The Chicago Bears' 2025 schedule is out, and after winning the offseason, there is an expectation that the Bears will return to the playoffs.
Arguably, the Bears have won the offseason for the third consecutive year. Selfishly, this offseason does feel different. Different in the sense that the Bears have done all the things they are expected to do. They hired the right head coaching candidate in Ben Johnson. They dedicated themselves to improving the offensive line. And they added an established defensive coordinator in Dennis Allen. Oh, and the Bears still have Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze.
There are some daunting stretches during the Bears' schedule, including two games against the Green Bay Packers in the span of three weeks, but there isn't a stretch of games that should, on paper, sink the Bears' season. That could be the leading reason behind Bleacher Report's prediction for the Bears' record in 2025. After the release of the schedule, Bleacher Report has the Bears with a record of 10-7 next season.
2025 schedule release should have the Bears thinking playoffs
10 wins would be a five-game improvement from where the Bears ended the 2024 season. However, the jump doesn't seem nearly as impossible when you consider there were two games last season when a competent head coach likely put the Bears in a position to win. Those games are Week 8 against the Washington Commanders and the Thanksgiving game against the Detroit Lions.
Assuming Johnson is an upgrade over Eberflus, that alone should lead to an improvement in the record. Couple that with the fact that Williams now has a head coach dedicated to his development, and there is reason to believe the quarterback will be the reason why the Bears win a handful of games during the 2025 season. Add all these factors together, and the Bears certainly could be a playoff team in 2025.