Why Bears' 2025 season was a massive success despite Divisional round loss

The Chicago Bears came into the 2025 season hoping for some positive momentum with Caleb Williams, Ben Johnson, and their young players.

It went a lot better than that, as the Bears won the NFC North and even beat the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the playoffs. But, they lost a heartbreaker to the Los Angeles Rams the following weekend in the Divisional round.

But, even though the Bears were eliminated in the Divisional round, the 2025 season for the Bears was a massive success. ESPN's Courtney Cronin emphasized this and highlighted how Williams and Johnson made 2025 as good as possible for the Bears.

Bears' 2025 season went about as good as possible

"The Bears exited the 2025 season having found the answer to a question that has haunted them for generations: When will they develop a franchise quarterback?" Cronin writes.

Based on how 2025 went, it's impossible to say that the Bears didn't nail their quarterback selection, but their head coach hire as well.

The Bears, in the first season of the Johnson-Williams connection, went 11-6, winning the NFC North and also winning their first playoff game in 15 years.

While Williams didn't reach 4,000 yards, he did finish with 3,942 on the year and was a top-10 quarterback in yards and passing touchdowns (27) this season.

More: Bears' list of 2026 NFL draft picks, free agents and cap space going into offseason

The offense looked like one of the best in the NFL at times, and next season, with some more refinement and some defensive improvements, the Bears might be Super Bowl contenders in 2026 and beyond.

After years and years of toiling away at seasons with mediocre quarterback play and questionable coaching, the Bears have finally found their QB and HC duo in Caleb Williams and Ben Johonson.

Getting that confirmation is more than enough for the Bears in 2025, as there's now more hope than ever for the Bears as they transition into the future.

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