The Chicago Bears had a phenomenal 2025 season that was full to the brim with high-stakes divisional playoff games, rookies breaking records, and it also saw the start of a new regime that will hopefully bring pride to fans for years to come. But that being said, the weight of expectation will be high upon the reigning NFC North champions, particularly when it comes to the two annual meetings against Green Bay.Â
With Coach Johnson entering his second year at the helm of one of the oldest franchises to grace the field, many eyes are on Chicago. Add in Caleb Williams’ fame, and we've got a recipe that's just ripe for fans to be disappointed.
Reality vs Expectations
The Bears popped off in 2025 and took the NFL by storm. The infamous throws from Caleb Williams, the insane takeaway number, and offensive success were all driving factors. This team found a way to win no matter what was happening, and it seemingly always happened at the eleventh hour. Riding the high of that season into the playoffs was easy. Riding that momentum into a fully new season with an entirely different defense and a full offseason later will not be.
It's good to have expectations for your team, especially when they so recently flew close to the sun. But also understanding that many factors existed last season that simply don't now. From Kevin Byard's uncommon ability to take the ball away from opponents to Drew Dahlman's surprise retirement, this isn't the same team as last year.Â
The most difficult thing in sports, across all different ones, is replication. Sure, a quarterback may be able to throw the same pass five times in a single game, but the magnitude of putting together a winning season in the NFL is no small feat, and that's exactly what Ben Johnson aims to do.Â
Coach Johnson has been repeatedly adamant about starting fresh, and how last year was last year. Success in 2026 may not look like it did in 2025. In fact, the chances of that are slim to none. It’s extremely important to recognize that the fan's expectations should never be about the record, but rather it should be about the process.Â
The Bears are almost certainly going to be competing for a playoff spot this season. Johnson has a vision, and Caleb Williams has so far been the perfect avatar to execute it. In an ideal situation, the Bears comfortably hold the NFC North from their perch in Chicago. But knowing the greater NFL, it'll never be quite that easy.Â
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