Despite a 4–2 start, their best since 2020, the Bears went on to lose 10 consecutive games, tying the franchise record set in 2022, with their first being against the Washington Commanders in the Hail Maryland game. In the last play of the game, a 52-yard Hail Mary pass that was tipped in the air by cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, who was caught taunting fans during the play, was caught in the endzone by Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown.[2][3] The Bears suffered close consecutive losses to each of their division rivals, starting with the Green Bay Packers' Karl Brooks blocking a potential game-winning field goal in Week 11.[4] In Week 12, the Bears rallied from an 11-point deficit in the last two minutes of regulation to force overtime against the Minnesota Vikings, only to lose despite winning the coin toss.[5] On Thanksgiving Day, the Bears fell to a 4–8 record following a 23–20 loss to the Detroit Lions. Eberflus was widely criticized for his clock management in the final seconds of the game and was fired the next day, making him the first head coach in franchise history to be fired midseason in the teams' over century old history.[6] In Week 14, with Thomas Brown at interim head coach, the Bears lost against the San Francisco 49ers, ensuring them of a last place finish in the division for the third straight season. Following the Commanders beating the New Orleans Saints in Week 15, the Bears were eliminated from playoff contention for the fourth consecutive season. They snapped their losing streak in the final week of the season with a 24–22 win over the Packers, their first win over their division rival since the 2018 season.
Offseason
Staff changes
On January 10, 2024, the Bears announced that they fired offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and four others offensive assistants. On January 23, 2024, Shane Waldron was hired as the new offensive coordinator,[7] while Kerry Joseph was announced as the Quarterbacks coach three days later.[8] On January 27, 2024, Eric Washington was named the defensive coordinator.[9]
On February 21, 2024, the Bears announced the hiring of additional six coaches: offensive passing game coordinator Thomas Brown, running backs coach Chad Morton, receivers coach Chris Beatty, assistant offensive line coach Jason Houghtaling, assistant quarterbacks and receivers coach Robbie Picazo and assistant running backs coach Jennifer King.[10] King would make history, as the first female coach in Bears history.[11] Chavis Cook was hired as the coaching administration manager. On February 23, the Bears added Ryan Griffin as assistant quarterbacks and receivers coach and Bryan Bing as assistant defensive line coach.[12] On February 26, Matt Pees was added as defensive analyst-advance/special projects.[13]
In addition, three other coaches were promoted: Offensive line coach Chris Morgan promoted to run game coordinator; assistant defensive backs coach, David Overstreet II to Nickelbacks coach and administrative coaching assistant, Kenny Norton III to defensive quality control coach.
The Bears added six coaches from the NFL's Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship Program: Michael Bellamy II (assistant wide receivers/senior offensive analyst/special teams assistant, Howard), Stefon Wheeler (run game coordinator/offensive line coach, Yale), Angela Rowe (head flag football coach, Huntingdon College), Michael Bearden (assistant wide receivers graduate assistant, Notre Dame), Yosef Fares (head coach, Justin Garza High School) and Anthony Blevins (defensive assistant, Birmingham Stallions).[19]
↑ The Bears traded a 2023 first-round selection (1st overall) to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for a first-round selection (1st overall), 2023 first and second-round selections (9th and 61st overall), a 2025 second-round selection, and WR D. J. Moore.[51]
↑ The Bears traded a second-round selection (40th overall) to the Washington Commanders in exchange for DE Montez Sweat.[52]
↑ The Bears traded a fourth-round selection (110th overall) to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for WR Keenan Allen.
↑ The Bears traded a 2023 first-round selection to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a fourth-round selection (122nd overall) and a 2023 first-round selection.
↑ The Bears traded a fifth-round selection (144th overall) to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for G/C Ryan Bates.[53]
↑ The Bears traded a 2025 fourth-round selection to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a fifth-round selection (144th overall).[54]
↑ The Bears traded a sixth-round selection (184th overall) to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for G Dan Feeney.
↑ The Bears traded a seventh-round selection (231st overall) to the New England Patriots in exchange for WR N'Keal Harry.
Rookie minicamp participants
The following unsigned undrafted free agents participated in the Bears Rookie Minicamp from May 9 to 11: LB Brian Abraham, Albany; OT Noah Atagi, Weber State; RB T.D. Ayo-Durojaiye, Villanova; DB Travian Blaylock, Wisconsin; DB Russell Dandy, Eastern Illinois; DT Mark Ho Ching, Northern Arizona; WR John Jackson, USC; DB Patrick Jolly, Abilene Christian; DB Leon Jones, Arkansas State; DT Dashaun Mallory, Arizona State; S Samuel Matthews, Texas A&M; DE John McCartan, Oregon State; LB Rich Miller Jr., Kansas; LB Paul Moala, Georgia Tech; WR R.J. Mobley, Winston-Salem; DB Decorian Patterson, UCF; DB Kendarin Ray, Tulsa; WR Marcus Rogers, Troy; OG David Satkowski, Stonehill; TE Geor'quarius Spivey, Mississippi State; OG Kameron Stutts, Auburn; OG Donald Ventrelli, North Dakota; TE Shelton Zeon, UNLV.[56] Jackson, Jones, Mallory and Moala would later signed with the team.[57]
Staff
On November 12, 2024 the Bears fired offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, after only nine games, and appointed passing game coordinator Thomas Brown as the interim offensive coordinator. It was the first ever change in the middle of the season since Perry Moss became Chicago's first designated OC in 1970.[58] On November 29, 2024 Head coach Matt Eberflus was fired amid six game losing streak, and the team appointed Brown as the first ever interim head coach in franchise history, just 17 days after being promoted to interim offensive coordinator.[59] On December 2, 2024, wide receivers coach Chris Beatty was subsequently promoted to interim offensive coordinator under Brown.[60]
Despite falling behind 17–0 and failing to score an offensive touchdown, the Bears rallied to beat the Titans in their season opener with touchdowns on returns of a blocked punt and interception. Caleb Williams, despite finishing with just 93 passing yards, became the first #1 overall pick to win his first NFL start since David Carr in 2002.
Week 2: at Houston Texans
Week 2: Chicago Bears at Houston Texans– Game summary
Caleb Williams put up his best game of the season to date, throwing for 363 yards, but also threw two interceptions and lost a fumble. With the loss, the Bears fell to 1–2.
Week 4: vs. Los Angeles Rams
Week 4: Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears– Game summary
D'Andre Swift rushed for 93 yards and a touchdown, and the Bears defense forced two turnovers, improving them to 2–2 and their first win over the Rams since 2018.
Week 5: vs. Carolina Panthers
Week 5: Carolina Panthers at Chicago Bears– Game summary
The Bears played lights out football. Caleb Williams played his best game with the Bears with 304 passing yards and two touchdowns, and Chicago's defense allowed just 10 points and forced three turnovers. With the win, they improve to 3–2 and defeated the Panthers for the fourth straight meeting.
The game ended with a play now known as the Hail Maryland, where Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels threw a 52-yard Hail Mary pass to wide receiver Noah Brown to defeat the Bears on the final play.[62] As the play began, Bears cornerback Tyrique Stevenson was taunting the crowd and was responsible for tipping the pass that was then caught by Brown for the winning touchdown. With the crushing loss, the Bears fell to 4–3.
Week 9: at Arizona Cardinals
Week 9: Chicago Bears at Arizona Cardinals– Game summary
For the second straight game, the Bears failed to score a touchdown, and fell to 4–5. This was also the Bears' first loss at Soldier Field since Week 6 of 2023, snapping an 8-game winning streak at home.
After this game, the Bears fired offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and named Thomas Brown interim offensive coordinator.
Week 11: vs. Green Bay Packers
Week 11: Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears– Game summary
The Bears suffered another last-second loss, after a 46-yard field goal attempt from Cairo Santos to win the game was deflected by Packers defensive lineman Karl Brooks. With this loss, the Bears fell to 4–6 and lost their eleventh straight game against the Packers.
Week 12: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Week 12: Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears– Game summary
The Bears rallied from an 11-point deficit with under 2 minutes remaining to force overtime, but the Bears offense went three-and-out and the Vikings drove down the field for a game-winning field goal. With the loss, the Bears fell to 4–7.
The Bears rallied from a 23–7 fourth quarter deficit to pull within 23–20 with possession of the ball in field goal range; however, a sack knocked them out of field goal range, and a disastrous sequence ensued with the Bears not using their last timeout and the clock running out after an incomplete pass. The loss dropped the Bears to 4–8, and the day after the game, head coach Matt Eberflus was fired, becoming the first head coach in franchise history to be fired mid-season, and interim offensive coordinator Thomas Brown was promoted to interim head coach.
Week 14: at San Francisco 49ers
Week 14: Chicago Bears at San Francisco 49ers– Game summary
Thomas Brown's head coaching debut was a disaster for the Bears, who were outgained in yardage 319–4 in the first half and 452–162 for the game against a shorthanded 49ers team. With their seventh straight loss, the Bears fell to 4–9 and were assured of a fourth straight losing season.
Week 15: at Minnesota Vikings
Week 15: Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings– Game summary
The Bears were shut out in the first half for the third consecutive game, and were blown out 30–12 by the Vikings, falling to 4–10. Also, prior to this game playing out, the Bears were disqualified from the playoffs due to Washington's win over New Orleans.
Week 16: vs. Detroit Lions
Week 16: Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears– Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3
4
Total
Lions
13
14
7
0
34
Bears
0
14
3
0
17
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
Date: December 22
Game time: 12:00p.m. CST
Game weather: Mostly cloudy, 29°F (−2°C)
Game attendance: 56,539
Referee: Clete Blakeman
TV announcers(Fox): Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma and Megan Olivi
With the last second game-winning field goal the Bears snap both their 10 game losing streak and their 11 game losing streak against Green Bay to finish 5–12. This was also the Bears' only road win of the season, their first road win on a Sunday since 2021, and their first win in Green Bay since 2015.
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