The Chicago Bears finally have reasons to think beyond merely reaching the playoffs.
Caleb Williams is entering his second season with Ben Johnson. The offensive line has become a strength, Darnell Wright just received a massive extension and Chicago returns enough playmakers to create problems all over the field.
Now for the part nobody wants to discuss: The Bears defense could wreck the whole thing.
Chicago survived its defensive flaws last season by forcing turnovers at an absurd rate. The Bears led the NFL with 33 takeaways, repeatedly giving Williams and the offense short fields or extra possessions.
That was fun. It also disguised how frequently the defense was being pushed around.
The Bears allowed 24.4 points and approximately 360 yards per game. They ranked 23rd in scoring defense and 28th in yards allowed. Opponents averaged 5 yards per rushing attempt and threw 32 touchdown passes.
Those are not championship numbers. They are the numbers of a defense hoping someone eventually throws the ball directly to it.
Chicago cannot count on another turnover avalanche
Dennis Allen’s defense deserves credit for creating takeaways. Turnovers are not entirely luck, particularly when a coordinator teaches defenders to attack the football.
Expecting 33 of them again would still be reckless.
Chicago lost several of last season’s top ballhawks during the offseason, including Kevin Byard, who led the NFL with seven interceptions. Every Bears defender who recorded multiple interceptions in 2025 is gone.
The replacements now have injury problems of their own.
Coby Bryant, signed to help replace Byard, is expected to miss eight to 10 weeks after suffering a hyperextended knee, bone bruise and small fracture during training camp. Dallis Flowers has been placed on injured reserve. Elijah Hicks began camp on the physically unable to perform list, while Gervarrius Owens also went down.
The Bears signed veteran Xavier Woods because they needed someone capable of walking into the secondary without asking where he should stand.
It was a sensible move. It was not a reassuring one.
Caleb Williams may be forced to carry the Bears
Williams and Johnson helped Chicago average 25.9 points last season. The offense ranked sixth in total yards, and the Bears reached the divisional round after their remarkable comeback against Green Bay.
The offense should be even better in 2026.
That improvement may be necessary just to keep pace with what Chicago allows on the other side. The Bears cannot spend another year surrendering long drives, struggling against the run and waiting for an interception to end the problem.
Turnovers covered those cracks last season. In the playoffs, Chicago forced none.
The Bears survived Green Bay after erasing an 18-point deficit, then lost 20-17 in overtime against the Los Angeles Rams. Depending upon Williams to produce another comeback every time the defense bends is a dangerous way to chase a Super Bowl.
The Bears defense has no room for another slow start
Training camp injuries do not guarantee regular-season failure. Bryant should return, and several other defensive backs have enough time to recover before the games become real.
Still, the early warning cannot be dismissed.
Chicago’s offense is being built to compete with anyone in the NFC. Its defense remains dependent on injured players returning quickly and new faces replacing an unsustainable number of takeaways.
The Bears are no longer lovable overachievers. They won the NFC North and a playoff game. Expectations have changed.
Williams may be ready for a championship run. The defense could determine whether he ever gets the chance.
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