Sportsbooks oddly show major disrespect towards Bears for 2026 NFL season

The Chicago Bears are the reigning NFC North champions. The team won 11 games and defeated the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card last season. 

That all happened in Johnson’s first year as the Bears’ head coach. There have been many teams in the past that have had a successful first season and never reached that level of success. Matt Nagy and the 2018 Bears are a good example, but unlike Nagy, Johnson not only has his own proven offensive scheme but also a quarterback, Caleb Williams, who has proven he can play his best football at the most crucial moments. 

Despite the Bears’ team success in 2025, sportsbooks like FanDuel and DraftKings are skeptical about a repeat. In fact, both books currently slot Chicago third in the NFC North, favoring the Detroit Lions to reclaim the division title, with the Green Bay Packers close behind.

Bears aren't getting the belief from everyone for 2026 success in NFC North

I understand that a year of success shouldn’t guarantee anything going into the following season, but third-best is downright disrespectful for a Bears team that finished with the No. 3 rushing offense and generated 127 explosive plays – second-most behind only the Bills (129). 

The Bears also finished with a plus-22 turnover differential. There’s a good chance Dennis Allen’s defense doesn’t lead the league in takeaways next season, but Johnson’s team excelled at playing clean football. 

Sticking with Chicago’s defense, the unit struggled outside of generating a league-most 33 takeaways. There is so much room for growth, and general manager Ryan Poles made it a priority to add to the defense in free agency and should continue to do so in the upcoming draft. 

Let’s not forget to mention that Williams set the new Bears’ single-season passing record (3,942) in his first year with Johnson. Although Erik Kramer’s previous record (3,838) was a low bar in today’s NFL, the 2025 season serves as a floor for what should be expected from Johnson and Williams going forward.

The NFC North is a tough division, and the Packers are a formidable opponent. Just look at how the last three matchups played out, each being decided by the closing minutes. The Lions swept the Bears last season, outscoring Chicago 71-37.

Read more: Bears fans will be intrigued by major change coming to team in 2026

It won’t be a given that the Bears repeat as NFC North champions, but Johnson’s team shouldn’t be viewed as a one-hit wonder; they are now a legitimate threat to win the division every season.