Happy Thanksgiving, Chicago Bears fans!
The good news is Chicago doesn’t play football on Thanksgiving, so we can all enjoy our time with family and friends and not have to worry about the Bears for a day. But the same can’t be said for Black Friday, where Chicago will battle the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in a spotlight game on Prime Video.
While the Bears have really taken years off our lives this season, they’ve done it in winning fashion, so it’s hard to complain too much when they’re sitting at 8-3 with plenty of reasons to be excited about the future. With that in mind, here are some reasons to be thankful about the Bears this Thanksgiving:
Ben Johnson has altered the course of this franchise
It’s only been 11 games, but it doesn’t feel like hyperbole to say that the hiring of head coach Ben Johnson altered the course of this Bears franchise for the better. Johnson is a bonafide Coach of the Year candidate after taking a five-win team and making them a playoff contender in Year 1 — and this when they’ve battled injuries and have yet to play their best football. After an 0-2 start — no one is perfect, after all — Johnson has this team bought in. They’ve gone on two separate four-game winning streaks and have won eight of their last nine games. They’re finding ways to win ugly, which is a heck of a lot better than the alternative under the previous regime. Johnson’s impact extends beyond the wins — there’s been a complete culture shift inside the locker room, where players have bought in, are being held accountable and learning what it’s like to win in the NFL. After all, it’s all about “Good, Better, Best” and “never let it rest” until “your good gets better and your better gets best.”
The best is yet to come for Caleb Williams
There’s no doubt that the person who has benefited the most from the addition of Ben Johnson — perhaps outside of Bears fans — is quarterback Caleb Williams, who has already made massive strides just 11 games into his second season. The talent and potential has been there, which is why general manager Ryan Poles selected him first overall, but Chicago finally has someone in place to maximize it. Williams has established himself as one of the game’s most clutch quarterbacks, leading an NFL-best five fourth-quarter comeback wins this season. He’s also become one of the most elusive at avoiding sacks, which has made for some fun plays, as well as protecting the football. There’s still plenty of work to be done with his development, including his accuracy, but this is just over half a season with Johnson, and Williams is on pace to become the Bears’ first 4,000 yard passer. The future is bright in Chicago, and Williams is a big reason why.
Playing meaningful football in November/December
When Ben Johnson was hired as head coach, one of the first things he said is that the Bears are going to win “and win now.” He’s delivered on that promise, as Chicago has found ways to win in a variety of ways, including some that have Bears fans clutching their chests. Now, the Bears are positioned in playoff contention and playing meaningful football at the end of November and heading into December. During the Matt Eberflus era, it felt like this would never happen. Now, Chicago is preparing to play their biggest game of the season so far as they battle the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in a spotlight Black Friday game that will have playoff implications. Looking ahead to their remaining schedule, the Bears will play the Green Bay Packers (x2), Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions to put a stamp on Johnson’s first season.
Bears are leading the NFC North
When Ryan Poles was hired as general manager back in 2022, he made a bold and now infamous statement about “taking the (NFC) North” and never giving it back. Chicago finished in last place in the division in his first three seasons, but they’re now leading the NFC North for the first time with Ben Johnson leading the charge. The NFC North is one of the most competitive divisions in the NFL, with the Bears sitting at 8-3, the Packers at 7-3-1 and the Lions at 7-4. Chicago has an opportunity to accomplish something that they haven’t done since 2018 — win the NFC North. It’s not going to be easy, especially with three more division games on deck (two vs. Packers, one vs. Lions). But, even if this doesn’t last beyond this week or they fall just short of winning the division, the Bears are positioned to be an impact team in the NFC North moving forward.
2025 rookie draft class has promise
General manager Ryan Poles has come under plenty of criticism for some of the roster moves he’s made over the last few years, but this 2025 rookie draft class certainly looks to be a promising one for the future of this franchise. While first-round tight end Colston Loveland and second-round receiver Luther Burden III got off to slow starts, they’re earned themselves extended roles in the passing game as some of Caleb Williams’ most dependable targets. Seventh-round running back Kyle Monangai has proven himself, with his hard-nosed downfield running style, as a perfect complement to D’Andre Swift. While second-round pick Ozzy Trapilo lost out on the left tackle job this summer, he made his first NFL start, in place of an injured Theo Benedet, and showed great promise. Even offensive lineman Luke Newman, drafted in the sixth round, has proven to be a great depth piece along the interior. Linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II has served as depth, and even made his first NFL start last week before exiting with injury. Defensive tackle Shemar Turner’s season ended before it could really begin and cornerback Zah Frazier was placed on the non-football injury list that will force him to miss his entire rookie season due to a personal issue that lingered back in training camp. So, if they can make an impact next season, it could be even more good to come out of this class.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 5 reasons for Bears fans to be thankful in 2025
Reporting by Alyssa Barbieri, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
