Chicago Bears 2026 Offseason Outlook

Under rookie head coach Ben Johnson and second-year quarterback Caleb Williams, the 2025 Chicago Bears developed an attitude that no game was out of reach. The Bears became the first team in NFL history to win seven games when trailing with two minutes left to play. As a result, Chicago finished 11-6 and won the NFC North for just the second time in the last 15 years.

Johnson’s combination of offensive creativity and infectious exuberance definitely rubbed off on his team, and the idea that Johnson would unlock the potential of Williams, the NFL’s No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft, played out to near perfection.

It’s a good thing for Bears fans that they now have a reason to be optimistic going into the 2026 season. Otherwise, they’d be dragged down all offseason with the team’s new stadium drama. Is it just a ploy to get the city to kick in more money, or would the Monsters of the Midway actually consider moving to a domed stadium in northwest Indiana? Stay tuned...

2025 recap

“Some people say it’s not sustainable,” Johnson said after his team’s improbable Week 16 overtime win over the arch-rival Green Bay Packers, talking about all the comeback wins. “I don’t know... That’s who we are on defense and on offense. It’s explosive plays. That’s kind of what we’ve done all year long, and coming up in big moments. As a team, it’s just resiliency and knowing that late in the fourth quarter, that’s really when we’re at our best as a football team. We’ll keep striving to be better earlier in games, and starting faster and all that, but that gives us something to work towards.”

Johnson wasn’t the only newcomer to the 2025 Bears. The roster featured 22 first-year Bears, including seven rookies, three players acquired by trade and nine free-agent signings. And while Williams is the face of the franchise, Chicago got big contributions from players up and down the roster.

The Bears ranked sixth in total offense (369.5 yards per game) and had five games with 31 or more points. They recorded 127 big plays (passes of 20-plus yards and runs of 10-plus yards), second in the NFL. Williams completed 58.1% of his passes for a franchise-record 3,942 yards, with 27 touchdown passes and just seven interceptions. Williams was sacked just 24 times, fourth-fewest among full-time starters.

Chicago ranked 23rd in scoring defense and 29th in yards allowed, but the defense was able to keep Chicago in games by producing turnovers — the Bears led the NFL in takeaways in 2025.

Key free agents

S Kevin Byard
LB Joe Tryon
C Ryan Bates
DL Chris Williams
S Jonathan Owens
S Jaquan Brisker
S Jaylon Jones
S C.J. Gardner-Johnson
CB Nahshon Wright

Bears salary cap space

($5,300,354)

2026 draft needs

Defensive help at all three levels is the priority. With the 25th overall pick in the first round this year, this is the lowest Chicago is picking in a while, but they should be able to find a quality interior defensive lineman at that spot. After that, safety and edge rusher will be positions of need.

2026 opponents

Home:Detroit, Green Bay, Minnesota, Jacksonville, New England, New Orleans, N.Y. Jets, Philadelphia, Tampa Bay

Away:Detroit, Green Bay, Minnesota, Atlanta, Buffalo, Carolina, Miami, Seattle