The Chicago Bears sure know how to make an impression on the NFL after putting up 59 points in their blowout win over the Carolina Panthers.
It was a close game for the most part, until late in the third quarter, when the offense kept making big plays. Over 500 yards of offense and three turnovers created by the Bears' defense showed how good this team could be.
Many players played well in this game, but who were the top guys? Here is a full ranking of the top 20 players on the Bears during their Week 1 win over the Panthers.
Ranking the best Bears players after Week 1 from 20 to 1
20. Roschon Johnson, RB
Johnson gets a little love for his special teams work, racking up four tackles. That's a good way to show that he can help the team even if he gets zero carries on offense.
19. Cairo Santos, K
Santos had a good showing, hitting his lone field goal and all eight of his extra points. The kickoffs need some work, but he deserves credit for converting on all of his kicks.
18. Grady Jarrett, DT
Jarrett looked better than he did last year at defensive tackle, finishing with three tackles and one quarterback hit. He may have some promise and could be a solid starter for this team in 2026.
17. Devin Bush, LB
Bush is so fast on the field, and he had a good debut with the Bears, racking up six tackles and one quarterback hit. Chicago has not truly seen what Bush could be in this defense yet, but it will be special when it hits.
16. Rome Odunze, WR
Odunze only had two catches, but his incredible 47-yard completion, with him just missing a defender, is worthy of putting him in the rankings. He had 52 total yards, and his calf looked to be in good shape.
15. Cam Lewis, S
For someone who learned at the last second that he'd replace Xavier Woods at safety in the starting lineup, Lewis deserves a ton of credit for his performance. He finished with six tackles in the win and earned a ton of respect from the Bears fan base.
14. Kentavius Street, DT
Street's debut with the Bears was solid, with two tackles, one quarterback hit, one tackle for loss, and one sack. Chicago is justified in trading away Gervon Dexter now, given how well Street played.
13. Luther Burden III, WR
Burden had a solid outing, catching five passes for 63 yards, including a 24-yard completion. He showed some good stuff and can be trusted in the passing game.
12. Malik Muhammad, CB
Muhammad got his first interception of his career in his very first game as an NFL pro. He was the best corner on the field, and while he can improve, he showed the Bears that he needs to be in the starting lineup and develop into a full-time starter.
11. Tory Taylor, P
Bears fans have to give some love to the punter, as Taylor was only called on twice, but his punts were incredible to watch. He averaged 51 yards per punt and did a great job of pinning the Panthers deep in their own territory.
10. Cole Kmet, TE
Most people would have thought Colston Loveland to beexpected on this list as the top tight end, but Kmet was the star at the position. He caught two passes for 35 yards and one touchdown to cap a solid game.
9. Dillon Thieneman, S
It was quite the first impression for Thieneman, as he was one of the few bright spots on this Bears defense. He racked up a team-high 10 tackles, one pass deflection, and one quarterback hit. Chicago might have something special in Thieneman.
8. Kyle Monangai, RB
Monangai started slowly, but he scored a 61-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter, which opened the floodgates. He finished with 100 yards and the score to cap a solid day for the 2025 seventh-round pick.
7. Joe Thuney, LG
The right side of the offensive line got a lot of love in the game, but Thuney deserves respect too for a solid performance. It wasn't the most memorable, but he did his job for the Bears in Week 1.
6. Montez Sweat, DE
Sweat was the only defensive lineman who consistently created pressure and generated plays. He finished with two tackles, one quarterback hit, one tackle for loss, and one sack. It was like watching him dominate all over again in 2025.
5. Jonah Jackson, RG
Jackson dominated the Panthers' defensive line. On every right-side run, Jackson and Darnell Wright pancaked defenders and opened up running lanes for D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai. It was a great performance.
4. Kalif Raymond, WR
Not many Bears fans would have put Raymond on this list as the top receiver, but he seems to have strong chemistry with Caleb Williams early on. He caught eight passes for 84 yards to lead the team, and he also added a 23-yard kickoff return. Raymond probably won't lead the team in receiving often, but he showed he can contribute on offense and special teams.
3. Darnell Wright, RT
Wright was arguably the best lineman on the team in the Panthers game. He often bullied guys with Jackson on the right side, especially on running plays. He more than earned the contract extension he got during training camp.
2. D'Andre Swift, RB
Swift loved that he got paid on his new contract extension because he showed it on the field with 124 yards and three touchdowns in the win. That's a guy who looks like he'll be Chicago's leading back for a long time.
Read more: Kaden Davis used 1 play to become Bears' most unlikely hero in win over Panthers
1. Caleb Williams, QB
Williams was electric, completing 72% of his passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns, then adding another 65 yards and two scores on the ground. No one on the Bears came close to the impact he had on the game.
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