Raise your hand if you spent hours watching social media videos of Bears fans celebrating their team's most amazing moments this season in the stands at games, at bars or at home with friends.
While Sunday night's divisional playoff loss to the Rams kept the Bears from achieving their ultimate goal of winning the Super Bowl, they enraptured their fanbase with one of the most fun and exciting seasons in modern franchise history.
"That's part of the reason why I said I could do it here," said quarterback Caleb Williams, "to bring life, to bring joy, to bring excitement of being a Chicago Bears fan, to be able to cheer for us. I do take pride in it. It's really cool, honestly … to have the city behind you."
In Ben Johnson's first season as coach, the Bears captured the NFC North title for the first time since 2018. They won seven games they trailed in the final 2:00, including two against rival Green Bay in which they twice overcame double digit fourth-quarter deficits—once in the regular season that propelled them to the division title and again in a wild card playoff game.
"It was great," said receiver Rome Odunze. "I think the city of Chicago [was] definitely yearning for a team like this, a season like this, you know, the cardiac Bears. We did it in spectacular fashion at times. They supported us through thick and thin, and we appreciate that. That's something they can come to expect."
Stepping up
No position group showed more improvement from 2024 than the Bears offensive line, which was bolstered by the offseason additions of four new starters. General manager Ryan Poles signed center Drew Dalman in free agency, traded for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson and drafted Ozzy Trapilo in the second round.
Thuney was selected first-team All-Pro and voted to the Pro Bowl, Dalman was named to the Pro Bowl and right tackle Darnell Wright, the only returning starter, was chosen second-team All-Pro. The line helped the Bears rank third in the NFL in rushing and third in fewest sacks allowed per pass play.
With all five starters under contract for the 2026 season, the cohesiveness the line created should continue to grow. Asked about the chemistry up front, Jackson said: "It was great. It was awesome. Those guys, I wouldn't trade them for the world. And I'm glad we're still all under contract together to get back at it."
"It's great for friendships and the culture of the room, and obviously stability on the line is always helpful," Dalman added.
Complete season
After missing the last 12 games in 2024 with a concussion, safety Jaquan Brisker returned to start all 17 contests in 2025 as well as both playoff games.
"It meant a lot to finally complete a year this year after all the hard work I've been through, what I've been through, all the hard work I've put in," Brisker said. "And to finally finish a year this year and how everything went—we made it to the playoffs, had a great year—it was amazing, and I thank God for that."
Brisker recorded 92 tackles, 1.0 tackle-for-loss, 1.0 sack, one interception and eight pass breakups as part of a defense that led the NFL with 33 takeaways.
Off and running
Running back Kyle Monangai blossomed as a rookie, rushing for 783 yards and five touchdowns on 169 carries. The seventh-round pick from Rutgers ranked 24th in the NFL in rushing and fifth among rookies.
"There are a lot of things I can improve on, for sure," Monangai said. "I was just coming into this thing trying to gain the trust of the organization, gain the trust of my teammates, make them feel like they made the right decision in bringing me here and then trying to help us win games.
"We fell short at the end of the season. But personally, looking at it, I did some good things and there are definitely some things I can build off."
