The postseason run the Chicago Bears went on last year had its thrills, but also its heartbreak, especially in the NFC Divisional Round game against the Los Angeles Rams.
That is a feeling this 2026 Bears team doesn't ever want to feel again, as the goal is clear: get to the Super Bowl at all costs. Bears general manager Ryan Poles talked to the media after the first few days of free agency about what the team is focused on during the offseason.
"We want to sustain success," Poles said via The Score's Chris Emma. "We’ve talked about that a lot. In order to do that, we have to be very calculated with the moves we make. So, when we were looking through different situations, we took that into account."
Bears are looking for consistency in winning
Chicago hadn't had a playoff win in over 10 years until head coach Ben Johnson came in and helped turn the team around. Now, the Bears have made the playoffs in between, but have not been able to stay consistent in posting winning records and make back-to-back postseasons.
That's where Poles and Johnson have to change things and make sure the 2025 season is not just a fluke. They have to make it the standard moving forward.
Poles is off to a good start this offseason with improving the roster, as he has more of a focus on the defensive side of the ball. He has been able to sign guys like Devin Bush, Coby Bryant, and Kalif Raymond, who should make the team better instantly by stepping on the field.
Read more: Neville Gallimore said what Bears fans needed to hear after DT struggles in 2025
Anything less than an NFC Championship appearance would be considered a failure of a season. That's something Bears fans have not been able to say in a long time.