The Chicago Bears have a lot to live up to after going 11-6 in the 2025 season and making the deepest playoff run they have been on in 15 years.
After watching the Seattle Seahawks win the Super Bowl over the New England Patriots, the Bears are now razor-focused on getting back into the postseason in 2026 and capturing their first title since 1985. With the weapons they already have and the potential of their offseason, some believe the Bears will do better than they did in the 2025 season.
Bleacher Report's Taylyn Hadley shared her early 2026 predictions, which show the Chicago Bears getting the No. 2 seed once again. Hadley has the Bears beating the Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Rams, and the now-defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks, setting up a matchup against the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl LXI.
Chicago Bears predicted to face the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl LXI
It's easy to get excited about the Bears team after the kind of season they had. Fans should back them to make the Super Bowl for multiple reasons, but there is a main one.
The young talent on this roster is hard to ignore thanks to the work Bears general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson did in the draft. Rookies like Colston Loveland, Luther Burden III, Ozzy Trapilo, and Kyle Monangai were Year 1 contributors who are only going to get better as the season goes on.
It also helps to have Caleb Williams as the quarterback and only getting better each year. Sure, the accuracy is not great right now, but Williams is making throws no other NFL quarterback can make.
Johnson has done a great job changing the culture from players who were used to losing to players who now can't stand to lose, since it happens so rarely. With seven losses last year compared to 12 in 2024, this Bears team improved at learning how to win, with an NFL-record seven fourth-quarter comebacks and game-winning drives.
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There's still some work that needs to be done in the offseason before Bears fans can really say this is a Super Bowl-contending team, but the future certainly looks bright.