The Chicago Bears' 20-17 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Rams provided little for fans to appreciate amid the heartbreak. Such a closely fought game came down to a handful of plays that it becomes easy to look at as the potential turning point.
Regardless, it was a clear success for the Bears to win a playoff game and become clear NFC threats moving forward in head coach Ben Johnson's rookie season. Now, the franchise is tasked with focusing on the offseason ahead. An offseason that should include re-signing a surprise performer in Sunday's loss.
One of the biggest stories going into the game was the loss of left tackle Ozzy Trapilo and how the Bears might adjust. In a surprise move, the franchise opted to move guard Joe Thuney to the outside, allowing Jordan McFadden to start at guard. Previously, McFadden had only played two offensive snaps before the playoff game, making his start a bit of a surprise. Still, McFadden made the most of his chance and put up an admirable effort that proved the backup must be the mix for the Bears next season. The guard is set to be a restricted free agent in March, leaving Chicago a clear path to retaining the lineman.
This is a move that is now the obvious decision following an incredible performance for a player who had only played 166 snaps in his career before Sunday. McFadden's performance has lifted the guard from an afterthought to a potential contributor in the starting lineup or, at the very least, valued depth the Bears know they can rely on.
Bears Playoff Loss Highlighted Surprise Contributions from Jordan McFadden
McFadden has proven himself reliable with the season on the line against a veteran Rams playoff team in inclement weather. If the guard can play at a high level in this situation, there really isn't much else to offer when it comes to reasons why the lineman is going to be retained. The guard was originally a fifth-round pick with the Los Angeles Chargers and was claimed off waivers by the Bears in January 2025 and ended up on Chicago's practice squad for much of the season.
Now, McFadden has not only made it clear he isn't going to be on next season's practice squad, but he has given the Bears plenty to consider when deciding whether or not he could have a future as a starting option. Chicago can't help but appreciate the physicality and effort that McFadden offered even in the middle of a frustrating loss.
This made it clear that the lineman isn't going anywhere, as the Bears can re-sign him to a reasonable deal. It gives fans one piece to appreciate in the loss and a player they can look forward to seeing develop in the 2026 season. The loss to the Rams will continue to sting; there is no question about that, but this is a tiny silver lining amid the misery.