Ryan Poles makes sure his stance is clear on what Bears' standard should be

It's the offseason, and we're still weeks away from the crowning of the Super Bowl champion.

The Chicago Bears have bowed out of the game after an impressive campaign and unlikely playoff run. It was the first time the Bears won the NFC North since 2018, and the first time they made the playoffs this decade. Though the Bears may have found substantial success in 2025, nobody in Chicago is satisfied with how it ended.

Bears general manager Ryan Poles immediately centers on the idea of a championship-caliber team, one that can serve as the foundation of the franchise. That goal wasn't met in 2025, but that doesn't mean there wasn't success.

Looking at the season through this lens, the balance between progression and expectation was clear. The Bears made significant progress this year, it's true, but will it be enough to take the NFC North again next season?

Progress isn't the Standard

“Coach hit it. We didn’t reach what we wanted, the goals that we wanted to hit, and that’s to be a championship caliber team," Poles said. "That’ll never change. I am proud of the progress that we’ve made, but we can’t be complacent.”

Complacency spreads like a cancer through a team, regardless of sport. Poles hits the nail on the head. This offseason, the Bears should be proud of how far they've come, but they're not even close to the end goal. That came within distance of it, but there were still many hurdles for the Bears to overcome before they could bring home the Lombardi trophy.

“We’ve got to keep pushing forward. We know the challenge that comes with having success and trying to get back to it the following year, and we’re excited for that challenge — continuing to tighten the screws on the process and the people we need to elevate to get back to where we were and exceed it.”

Sustainable success is the goal, and the Bears have taken the next step toward that end. There are many decisions to be made by Poles and his front office this offseason, but the core of the team will still remain. With the coaching carousel already claiming one of the Bears' coaches, the Bears must act to fill those critical roles that can help propel them to success.

Progress has placed the Bears back in the conversation, but it hasn't earned them anything yet. Poles' message is clear; last season established direction, not arrival. What comes next will determine whether 2025 was the start of something sustainable or simply a step that stalled short of the standard the Bears aim for.