The Chicago Bears' 2026 season is just around the corner, and with it come the expectations of the second season under head coach Ben Johnson. With last season's successes firmly in the rear view mirror, the Bears will need to work hard to keep their spot as a contender in the NFC North.
Mike Sando of The Athletic recently put together a survey of six anonymous NFL executives and had them rank the NFC teams from 1-16. The consensus of the vote placed the Bears at 5th overall in the NFC. None of the executives ranked the Bears below 7th, but one outlier placed the Bears in the top spot.
NFL executives believe the Bears have joined the NFC’s legitimate contenders
These rankings can be taken in a lot of different ways, so it's always important to take them with a grain of salt. But there's no denying the strength of the Bears offense. They've improved upon the places where they faltered last season, and even recovered quickly from the trade of DJ Moore to Buffalo, signing the likes of Khalif Raymond and drafting Zavion Thomas.
The problem is the defense. The Bears signed safety Coby Bryant to a nice free agency contract in the aftermath of his Super Bowl victory, and drafted Dillon Thieneman to start opposite him. But injury has now placed Bryant on the sidelines for a few months, and the pressure has been placed upon the rookie. There's still no solid answer for who the Bears will start as their pass rusher opposite Montez Sweat, though Dayo Odeyingbo and Austin Booker are expected to be sharing snaps.
The important thing to note about this ranking is that though the executives polled were anonymous, they all consistently saw the Bears as a contender. After the success of last season, no team will be underestimating the Bears, and frankly, why should they?
The defense may be a problem, yes, but Ben Johnson is still one of the most promising and innovative offensive coaches in the NFL right now. On top of that, Caleb Williams really seems to be settling into his role as the franchise player and he's seemed more confident and comfortable than ever. Pair that with all of the protection and weapons the team has surrounded him with, and you have a fearsome looking offense.
But the most important thing this ranking tells us is what we've all already known. The Bears have turned this ship around. The days of Matt Eberflus are behind us, and Ben Johnson isn't focused on cleaning up the mess anymore. The odds and ends may still linger a while longer, but this season is expected to be a cleaner and more planned procedure in year two under Johnson. That structure is what will enable the Bears to succeed.
5th overall in the NFC isn't a bad ranking, but it's not great either when you consider in the AFC. But the ranking also placed the Bears above the rest of the NFC North, and in one of the most difficult divisions in the NFL, that says something. The Packers ranked 7th, the Lions ranked 8th, and the Vikings came in at 12th, respectively. With the season only days away, these questions will soon be answered. The real challenge for the Bears is in converting league-wide recognition into a position as a Super Bowl contender.
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