All 32 NFL teams head into each season with the same goal: winning the Super Bowl.

By the first weekend in January, only 14 teams have a shot at that achievement after qualifying for the playoffs. And by the next weekend, just eight teams remain in the race, which is where the Bears found themselves this year.

While the Bears ultimately fell short of accomplishing the goal they set during their offseason program in the spring, during their first year under Ben Johnson's leadership, they surpassed expectations, established a culture built on grit and togetherness, and hosted two playoff games at Soldier Field.

"There's a lot of things to be proud about with this group," safety Kevin Byard III said. "We accomplished a lot. We have ignited a belief from putting this city into this team, that this city believes in this team. I've been saying that Chicago deserves a winner and just hoping that we gave this city something to be proud about. Obviously, we fell short. But it's very hopeful for this city just based on the stuff we were able to achieve."

Byard, one of five Bears captains this season and a 10-year veteran, was one of several players to speak to the media Monday afternoon during the players' final day at Halas Hall this season. While players expressed disappointment at their season coming to an end, they also shed light on the team's accomplishments and discussed how proud they are to be part of the 2025 Bears.

"It's tough, but you appreciate the good things that happen," right guard Jonah Jackson said. "It's kind of like your life flashes before your eyes. The year flashes before your eyes. It sucks because there's gonna be a lot of turnover and a lot of new faces and things like that, but you just appreciate what you had when you had it."

The Bears finished with a 12-7 record, including a playoff win over the Packers in the wild card round and an NFC North title, their best season since 2010. For many of the team's core players, the past two weeks were their first taste of NFL playoff football.

"[It makes you] a lot hungrier," safety Jaquan Brisker said. "Getting to the playoffs, seeing what that feels like, seeing the energy, things like that, and just wanting to keep winning and get closer to winning a championship is what makes me hungry every single time, but just want to get that Lombardi."

For veterans who have been in these positions before, such as Byard, All-Pro offensive lineman Joe Thuney or defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, they understand the challenge in building a culture and locker room capable of making the postseason and sustaining that success for years to come.

While Byard is set to become a free agent after spending the past two seasons in Chicago, he told reporters he "would love to be back," and expressed his desire to "finish what we got started this year."

"I want to win," Byard said. "Obviously, everybody has different reasons why they do this thing. For me, it's always been about legacy. I want to be able to win. I want to be able to play at a higher level and all that good stuff, but what motivates me and what drives that is to want to win and try to be the best person, to be the best player, leader, teammate that I could possibly be for this organization or any organization. So that's who I am. I want to be able to win.

"I want to be on a team that wants to win. I truly don't know what this future is going to hold for me. I don't know what this offseason is going to look like. I'm going to take some time off, go back to being a full-time dad, and we'll see what happens."

Along with Byard, Brisker is also set to hit free agency this spring, but said Sunday at Soldier Field that he "for sure" wants to come back to Chicago. He defined his fourth NFL season as "a heck of year" and credited the Bears' identity for their season-long success.

"Super tough. Gritty. Guys playing for each other," Brisker said. "There are so many words that come to mind when I think about this team. Guys playing for each other, having each other's back. Never leaving your brother and leaving it all out on the field. That's all you can ask for.

"Be willing to die for your teammates, die for your coaches, die for everybody within this organization, for Chicago. It was definitely an amazing ride, an amazing run. It's a special place."

That identity was set forth by Johnson as soon as he was hired by the Bears – which will be exactly one year ago on Wednesday. Through OTAs and training camp, he demanded high effort and execution from each player and coach daily, building a resilient group that competed for one another.

Johnson's ability to remain consistent with his own process and messaging created a lead-by-example mentality that was easy for the players to gravitate toward.

"It takes a commitment from everybody in the building every week to come get it done, and kudos to everybody this year that did that," receiver Rome Odunze said. "It was a tremendous buy-in from everybody and the work that was put in was very cool to see, very cool to be a part of. Nothing's guaranteed at the end of the day – you still have to go out there and get the job done every single Sunday. That's what we're looking forward to doing next year."

While players reiterated both Sunday night and Monday afternoon that the locker room won't be exactly the same next year, the Bears have established a core that provides a positive outlook on the future in Chicago and intends to continue fostering the culture established this season.

"I think it's just that grit and that belief in each other," rookie running back Kyle Monangai said. "I don't think that's going anywhere, no matter who comes back next year, who's not here. That's our identity. That's the identity we have in our locker room. It's that belief in each other and doing it for the guy next to you."