The Bears fans have plenty of reasons to be thankful this season.
After starting the season 0-2, they have won nine of their last 10 games and sit at the top of the NFC North. Then, their Thanksgiving weekend became even more joyful when they dominated the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, winning 24-15 on Black Friday.
The Bears fans were treated to even bigger news: the Bears are now the top seed in the NFC after the Carolina Panthers' stunning upset win over the visiting Los Angeles Rams, 31-28.
Chicago owes Carolina after a second massive assist
While their own play has been the driving force, the Bears owe a debt of gratitude to the Carolina Panthers for reshaping the playoff picture. It’s a reminder that the Bears’ fortunes are forever intertwined with Carolina’s — a trade that changed the fate of both franchises in 2023.
The Bears traded their first overall pick to the Panthers, who drafted Alabama quarterback Bryce Young. The Bears received wide receiver DJ Moore and a slew of draft picks in return, laying the foundation for their turnaround. The Bears have since drafted right tackle Darnell Wright (2023 10th overall), cornerback Tyrique Stevenson (2023 56th overall), punter Tory Taylor (2024 122nd overall), and wide receiver Luther Burden (2025 39th overall).
Wright has been a revelation this season, solidifying the offensive line. Stevenson has been up and down, but he has been a key contributor in the secondary this season, while Burden III has already flashed great YAC skills and has a bright future ahead of him.
But the biggest haul for the Bears was drafting Caleb Williams No. 1 overall in the 2024 draft, which was originally Carolina's pick. The Panthers bottomed out to a 2-15 record in 2023, and the Bears were able to land Williams a year after they gambled and bypassed on both Young and Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Young had a career-best game against the Rams, throwing three touchdown passes, posting a 147.1 passer rating, and was instrumental in their upset over the Rams, paving the way for the Bears to get the top seed in the NFC. He has been inconsistent this season, but the Panthers improved to 7-6 and are still in the hunt for the NFC South title race. The Rams game could be the turning point for both him and the Panthers.
Read more: Dan Orlovsky spoke poetic truth about Bears' dominant performance vs. Eagles
This Thanksgiving, the Bears fans should be thankful to Carolina for Young's breakout performance while boosting Chicago’s present, which shaped the league in unexpected ways this season.