The Chicago Bears will enter the 2026 NFL season as the team to beat in the NFC North. Ben Johnson made an immediate impact on the team, but the bar will be much higher now that the Bears won't be able to sneak up on anybody.
That's why everything that happens around the division could make or break the Bears' aspirations. Considering that, the Minnesota Vikings' biggest offseason move may throw a huge wrench in those plans.
Kyler Murray's Arrival Could Shake up the NFC North
The Vikings didn't need much time to realize that J.J McCarthy didn't have what it takes to be a franchise quarterback, at least at this point in his development. And with the Arizona Cardinals cutting ties with Kyler Murray, adding him to the QB room was a no-brainer.
Minnesota only had to spend just $1.3 million to get the former No. 1 pick, knowing that he might even be a long-term solution at the quarterback position. Murray has dealt with injuries and character issues. Still, he's incredibly athletic, a perennial dual-threat, and he's about to have the best supporting cast and coaching staff of his career.
The Vikings looked like a legitimate Super Bowl contender with Sam Darnold just a couple of years ago. They still have most of that core, and it became painfully evident that they were a victim of their own quarterback's lackluster play last season, as McCarthy continues to look more like he was a reach in the draft than a potential answer under center.
Murray is a proven veteran who will take the field with a huge chip on his shoulder every week. He knows that this might be his last chance to land another lucrative multi-year deal and be a starting quarterback, given how things ended for him in the desert.
Kevin O'Connell has earned a reputation as a quarterback whisperer. He's made all of them -- except McCarthy -- better, and Murray's mobility can give his proficient passing game a dimension they've never had until now.
Of course, Murray isn't the biggest guy out there. He tends to miss games with injuries, and some argue he might not be the mentally toughest quarterback. That said, he's still a veteran, an incredibly talented athlete, and an upgrade over both McCarthy and maybe even Darnold, at least on paper.
Despite playing in 87 of 117 possible games, Murray has the third-most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback since he entered the league in 2019 (32), trailing only Jalen Hurts (63) and Josh Allen (71). He's completed 67.1 percent of his passes in his career, much better than McCarthy's 57.6 percent, and he'll have an elite big-play threat in Justin Jefferson, which he lacked in Arizona.
Murray has only faced the Bears three times in his career, but he's fared well, owning a 2-1 record, two touchdowns, and no interceptions. Granted, he hasn't played them since 2024, but Dennis Allen's defense had to rely way too much on late-game heroics and turnovers to get the job done; they're not a reliable unit right now.
The NFC North is the toughest division in pro football, and that likely won't change in 2026. With that being the case, the Bears' defense left plenty to be desired last season, giving up the fifth-most total yards per game (373.8), leaving reasons for concern. Now, there's another major threat in the division that should be at the front of mind for Chicago's defense.