The Chicago Bears had a stellar 2025 season with a lot of players emerging as future stars on the team.
Going into the 2026 season, there are good players who have contributed to the team but have not yet broken out as potential stars. Guys like Colston Loveland and Luther Burden proved themselves, but there are plenty who have to do it this season.
Who are those players who are overdue for a breakout season on the Bears? Here's a look at a few to keep in mind.
Austin Booker, DE
Booker had a really nice close to the season with 4.5 sacks after missing the first half of the season with his injury. He is now being looked at as one of the top pass rushers after the team decided not to bring in new players at the position. Bears fans have big expectations for him, and he needs to live up to them.
Noah Sewell, LB
The linebacker room was a rotating door with injuries, including Sewell, but when he was on the field, he looked great. He will have some stiff competition for playing time since D'Marco Jackson is back and Devin Bush joined the team, but he can still play at a high level for the Bears and might be in the rotation in 2026. Watch for him to make an impact on special teams and defense in the upcoming season.
Jahdae Walker, WR
Walker was a great story last year as an undrafted free agent, as he made the 53-man roster. Then he had that game-tying touchdown against the Green Bay Packers in the second regular season meeting that changed his future. He now might be the future WR3 on the Bears and has a chance to be great after two touchdowns in the last few weeks of last year.
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Brittain Brown, RB
It might be odd to put a running back who might be on the edge of not making the roster on here, but Brown's performance against the Cincinnati Bengals last season, with his long touchdown run, might make things interesting in 2026. Roschon Johnson might be a cut candidate, and D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai are starting running backs on the team, but if injuries happen, Brown has proven he's ready to step up and make plays for them.
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