NFL · NFC North · Est. 1920 · Soldier Field
Updated March 17, 2026
Ben Johnson's debut as head coach was nothing short of transformative. The Bears went 11-6, won the NFC North for the first time since 2018, and earned their first playoff victory since 2010 by defeating the rival Packers 31-27 in the Wild Card. Johnson's 12 total wins (including the postseason) tied the franchise record for a first-year head coach, and he was named a finalist for AP Coach of the Year.
Under Ben Johnson's innovative offensive scheme, Caleb Williams blossomed in his second NFL season, leading a Bears offense that was unrecognizable from the Eberflus era. Williams' chemistry with his receivers and his growing command of the offense were evident in a division-clinching run that has Chicago dreaming about a deep 2026 playoff push.
The Bears' season ended with a gut-wrenching 20-17 overtime loss to the Rams in the Divisional Round, just one win from the NFC Championship. The defeat stung, but the postseason experience — including that cathartic Wild Card win over Green Bay — gives Chicago a foundation to build on. In a historically competitive NFC North where all four teams finished above .500, the Bears stood tallest.