The problem is that the way the Bears won in 2025 is not sustainable. Franchise history has shown that time and again.

This season was so magical for the Chicago Bears that it felt like it was destined to end with a Super Bowl championship.

Instead, it ended on a cold night at Soldier Field, with an overtime defeat to the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round. It was still a successful season after winning the NFC North and beating the hated rival Green Bay Packers in the wild-card round.

This franchise made up a lot of ground after being a laughingstock in 2024. The Bears fired a head coach midseason for the first time in franchise history and collapsed to 5-12.

Hiring Ben Johnson turned out to be the exact solution this team needed. He was the correct tutor for franchise quarterback Caleb Williams. He implemented a culture that got the players to never give up, no matter how far behind the Bears got in a game.

They got behind in plenty of games and found ways to win in some of the most improbable ways.

Story continues below.

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The problem is that the way the Bears won in 2025 is not sustainable. Franchise history has shown that time and again.

The Bears followed up a magical 2001 NFC Central title by going 4-12 in 2002. It turns out Mike Brown walking off games with pick-sixes is only good for one winning season. The Bears won the NFC North in 2018 behind a defense obsessed with getting turnovers and trick plays on offense. That formula could not be replicated in 2019.

The way the Bears won in 2025 seems very familiar to 2001 and 2018. 2025 was just as enjoyable as those two seasons, but the hope is that Chicago can avoid having a disappointing encore. To do that, the Bears must have three things accomplished.

Caleb Williams Must be More Accurate

Caleb Williams proved he can put on the cape and save the team when needed. He made some of the most improbable plays this season.

However, he missed a lot of plays with a 58.1% completion percentage. He was a victim of dropped passes by his receivers. He did a better job of throwing the ball away when the play broke down rather than taking a costly sack.

Being off-target with his throws was a huge reason for the poor completion percentage. If he can improve his accuracy, that will complement the special throws he can make. It will also mean Williams is hitting on more chances for the offense to make plays.

The hope is that he grows as Josh Allen did in his third season. Allen went from a 58.8% completion percentage in his second season to 69.2% in year three.

Finding a Long-Term Left Tackle

Rookie Ozzy Trapilo appeared to be on track to be the team’s left tackle for a decade. He ruptured his patellar tendon during the Bears’ comeback playoff win against the Packers.

His future is in doubt, as that is a difficult injury to return from.

At a minimum, he is going to miss time next season. That leaves a major hole in the offensive line, which came together to be one of the team’s strengths.

All-Pro Joe Thuney could move out to left tackle, but that is a short-term solution. Plus, that could weaken the interior of the line. Rookie Theo Benedet made a couple starts at left tackle in 2025. However, there were times he looked like an undrafted free agent out of Canada. He seems destined to be a swing tackle.

The team could bring back Braxton Jones on a one-year “prove-it” deal. It is hard to see him staying healthy enough to make an impression as the team’s long-term left tackle. When he was the starting left tackle, he was nothing more than a replacement-level tackle on his best days.

Finding a long-term starter at left tackle is something that Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles must have at the top of things to address this offseason. Williams is getting solid protection from right tackle Darnell Wright. He must get it from the left side.

Also, finding a couple of eventual starters at guard to take over for veterans Thuney and Jonah Jackson will help the line stay one of the team’s strengths.

Upgrading the Defensive Line

The Bears’ defense was successful at taking the ball away. Consistently leading the league in takeaways year after year is tough to do.

That is why upgrading the pass rush must happen if the Bears are to go on a run of winning seasons.

Chicago harassed the quarterback constantly during the Lovie Smith days two decades ago. They stopped the run as well and mixed in getting turnovers. That led to the Bears making the playoffs three times in five seasons, including a Super Bowl appearance.

The Bears’ defensive line lacks game wreckers. The Bears were in the league’s bottom half in pass rush win rate and run block win rate.

Montez Sweat did have 10 sacks, but he did not blow up offenses with regularity. He is more of a secondary push rusher, who would thrive if the Bears had a true stud on the opposite side going after the quarterback.

Austin Booker showed promise. However, he might be just a rotational pass rusher. Gervon Dexter Sr. recorded six sacks as a defensive tackle. He is like Sweat in that he is not going to destroy an offensive line’s interior constantly.

Sweat, Booker, and Dexter Sr. are nice pieces, but the Bears must add more around them. Poles must sign, trade, or draft a couple more edge rushers and tackles that can make the defensive line a unit that the rest of the league fears.