Bears Look to 2026: Building a Powerhouse from the 2025 Foundation

The Chicago Bears enter the 2026 offseason with a level of momentum not seen in the Midway for over a decade. Following a transformative 2025 campaign that saw the team leap from “worst to first” in the NFC North, the organization is now focused on turning a one-year turnaround into a sustained championship window.

The 2025 Renaissance

Under first-year head coach Ben Johnson, the Bears finished the 2025 season with an 11-6 record, capturing their first division title since 2018. The season was defined by a historic “clutch” factor, with the team recording an NFL-record seven fourth-quarter comebacks.

The playoff drought also came to an end with a dramatic 31-27 Wild Card victory over the rival Green Bay Packers—Chicago’s first postseason win since 2010. Though their run ended in an overtime Divisional Round loss to the Rams, the foundation for 2026 is undeniably firm.

Core Pillars of Success

The 2025 success was built on three major pillars that will remain central to the 2026 strategy:

• Caleb Williams’ Ascension: In his second year, Williams became the first quarterback in franchise history to surpass 3,900 passing yards in a single season (3,942) while throwing 27 touchdowns.
• A Historic Rookie Class: The 2025 draft yielded immediate stars. Tight end Colston Loveland led the team in receiving (713 yards), while Kyle Monangai (783 rushing yards) and Luther Burden III (689 scrimmage yards) made Chicago the first team in the Super Bowl era with three rookies topping 650 scrimmage yards each.
• Offensive Line Overhaul: The mid-season additions of All-Pros Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson transformed the unit into one of the league’s best, allowing a league-low 25 sacks.

Key Player Stats: 2025 Season

Category	Player	Statistic
Passing Yards	Caleb Williams	3,942 yards
Rushing Yards	D’Andre Swift	1,087 yards
Receiving Yards	Colston Loveland (R)	713 yards
Interceptions	Kevin Byard	7 INTs
Sacks	Montez Sweat	10.0 sacks

The Road Ahead: Challenges for 2026

As General Manager 

Ryan Poles looks to build further, he faces immediate hurdles:

• Cap Constraints: The Bears are currently working with limited cap space (approximately $1 million), requiring potential veteran restructures to sign the 2026 draft class.
• Unexpected Retirement: Pro Bowl center Drew Dalman shocked the organization by retiring at age 27 this March, reopening a critical hole in the offensive line.
• Roster Depth: While the starters are elite, Poles has been criticized for a “conservative” 2026 free agency approach, opting for veteran depth like Kalif Raymond over high-priced splash signings.

The Stadium Saga

Off the field, the “will-they, won’t-they” stadium search continues. While Arlington Heights remains a focus, the team has recently explored a site in Northwest Indiana to pressure Illinois lawmakers for infrastructure funding. New proposals for a $2 billion domed overhaul of Soldier Field have also been introduced to keep the team downtown.

“We’ll have to write a whole brand new story,” Coach Johnson said regarding the 2026 season. For a city that hasn’t seen back-to-back playoff seasons in 20 years, that story is the most anticipated one in Chicago sports.