By Liora Zeqiri / Sports Editor

Throughout the 2025-26 National Football League season, the Chicago Bears, led by new head coach Ben Johnson and a quarterback in his second year, Caleb Williams, surged in momentum through the city. These two leaders, along with new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen and a passionate set of players, turned the 5-12 Bears to the 11-6, division-winning Bears. The Monsters of the Midway losing their first two games of the season left everyone thinking they were the “same old Bears,” until they went on to win the next nine out of 10 games. Here’s a look at some of the highlights from this season, and what to expect moving forward.

A big contributor to the wins is the new head coach Ben Johnson. Last season Johnson was the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, who lost only two games the entire regular season. From the jump Johnson demanded determination and hard work from the entire organization. After wins, he was seen giving motivational speeches in the locker room, coining “Good, better, best” as the new Bears slogan. 

Nicknamed the “Cardiac Bears” during the season, and for a good reason, the Bears had seven comeback wins, most of which happened in the fourth quarter. Fans were on the edge of their seats most games, and knew that no lead was safe when facing the Chicago Bears. Two notable moments were during the match-ups against their biggest rivals, the Green Bay Packers. In the regular season win against the Packers, Williams led his team down the field with 1:59 left in regulation and scored 10 points to tie the game, 16-16. In overtime DJ Moore caught a game-winning touchdown that Williams threw from 46-yards away. The first playoff win in 15 years for the Bears wasn’t easy either, with them trailing 21-3 going into halftime. In Williams’ playoff debut, he once again had a clutch performance, managing to take the lead, and score another game-winning touchdown to DJ Moore. 

Following the unfortunate overtime loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round of the playoffs, the Bears’ season has ended. Looking forward, fans should expect offseason changes. Possible trades could occur with some speculating that Cole Kmet or DJ Moore may be on the outs of their careers in Chicago. The Bears will most likely be looking for a big defensive weapon that can solidify their defensive line. Overall, this season was a huge step in the right direction for the Chicago Bears; from winning their division to beating the Packers in the playoffs. With such a young team, there’s a lot of room for improvement and a lot to be hopeful for.