The Chicago Bears were one of the best stories in the NFL last season under new coach Ben Johnson, with the development of quarterback Caleb Williams, an impeccable turnover margin, and the team’s steely late-game resolve serving as driving forces behind their first division title in seven years.
Their NFL-record seven wins after trailing in the last two minutes of regulation included a stunner over the Minnesota Vikings , whose go-ahead touchdown with 50 seconds left was washed out by a kickoff coverage gaffe that led to a 56-yard return and game-winning field goal by the Bears as time expired. Their schedule includes Super Bowl winner Seattle and runner-up New England, plus 2024 season champion Philadelphia. After posting the most passing yards in franchise history in 2025, Williams has plenty of momentum as his grasp of Johnson’s offense and playing in the pros continues to grow.
They’ve already lost an important player to a long-term injury, with newcomer safety Coby Bryant out until at least December if not the rest of the season. From Johnson on down, though, these Bears carry themselves with a confidence that won’t be swayed by conventional NFL wisdom about the challenge of bettering breakthrough seasons or tempted to think they’ve arrived after winning one playoff game. That’s how fine the line can be between success and failure in this league, a thin margin for error that’s sure to test the Bears this year in their quest to repeat as NFC North champions in this remarkably competitive era for the division. Their competitors, from the Detroit Lions to the Green Bay Packers to the Vikings, are all poised for rebounds, and all four teams finished with winning records. He has young wide receivers Rome Odunze and Luther Burden and tight ends Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet to mature along with him.
Johnson said in a recent interview with The Athletic his goal is for the Bears to break the NFL’s all-time scoring record.
The healthy return of Micah Parsons would go a long way toward that, too, with the three-time All-Pro edge rusher expected back at midseason. The trio of quarterback Jared Goff, running back Jahmyr Gibbs and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Jameson Williams, Sam LaPorta and Isaac TeSlaa give Goff even more capable playmakers. Penei Sewell remains one of the game’s best offensive tackles, too. The Lions also get a boost from a schedule that has them playing four of the five worst teams in the league from last season.
Green Bay has largely owned the NFC North since its current iteration was formed in 2002, but guess which team has now gone the longest since its most recent division title? Yes, the Packers have grabbed the NFC’s last wild-card spot in each of the past three seasons, but their most recent NFC North crown came in 2021. There’s plenty of pressure on coach Matt LaFleur entering his eighth year with a 3-6 record in the playoffs, but quarterback Jordan Love is a good place to start with the goal to become a true Super Bowl contender again. Brown is tough to top in the NFL for overall talent, giving the Lions a sturdy base for their desired bounce-back from a 9-8 finish.
