity Chicago established.
That identity, however, did not consistently carry over to the defensive side of the ball.
The Bears’ defense told a complicated story throughout the season. Chicago led the league with 33 total takeaways, yet allowed over 24 points per game and ranked 29th in total yards allowed. Injuries played a major role in that inconsistency. Unfortunately, the secondary felt those losses most.
Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson, and Kyler Gordon battled injuries throughout the year, forcing constant adjustments. C.J. Gardner Johnson, who signed as a free agent in late-October, stabilized the nickel position during Gordon’s absence. Nahshon Wright rose from being a practice squad player for the Vikings in 2024 to being thrusted into a much larger role with Chicago, bringing Pro Bowl honors in 2025. Despite surrendering explosive plays at times, Wright still led the team with eight takeaways.
Veteran safety Kevin Byard III delivered another All-Pro caliber season with seven interceptions and provided steady leadership. There is a mutual interest in a return in 2026. Jaquan Brisker saved his best performance for the divisional round, though signs point toward Chicago moving in a different direction this offseason.
If the Bears indeed go another direction at safety, expect them to address the position in the draft. Depending on how the draft board falls, the Bears could move to select Ohio State’s Caleb Downs, who many believe is one of the most talented players in the draft. If Downs is picked earlier, the team could pivot to Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman or Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren.
Instability extended into the linebacker group as well.
Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards both missed significant time. Edmunds finished with over 100 tackles, four interceptions, and one sack, yet his $17.43 million cap hit looms large. A post-June 1 move would save roughly $15 million.
D’Marco Jackson proved to be a bright spot in the Bears’ linebacking core. He was a late-August waiver claim from the Saints and signed mainly for depth. Injuries to Edmunds and Edwards thrust Jackson into a starting role, and made the most of every opportunity. Chicago could re-sign D Marco Jackson and target a younger replacement in the draft. UTSA linebacker Shad Banks Jr. and Texas standout Anthony Hill Jr. remain strong candidates.
Pressure up front remains another concern.
Austin Booker showed growth in his second season, while Montez Sweat rebounded with 10 sacks. Chicago still needs more consistent disruption. Free agent Trey Hendrickson has been linked due to scheme familiarity, while trade speculation involving Maxx Crosby and Myles Garrett remains unrealistic due to cost. The draft may offer the clearest path forward. Chicago has been linked to Clemson’s T.J. Parker, Florida’s Caleb Banks, and UCF’s Malachi Lawrence, to name a few.
The interior defensive line struggled to collapse the pocket consistently. Gervon Dexter, Grady Jarrett, and Andrew Billings failed to control games, even though Jarrett showed improvement late. Billings is expected to walk in free agency. Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald has been heavily connected to Chicago and would provide an immediate upgrade from day one.
The Bears season ended in overtime heartbreak on a night where effort was never the issue. It ended with players giving it their all, a magical rollercoaster of a season complete, and a locker room wondering what might have been.
Still, this season revealed something the Bears have lacked for years: positive direction and sustained success.
This team now knows who they are and how they want to play. The offense found its footing. The quarterback found confidence. Young players established roles while veterans set standards. The defense exposed flaws that can no longer be ignored, yet those lessons now shape the offseason rather than derail it.
For the first time in a long time, Chicago enters the offseason with clarity instead of confusion. Their postseason loss will hurt, but it will not haunt. 2025 was an electric season, watching the team rise from hibernation and assert themselves as a team hungry for success. Bears fans are clamoring in anticipation for the 2026 season. It cannot get here soon enough.
Until then, Bear Down and Carry On.
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