The 2025 Chicago Bears season has come to an end. Sure, it didn’t end with a championship, but it was a season that we won’t soon forget.
An 11-6 regular season record, an NFC North division title, a Wild Card round victory over the Green Bay Packers to end our rival’s season, and a down to the wire OT loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round. If you had told Bears fans that all of this was in the cards at the beginning of the year, every single one of us would have enthusiastically signed
up.
And yet, it’s hard to walk away from it all and not feel like there was still a little bit more left in the tank. The Bears had a great opportunity to win this game in OT, driving with the ball at midfield with the next score winning the game. Then came the interception on a ball intended for DJ Moore, a play that has already been analyzed to death in less than 24 hours. While it was an aggressive call at a time when the Bears could have just kept chipping away to get into FG range, the play was also there for the taking and could have ended the game if DJ and Caleb were on the same page.
The Bears absolutely had chances to take control and ultimately win the game, whether it was the miscommunication between Caleb Williams and DJ on that final offensive play or the dropped touchdown by Rome Odunze on the opening drive that took the wind out of the team’s sails. Opportunities were absolutely there. Hopefully the team uses it all as fuel to really kick down the doors in 2026.
This is only the beginning of the story, and I fully expect this franchise to advance further in the coming years. 2025 was the floor. Year one. The team’s stock is rising and you’ll continue to see people piling on the band wagon.
Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams will continue to improve on the foundation set this year with a more steady and consistent offense in 2026, and I expect the team to do what it takes to improve the defense in the offseason (pass rushers, please). There’s no reason to walk away from this year and not expect the Bears to be just as good next year, if not better. Nothing is guaranteed in the NFL, but the hardest thing to get right in this league is a long term solution at head coach and quarterback — the Bears have both.
Let’s get to the game balls.
Offense Game Ball: RB D’Andre Swift
Like most weeks, this easily could have gone to Caleb Williams as well. Especially after his insane throw to Cole Kmet at the end of regulation to tie the game. But the truth is, we needed more from the offense given the stellar outing that the Bears defensed turned in. Williams was hurt by numerous dropped balls throughout, whether it was Odunze dropping an easy TD on the opening drive, or the typically reliable Colston Loveland dropping three catchable passes (by my count) in what was probably his worst game of the year. That said, Loveland was injured late in the game, and not having him out there in OT certainly negatively impacted the Bears as Caleb didn’t have his usual go-to receiver in clutch time.
As I watched the game unfold, I consistently felt the Bears were not running the ball nearly enough given the success they were having when they did. For most of the game, Swift was averaging over 5 yards per carry. He ended up right at 4.0. Carrying the ball 19 times for 76 yards.
The Bears struggled in short yardage situations all night, and yes, some of the falls on the RBs. At the same time, it felt like the Bears were forced into running constantly to the right side due to the change of lineup on the left with Joe Thuney moved to LT and Jordan McFadden at LG. There were some struggledsin run blocking over there in the few times the team did bounce it to the left side, though pass blocking from the left side was on point.
Take a look at this play late in the game where Swift should have walked in for a touchdown after bouncing an inside run outside. Unfortunately, Odunze was unable to seal his block and this ended up being another drive where the Bears ended up walking away with no points after going for it on fourth down.
That was the general theme all night long. There were ample opportunities and the Bears offense continually came up just short. I think that in a close game, Ben Johnson will come away from the game tape seeing that he may have forced the pass a little too much at times.
Defense Game Ball: S Jaquan Brisker
In what could be his final game playing for the Chicago Bears, Brisker came out and had arguably the best game of his professional career. It was definitely his best game of the 2025 campaign.
Matched up with the best offense in the league, the Bears defense played out of their minds and way above what anyone could have expected going in. Credit to DC Dennis Allen and his game plan. That’s what makes the loss sting the most; the defense had the outing that was needed to win.
Brisker finished with 14 tackles (eight solo), one sack, one tackle for loss, two passes defended, and one QB hit. He showed up all over the field and made a strong case for the Bears to re-sign him in the offseason. I hope they do. He clearly loves playing for the Bears, so hopefully the team and Brisker can come to terms on a figure that works for everyone.
Bryan Orenchuk and myself will have plenty to say about this game this week on a new episode of Bears Over Beers as we wrap up the 2025 season. It will be available on the 2nd City Gridiron YouTube channel or via your favorite podcasting platform. Our 2nd City Gridiron Podcast Channel is available on Apple, Spotify, iHeart, Audacy, and other popular podcast platforms.
Who would have received your game balls? Let us know in the comments section below.
