With the Lions’ loss to the Steelers on Sunday, the Chicago Bears have secured a spot in the 2025-26 NFL playoffs in Ben Johnson’s first season as the team’s head coach.
It’s been an entertaining season from start to finish for the Bears, who have turned around from a 5-12 record last season to make it to the postseason. Among many other highlights, Caleb Williams has led the team to an NFL-best six fourth-quarter comebacks and a 6-1 record at home. The defense leads the league in takeaways created,
and the team as a whole is 7-2 in one-score matchups.
This marks the first time the Bears have made the playoffs since 2020, when they earned a Wild Card berth after going 8-8 under then-head coach Matt Nagy. They would go on to lose to the Saints in their lone postseason game that year. 2025 had already solidified itself as the first time Chicago has finished with double-digit wins since 2018, which was also the last time they won the NFC North.
In order for the Bears to clinch the division, they have to win one of their two remaining matchups against the 49ers and Lions. Additionally, they could clinch the NFC North without winning any of their games, but the Packers would need to lose one of their remaining matchups against the Ravens and Vikings.
