Coaching Staff
Head Coach: Ben Johnson
Offensive Coordinator: Press Taylor
Defensive Coordinator: Dennis Allen
Special Teams Coordinator: Richard Hightower
2025 Summary (W-L Record: 11-6)
In Ben Johnson’s first season as Bears head coach, Chicago shocked the football world and ended up winning arguably the toughest division in the NFL.
Entering his second year in the league, it was important for Caleb Williams to have support around him in order to develop. He needed it from his receivers, from his running backs, and from his protection. Most importantly, he needed it from the offensive scheme and play caller.
He got it in just about every area.
The Bears’ running game was one of the worst in the NFL during his rookie season (25th in yards, 27th in yards per attempt). Last year, it ranked 3rd in both.
As for weapons, the Bears already had some decent pass catchers, but they drafted tight end Colston Loveland with the 10th overall pick, and he went on to lead the team in receptions, yards, and touchdowns.
Ben Johnson’s scheme also put Williams in position to succeed. He implemented an offense that spent more time under center than Williams had previously (5th in the NFL last season). He utilized a heavy dose of “12” personnel (2 tight ends), using it at the 6th highest frequency in the league according to SumerSports. He leaned on a versatile run game and took advantage with play-action off of it. The Bears finished the season with the 2nd-highest frequency of play-action passes according to Pro Football Focus.
A good run game and play-action are a quarterback’s best friends.
Johnson’s use of personnel and formation also got defenses to play a high frequency of single-high coverage (3rd in the NFL according to Cody Alexander of MatchQuarters), which is generally a little more predictable and easier to throw against. Williams and the passing game took advantage, finishing 8th in EPA vs. single-high.
On the defensive side of the ball, the numbers weren’t great, but Chicago got by mostly via the turnover, leading the league in takeaways.
The end result was an NFC North division title and a playoff run that fell just short of an appearance in the NFC Championship Game.
Key Additions
WR Kalif Raymond
WR Zavion Thomas (3rd Rd, 89th Overall)
WR Scotty Miller
TE Sam Roush (3rd Rd, 69th Overall)
C Garrett Bradbury
C Logan Jones (2nd Rd, 57th Overall)
DL Neville Gallimore
DL James Lynch
DL Kentavius Street
LB Devin Bush Jr.
LB Keyshaun Elliott (5th Rd, 166th Overall)
CB Malik Muhammad (4th Rd, 124th Overall)
S Dillon Thieneman (1st Rd, 25th Overall)
S Coby Bryant
S Cam Lewis
Key Losses
WR D.J. Moore
WR Olamide Zaccheaus
TE Durham Smythe
C Drew Dalman
DL Andrew Billings
DL Chris Williams
EDGE Dominique Robinson
EDGE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
LB Tremaine Edmunds
CB Nahshon Wright
CB Nick McCloud
S Jaquan Brisker
S Kevin Byard
S C.J. Gardner-Johnson
Biggest Questions Entering 2026
Was last season a mirage?
The Bears were no doubt an improved football team in 2025. But is the success that they had replicable this season?
Chicago had 11 wins during the regular season and stole a playoff game against the Packers with a thrilling last-minute comeback.
7 of their 12 total wins, in fact, were 4th-quarter come-from-behind victories in the final 2 minutes of the game (they almost had an 8th in the Divisional Round).
Don’t get me wrong, the ability to win at the end of games is a skill more than a fluke. And Caleb Williams was absolutely phenomenal in the final minutes of most games last season. But the Bears can’t count on playing the same way this year and getting the exact same outcome.
There is always a little bit of luck involved in making miraculous comebacks. One bounce here, one tipped pass at the line of scrimmage there, and the outcome can change. Put the ball a few inches off target on a pivotal 4th down, and you’re going home with the loss:
Similarly, the way the Bears played on the defensive side of the ball doesn’t seem entirely sustainable or replicable. Chicago led the NFL in takeaways last season, but their defense struggled if they couldn’t generate turnovers. They were bottom-10 in points allowed and bottom-5 in yards allowed.
Turnovers are a finicky thing. Again, like last-second comeback wins, they are more skill than fluke. But it’s hard to repeat that style of play with the same results from year to year. And I’m not sure they made enough improvements on defense to be effective without them.