2025 Chicago Bears season

Last updated

2025 Chicago Bears season
Owner George McCaskey
General manager Ryan Poles
Head coach Ben Johnson
Home stadium Soldier Field
Results
Record11–6
Division place1st NFC North
PlayoffsWon Wild Card Playoffs
(vs. Packers) 31–27
Lost Divisional Playoffs
(vs. Rams) 17–20 (OT)
All-Pros FS Kevin Byard (1st team)
OG Joe Thuney (1st team)
OT Darnell Wright (2nd team)
Pro Bowlers FS Kevin Byard
C Drew Dalman
G Joe Thuney
CB Nahshon Wright
Uniform
Chicago Bears Uniforms 2025.png

The 2025 season was the Chicago Bears' 106th in the National Football League (NFL), their fourth under the leadership of general manager Ryan Poles and their first under head coach Ben Johnson. This was their first season since 1982 without Virginia Halas McCaskey since she took over as team owner, as she died on February 6, 2025 at the age of 102. [1]

Contents

The Bears improved on their 5–12 record [2] from 2024 following a week 10 win against the New York Giants. [3] With a week 13 road win over the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, [4] [5] the Bears clinched their first winning season since 2018. [6] Their 11-4 start was also their best since doing the same in that season. After a Week 16 overtime win against their longtime rival, the Green Bay Packers, coupled with the Detroit Lions losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers [7] the following day, the Bears secured their first playoff berth since 2020 [8] as well as ending their seven-year NFC North title drought [9] following the Packers' loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 17. [10]

The Bears began their playoff run with a comeback victory over the Packers in the Wild Card round, marking their first playoff win since the 2010 season. They would later lose to the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round in overtime. During the season, Caleb Williams broke Erik Kramer's record for the most single-season passing yards as a Bear with 3,942; the previous record was 3,838, making him the first Bear to have a 3,900-passing yard season.

Offseason

Ownership changes

Virginia Halas McCaskey, who was the oldest of George Halas' children and the principal owner of the franchise since 1983, died on February 6, 2025 at the age of 102. [11] [12]

Staff changes

On November 29, 2024, the Bears fired head coach Matt Eberflus after the team was 4–8 and in the midst of a six-game losing streak. It was the first time in franchise history the Bears fired their head coach in the middle of the season. [13] The Bears promoted offensive coordinator Thomas Brown [14] [15] as interim head coach, and under Brown the team went 1–4 in their last five games to finish the year at 5–12. On January 21, 2025, the Bears hired Ben Johnson as their 18th head coach. [16] Johnson had previously been with the Miami Dolphins from 2012 to 2018, working up the ranks as offensive assistant, assistant quarterbacks coach, tight ends coach, assistant wide receivers coach and wide receivers coach. [17] [18] He was then hired by the Detroit Lions in 2019 as an offensive quality control coach before moving up to tight ends coach and passing game coordinator in 2020 and 2021. He took over as offensive coordinator in 2022 under head coach Dan Campbell, and over the next three seasons, he helped make the Lions one of the best offenses in the league – they ranked in the top five in scoring in each of Johnson's three seasons, leading the league in 2024 with 564 points (fourth-most in NFL history and a franchise record).

On February 20, 2025, the Bears announced the full 2025 coaching staff. [19]

Roster changes

Free agents

PositionPlayerTag2025 teamDate signedContractSource
WR Keenan Allen UFA Los Angeles Chargers August 51 year, $8.5 million [20]
CB Josh Blackwell RFAChicago BearsMarch 62 years, $5 million [21]
T Larry Borom UFA Miami Dolphins March 131 year, $2.5 million [22]
TE Stephen Carlson UFAChicago BearsMarch 131 year, minimum
WR DeAndre Carter UFA Cleveland Browns March 191 year, minimum [23]
S Adrian Colbert UFA
S Douglas Coleman III ERFA
DT Byron Cowart UFA New York Jets March 131 year, $1.36 million [24]
T Jake Curhan UFA Arizona Cardinals March 141 year, $1.17 million [25]
LS Scott Daly UFAChicago BearsMarch 171 year, minimum
RB Darrynton Evans UFA Buffalo Bills March 131 year, $1.21 million [26]
DL Jonathan Ford ERFAChicago BearsApril 81 year, minimum [27]
DE Daniel Hardy ERFAChicago BearsApril 81 year, minimum [28]
RB Travis Homer UFAChicago BearsMarch 171 year, $2 million [29]
G Teven Jenkins UFA Cleveland Browns March 201 year, $3.05 million [30]
WR Collin Johnson UFA Las Vegas Raiders May 1 [31]
CB Jaylon Jones RFA Arizona Cardinals March 211 year, $1.2 million [32]
C Doug Kramer Jr. RFAChicago BearsMarch 181 year, minimum [33]
TE Marcedes Lewis UFA Denver Broncos October 29Practice squad
DE Jacob Martin UFA Washington Commanders March 131 year, $3 million [34] [35]
S Tarvarius Moore UFAChicago BearsMarch 101 year, $1.17 million [36]
G Bill Murray ERFAChicago BearsApril 81 year, minimum [37]
LB Amen Ogbongbemiga UFAChicago BearsMarch 62 years, $5.25 million [38]
G Matt Pryor UFA Philadelphia Eagles March 27$1.355 million [39]
LB Jack Sanborn RFA Dallas Cowboys March 121 year, $1.5 million [40]
LS Patrick Scales UFA
C Coleman Shelton UFA Los Angeles Rams March 132 years, $12 million [41]
CB Ameer Speed ERFAChicago BearsApril 81 year, minimum [42]
DE Darrell Taylor UFA Houston Texans March 101 year, $5.25 million [43]
WR Nsimba Webster UFA
DT Chris Williams RFAChicago BearsApril 81 year,$3.26 million [44]
RFA: Restricted free agent, UFA: Unrestricted free agent, ERFA: Exclusive rights free agent

Legend

 –  Light green background indicates a player has been re-signed by the Bears.
 –  Light red background indicates a player has departed the Bears.

Signings

PositionPlayerPrevious teamDate signedContractSource
TE Durham Smythe Miami Dolphins March 121 year, minimum [45]
DT Grady Jarrett Atlanta FalconsMarch 123 years, $42.75 million [45]
C Drew Dalman Atlanta Falcons March 133 years, $42 million [46]
DE Dayo Odeyingbo Indianapolis Colts March 133 years, $48 million [46]
WR Olamide Zaccheaus Washington Commanders March 171 year, minimum [47]
WR Devin Duvernay Jacksonville Jaguars March 191 year, minimum [29]
CB Nick McCloud San Francisco 49ers March 241 year, minimum [48]
CB Shaun Wade Los Angeles Chargers April 31 year, minimum [49]
WR Miles Boykin Seattle Seahawks April 31 year, minimum [49]
QB Case Keenum Houston Texans April 41 year, $3 million [50]

Trades

PositionPlayerTeamDate tradedNotesSource
G Jonah Jackson Los Angeles Rams March 12CHI receives: Jackson
LAR receives: 2025 sixth-round pick (202nd overall)		 [51]
G Joe Thuney Kansas City Chiefs March 12CHI receives: Thuney
KC receives: 2026 fourth-round pick		 [51]

Reserve/future contracts

The Bears signed the following players to reserve/future contracts: Maurice Alexander (WR), Theo Benedet (OT), Alex Cook (FS), Chris Glaser (OG), John Jackson (WR), Carl Jones Jr. (LB), Jamree Kromah (DE), Joshua Miles (OT), Jordan Murray (TE), Austin Reed (QB), Ricky Stromberg (C), Samori Toure (WR) and Joel Wilson (TE). [52]

Releases

PositionPlayerDate2025 teamNotes
TE Gerald Everett February 21, 2025 [53]
DE DeMarcus Walker

Draft

Draft trades

  1. ↑ The Bears traded a 2023 first-round selection (1st overall) to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for a second-round selection (39th overall), 2023 first- and second-round selections (9th and 61st overall), a 2024 first-round selection (1st overall) and WR D. J. Moore. [54]
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 The Bears traded second- (41st overall), third- (72nd overall) and seventh- (240th overall) round selections in exchange for second- (56th and 62nd overall) and fourth- (109th overall) round selections. [55]
  3. ↑ The Bears traded a sixth-round selection (185th overall) to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for LB Darrell Taylor. [56]
  4. 1 2 The Bears traded a sixth-round selection (192nd overall) to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a seventh-round selection (240th overall) and DT Chris Williams. [57]
  5. ↑ The Bears traded a seventh-round selection (224th overall) and WR Chase Claypool to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a sixth-round selection (192nd overall). [58]
  6. ↑ The Bears traded a sixth-round selection (202nd overall) to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for G Jonah Jackson. [59]
  7. ↑ The Bears traded QB Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a conditional sixth-round selection (202nd overall). The condition – which would have given Chicago a fourth-round selection if Fields played in 51% of the Steelers' snaps in 2024 – was not met. [60]
  8. ↑ The Bears traded RB Khalil Herbert to the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for a seventh-round selection (233rd overall). [61]

Staff

2025 Chicago Bears staff

Front office

  • Chairman – George McCaskey
  • President/CEO – Kevin Warren
  • General manager – Ryan Poles
  • Assistant general manager – Ian Cunningham
  • Vice president of football administration – Matt Feinstein
  • Senior director of player personnel – Jeff King
  • Director of player personnel – Trey Koziol
  • Director of college scouting – Breck Ackley
  • Assistant director of college scouting - Francis St. Paul
  • Director of pro scouting – DJ Hord

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches
  • Defensive coordinator – Dennis Allen
  • Defensive line – Jeremy Garrett
  • Linebackers – Richard Smith
  • Assistant linebackers – Kevin Koch
  • Defensive backs/passing game coordinator – Al Harris
  • Assistant defensive backs/safeties – Matt Giordano
  • Senior defensive assistant – Bill Johnson
  • Defensive assistant (nickels) – Cannon Matthews
  • Defensive quality control – Kenny Norton III

Special teams coaches


Final roster

2025 Chicago Bears roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

 Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

 Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams (ST)

 Practice squad

Reserve

Rookies in italics
53 active, 10 reserve, 16 practice squad (3 exempt)

Preseason

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueRecap
1August 10 Miami Dolphins T 24–240–0–1 Soldier Field Recap
2August 17 Buffalo Bills W 38–01–0–1Soldier Field Recap
3August 22at Kansas City Chiefs W 29–272–0–1 Arrowhead Stadium Recap

Game summaries

Week 1: vs Miami Dolphins

Preseason Week 1: Chicago Bears vs Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Dolphins01401024
Bears0107724

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

Game information

Week 2: vs Buffalo Bills

Preseason Week 2: Chicago Bears vs Buffalo Bills – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Bills00000
Bears7213738

at Soldier Field

Game information

Week 3: at Kansas City Chiefs

Preseason Week 3: Chicago Bears at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Bears01001929
Chiefs10107027

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Regular season

Schedule

On May 12, the NFL announced that the Bears will host their longtime rival Green Bay Packers on Saturday, December 20 as part of a Week 16 double header that will air exclusively on Fox. [63] Later that day, the NFL announced that the Bears will travel to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Black Friday to face the Eagles in their Week 13 matchup. [64]

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueRecap
1 September 8 Minnesota Vikings L 24–270–1 Soldier Field Recap
2 September 14at Detroit Lions L 21–520–2 Ford Field Recap
3 September 21 Dallas Cowboys W 31–141–2Soldier Field Recap
4 September 28at Las Vegas Raiders W 25–242–2 Allegiant Stadium Recap
5 Bye
6 October 13at Washington Commanders W 25–243–2 Northwest Stadium Recap
7 October 19 New Orleans Saints W 26–144–2Soldier Field Recap
8 October 26at Baltimore Ravens L 16–304–3 M&T Bank Stadium Recap
9 November 2at Cincinnati Bengals W 47–425–3 Paycor Stadium Recap
10 November 9 New York Giants W 24–206–3Soldier Field Recap
11 November 16at Minnesota Vikings W 19–177–3 U.S. Bank Stadium Recap
12 November 23 Pittsburgh Steelers W 31–288–3Soldier Field Recap
13 November 28 at Philadelphia Eagles W 24–159–3 Lincoln Financial Field Recap
14 December 7at Green Bay Packers L 21–289–4 Lambeau Field Recap
15 December 14 Cleveland Browns W 31–310–4Soldier Field Recap
16 December 20 Green Bay Packers W 22–16 (OT)11–4Soldier Field Recap
17 December 28at San Francisco 49ers L 38–4211–5 Levi's Stadium Recap
18 January 4 Detroit Lions L 16–1911–6Soldier Field Recap

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. Minnesota Vikings

Week 1: Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Vikings0602127
Bears737724

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

Game information

In their season opener against the Vikings, the Bears led 17–6 through the first three quarters thanks to a Caleb Williams rushing touchdown and a pick-six by Nahshon Wright. However, they allowed 21 unanswered points in the 4th quarter, including touchdown passes to Justin Jefferson and Aaron Jones Sr., resulting in a 24–27 defeat. With the loss, the Bears started their season 0–1 and lost their sixth straight home game against the Vikings.

Week 2: at Detroit Lions

Week 2: Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Bears770721
Lions1414101452

at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan

Game information

This was Ben Johnson's first visit to Detroit since he left the Lions. With the blowout loss, the Bears fell to 0–2 overall and against the NFC North.

Week 3: vs. Dallas Cowboys

Week 3: Dallas Cowboys at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Cowboys3110014
Bears14107031

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

Game information

This was their first win under head coach Ben Johnson. With the win, the Bears improved to 1–2 and 1–0 against the NFC East.

Week 4: at Las Vegas Raiders

Week 4: Chicago Bears at Las Vegas Raiders – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Bears367925
Raiders777324

at Allegiant Stadium, Paradise, Nevada

Game information

The Bears blocked an attempted game-winning field goal by the Raiders to secure their 800th win in franchise history. [65]

Week 6: at Washington Commanders

Week 6: Chicago Bears at Washington Commanders – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Bears673925
Commanders0710724

at Northwest Stadium, Landover, Maryland

  • Date: October 13
  • Game time: 8:15 p.m. EDT/7:15 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 59 °F (15 °C)
  • Game attendance: 64,457
  • Referee: Alex Moore
  • TV announcers (ABC): Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters and Laura Rutledge
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Running back D'Andre Swift rushed for 108 yards on 14 carries and added two receptions for 67 yards, including a 55-yard catch-and-run touchdown. Kicker Jake Moody, who was activated from the Bears' practice squad, converted four of five field goal attempts, including the game-winner, as the Bears avenged their last-second loss to the Commanders from the previous season. [66]

Week 7: vs. New Orleans Saints

Week 7: New Orleans Saints at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Saints077014
Bears3173326

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

Game information

The Bears snapped their eight-game losing streak against the Saints, beating them for the first time since the 2008 season. This also marked the Bears first four-game win streak since 2018. [67]

Week 8: at Baltimore Ravens

Week 8: Chicago Bears at Baltimore Ravens – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Bears6001016
Ravens01061430

at M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

Game information

With the loss, the Bears fell to 4–3 for the second year in a row.

Week 9: at Cincinnati Bengals

Week 9: Chicago Bears at Cincinnati Bengals – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Bears710141647
Bengals101071542

at Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

  • Date: November 2
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 50 °F (10 °C)
  • Game attendance: 66,264
  • Referee: Clete Blakeman
  • TV announcers (CBS): Spero Dedes, Adam Archuleta and Aditi Kinkhabwala
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

The Bears appeared to seal the game when DJ Moore scored a 16-yard touchdown to make it 41–27 with 4:53 remaining. However, Bengals' quarterback Joe Flacco led the Bengals on a four-play touchdown drive that concluded with a 23-yard touchdown pass to tight ends Noah Fant with 1:43 left. Bengals' wide receiver Tee Higgins then caught a two-point conversion to trim the Bears' lead to 41–35. The Bengals successfully executed an onside kick that deflected off the leg of Daniel Hardy and was recovered by defensive end Joseph Ossai. With 49 seconds remaining, the Bengals took a one-point lead after Flacco threw a nine-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Andrei Iosivas. On the ensuing drive, Caleb Williams connected with Colston Loveland for a 58-yard touchdown with 17 seconds left, giving Chicago a 47–42 victory and thwarting the Bengals’ comeback attempt. Williams and the Bears offense had one of their better offensive performances, accumulating 576 total yards of offense. With a comeback win, the Bears secure their fourth win over Cincinnati since 2013 and improve to their first 5–3 start since 2020. [68]

Williams became the first starting quarterback with more than one reception in a game since George Taliaferro of the 1953 Baltimore Colts. [69]

Week 10: vs. New York Giants

Week 10: New York Giants at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Giants0107320
Bears7031424

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

Game information

Although the Giants held a 20–10 lead with 10:19 remaining, the Bears staged yet another comeback as Caleb Williams scored two touchdowns to secure the victory. With the win, the Bears improved to 6–3 for the first time since the 2018 season. [70]

Week 11: at Minnesota Vikings

Week 11: Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Bears0106319
Vikings3001417

at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

  • Date: November 16
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 66,952
  • Referee: Brad Rogers
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady, Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Although the Vikings overcame a 16–3 fourth-quarter deficit and took a one-point lead with 50 seconds remaining, a 56-yard kickoff return by Devin Duvernay set up Cairo Santos to convert a 48-yard game-winning field goal as time expired, completing another comeback victory for Chicago.

Week 12: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Week 12: Pittsburgh Steelers at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Steelers7140728
Bears7107731

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

  • Date: November 23
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Sunny, 51 °F (11 °C)
  • Game attendance: 59,658
  • Referee: John Hussey
  • TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle, J.J. Watt and Evan Washburn
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Although the Bears’ former rival quarterback from the Packers, Aaron Rodgers, now plays for the Steelers, the Bears didn’t face him because he was sidelined with a broken left wrist. [71] With their 4th home win against Pittsburgh since 2001, the Bears improved to 8–3 and 2–1 against the AFC North.

Week 13: at Philadelphia Eagles

Black Friday games

Week 13: Chicago Bears at Philadelphia Eagles – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Bears7301424
Eagles036615

at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Game information

Running backs D'Andre Swift and rookie Kyle Monangai rushed for a combined 255 yards and 2 touchdowns with Swift rushing for 125 and Monangai rushing for 130. It was the first time the Bears had two 100-yard rushers since Walter Payton and Matt Suhey in 1985. With their first win over Philadelphia since 2011, the Bears snapped a six-game losing streak against the Eagles and swept the NFC East. This also marked their first winning season since 2018. [72] [73]

Week 14: at Green Bay Packers

Week 14: Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Bears0311721
Packers0147728

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

  • Date: December 7
  • Game time: 3:25 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Sunny, 16 °F (−9 °C)
  • Game attendance: 78,214
  • Referee: Craig Wrolstad
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady, Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

In a game-deciding play, Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon intercepted Caleb Williams’ pass in the end zone with 22 seconds remaining, leading to a Packers victory.

Week 15: vs. Cleveland Browns

Week 15: Cleveland Browns at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Browns00303
Bears14014331

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

  • Date: December 14
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Sunny, 8 °F (−13 °C)
  • Game attendance: 54,051
  • Referee: Ron Torbert
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Kugler, Daryl Johnston and Allison Williams
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

With the win, the Bears clinched their first double-digit win season since 2018. [74]

Week 16: vs. Green Bay Packers

Week 16: Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Quarter1234OTTotal
Packers0673016
Bears00313622

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

  • Date: December 20
  • Game time: 7:20 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Clear, 37 °F (3 °C)
  • Game attendance: 60,152
  • Referee: Alex Kemp
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady, Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

The Packers lost quarterback Jordan Love to a concussion after he took a helmet-to-helmet hit from Chicago’s Austin Booker in the second quarter. In a defensive battle, Green Bay built a 16–6 lead when kicker Brandon McManus kicked a 28-yard field goal with about five minutes remaining. The Bears responded by marching down the field and kicking a field goal just as the two-minute warning arrived. Chicago then recovered an onside kick, setting up a dramatic finish. Facing 4th-and-4 at the Packers' 6-yard line, Caleb Williams beat an all-out blitz and lofted a pass to a wide-open Jahdae Walker in the right corner of the end zone to force overtime. In overtime, the Packers had 4th-and-1 at the Chicago 36, but backup quarterback Malik Willis fumbled the snap. On the ensuing Bears drive, Williams connected with DJ Moore for a 46-yard touchdown, completing a comeback victory.

The Bears defeated the Packers at home for the first time since 2018. [75] With the Steelers defeating the Lions the following day, the Bears clinched their first playoff berth since the 2020 season. [76] Next Gen Stats reported the Bears' rally against the Packers was the fifth-most improbable comeback since 2016, [77] while Pro Football Focus graded Williams' game-winning touchdown throw as the highest-rated passing play of the season. [78]

Week 17: at San Francisco 49ers

Week 17: Chicago Bears at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Bears14771038
49ers14147742

at Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California

Game information

Following the Packers' loss to the Ravens from yesterday, the Bears clinched their first NFC North title since 2018. [79]

The Bears and 49ers engaged in a shootout, with the game decided on the final play when Caleb Williams’ last-ditch pass to Jahdae Walker fell incomplete in the end zone from San Francisco’s 2-yard line, sealing the 49ers’ victory. With the loss, the Bears dropped to 11–5 finished 5–4 on the road.

Week 18: vs. Detroit Lions

Week 18: Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Lions3103319
Bears0001616

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

  • Date: January 4
  • Game time: 3:25 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Mostly cloudy, 33 °F (1 °C)
  • Game attendance: 57,036
  • Referee: Brad Rogers
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady, Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Caleb Williams threw for 212 yards, giving him 3,942 on the season and surpassing Erik Kramer’s franchise record of 3,838 set in 1995. Chicago remains the only NFL team without a 4,000-yard passer. Kevin Byard recorded his league-leading seventh interception. [80]

Despite the loss, the Eagles loss to the Commanders allowed the Bears to remain the NFC’s second seed, setting up a Wild Card Round matchup against their division rival Green Bay Packers. [81]

Standings

Division

NFC North
WLTPCTDIVCONFPFPASTK
(2) Chicago Bears 1160.6472–47–5441415L2
(7) Green Bay Packers 971.5594–27–4–1391360L4
Minnesota Vikings 980.5294–27–5344333W5
Detroit Lions 980.5292–46–6481413W1

Conference

NFC
SeedTeamDivisionWLTPCTDIVCONFSOSSOVSTK
Division leaders
1 Seattle Seahawks West1430.8244–29–3.498.471W7
2 [a] Chicago Bears North1160.6472–47–5.458.406L2
3 [a] Philadelphia Eagles East1160.6473–38–4.476.455L1
4 [b] Carolina Panthers South890.4713–36–6.522.463L2
Wild cards
5 [c] Los Angeles Rams West1250.7064–27–5.526.485W1
6 [c] San Francisco 49ers West1250.7064–29–3.498.417L1
7 Green Bay Packers North971.5594–27–4–1.483.431L4
Did not qualify for the postseason
8 [d] Minnesota Vikings North980.5294–27–5.514.431W5
9 [d] Detroit Lions North980.5292–46–6.490.428W1
10 [b] [e] Tampa Bay Buccaneers South890.4713–36–6.529.485W1
11 [b] [e] Atlanta Falcons South890.4713–37–5.495.449W4
12 Dallas Cowboys East791.4414–24–7–1.438.311L1
13 New Orleans Saints South6110.3533–34–8.495.333L1
14 Washington Commanders East5120.2943–33–9.507.388W1
15 New York Giants East4130.2352–42–10.524.478W2
16 Arizona Cardinals West3140.1760–63–9.571.422L9

Postseason

Schedule

RoundDateOpponent (seed)ResultRecordVenueRecap
Wild Card January 10 Green Bay Packers (7)W 31–271–0 Soldier Field Recap
Divisional January 18 Los Angeles Rams (5)L 17–20 (OT)1–1Soldier Field Recap

Game summaries

NFC Wild Card Playoffs: vs. (7) Green Bay Packers

NFC Wild Card Playoffs: (7) Green Bay Packers at (2) Chicago Bears – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Packers7140627
Bears3032531

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

Game information

The Bears were down 21–3 coming out of halftime but produced another seemingly insurmountable comeback by scoring 25 points in the 4th quarter, coupled with several missed kicks from the Packers, to win 31–27. [82] This was their first playoff win since 2010 (first over Green Bay since 1941) and the Bears advanced to the Divisional Round via a wild card victory for the first time since 1994.

NFC Divisional Playoffs: vs. (5) Los Angeles Rams

NFC Divisional Playoffs: (5) Los Angeles Rams at (2) Chicago Bears – Game summary
Quarter1234OTTotal
Rams7307320
Bears01007017

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

Game information

With their playoff loss to the Rams in franchise history, the Bears season ended with their first Divisional Round loss since 2001. It was also their first home loss to the Rams since 2003.

Notes

  1. 1 2 Chicago finished ahead of Philadelphia based on head-to-head victory.
  2. 1 2 3 Carolina finished ahead of Tampa Bay and Atlanta based on head-to-head record (Carolina 3–1 to Tampa Bay 2–2 and Atlanta 1–3).
  3. 1 2 LA Rams finished ahead of San Francisco based on common games (LA Rams 9–3 to San Francisco 8–4 against: Arizona, Atlanta, Carolina, Houston, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, New Orleans, Seattle, Tampa Bay and Tennessee).
  4. 1 2 Minnesota finished ahead of Detroit based on head-to-head sweep.
  5. 1 2 Tampa Bay finished ahead of Atlanta based on common games (Tampa Bay 6–6 to Atlanta 5–7 against: Arizona, Buffalo, Carolina, LA Rams, Miami, New England, New Orleans, NY Jets, San Francisco and Seattle).

References

  1. ↑ "Bears mourn passing of owner Virginia Halas McCaskey". www.chicagobears.com. Retrieved January 13, 2026.
  2. ↑ "Chicago Bears 2024 Games and Schedule". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 13, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Bears 24-20 Giants (Nov 9, 2025) Final Score". ESPN. Retrieved January 13, 2026.
  4. ↑ "Eagles 40-22 Chiefs (Feb 9, 2025) Final Score". ESPN. Retrieved January 13, 2026.
  5. ↑ "Bears 24-15 Eagles (Nov 28, 2025) Final Score". ESPN. Retrieved January 13, 2026.
  6. ↑ "2018 Chicago Bears Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 13, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Steelers 29-24 Lions (Dec 21, 2025) Final Score". ESPN. Retrieved January 13, 2026.
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