#chicago-bears

#chicago-bears

Nahshon Wright had one of the most charmed seasons I've ever witnessed from a Bears player. After beginning the summer buried on the training camp depth chart, Wright climbed the ladder to make it into the starting lineup when Week 1 kicked off. Injuries to players such as Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon, Terell Smith, and the absence of rookie Zah Frazier cleared the way for Wright to get an opportunity to shine.

Kevin Byard, I was told by somebody who would know, that he is 70-30 that he is going to get a Bear. They're working on it, they're trying to get a deal done that's fair for both sides. ... And then you're going to have to pair him, probably with a young safety, unless there is a veteran out there.

The team's longtime home has been Soldier Field, built in 1924. It is the oldest stadium in the NFL, and open to the elements. When icy snows fall, opposing teams shiver in the lake winds. The Bear players wear short sleeves, and sling touchdown passes. Bear down, as we fans say. Domes are for tea parties, not football.

Caleb Williams took off and established himself not only as the Bears' franchise quarterback but also as one of the game's most clutch performers. As for the team, they won 11 regular-season games, captured the NFC North for the first time since 2018, beat the Packers twice, won a playoff game, and were one miscommunication against the Rams away from an NFC Championship bid.

Gardner-Johnson played in 10 games (made seven starts) with the Bears. He finished the year with two interceptions, three sacks, four passes defended, 51 total tackles (35 solo), five tackles-for-loss, and five quarterback hits. It felt like he was stuffing the stat sheet every week.

When injuries sidelined fellow cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon, the Bears needed Stevenson to stabilize one side of the secondary. Instead, Stevenson delivered mixed results. There were moments when the 25-year-old cornerback flashed. Strong outings against the Dallas Cowboys and Las Vegas Raiders early in the season showed the physical press corner that Chicago's front office envisioned when they used a second-round pick (56th overall) in the 2023 NFL Draft on the University of Miami product.

Waking up in time to watch the Olympic Hockey Gold Medal Game and not having to get out of bed to witness the US victory over Canada (because I could stream the game on my phone) was a nice technology win. It is the first US men's hockey gold medal win since 1980. To say it is long overdue would be an understatement. And now that I'm thinking of it, you know who else won a championship in the 1980s.

It's a shame to get rid of a player who grew up near the Windy City, but it's pretty clear that Amegadjie isn't in the Bears' plans going forward. The 2024 third-round pick likely would have been cut in last season's training camp if not for his Day 2 draft upside. His struggles blocking in space led the Bears to start working him at guard instead of tackle.

Kyler Gordon's 2025 season never really got off the ground. Injuries limited him to just five appearances between the regular season and playoffs. It was a frustrating development for a player expected to anchor the secondary, especially with his three-year, $40 million extension set to kick in beginning in 2026. Kyler Gordon's 2025 Snapshot Instead of building on his trajectory, Gordon spent most of the year rehabbing, leaving questions about durability hanging over what was supposed to be a stabilizing season.

Yes, the state of Indiana and the Bears have made progress on a potential new home for the team in Hammond. That is undeniable. However, it is far from the done deal some people made it out to be because they didn't read or comprehend (possibly both) the statement that was put out by the team. The team fell well short offering up a firm committment.

It didn't take too long for the Chicago Bears to name Ian Cunningham's replacement. Jeff King is the Bears' new assistant general manager. King takes the place of Cunningham, who left for the Atlanta Falcons general GM gig in late January. Elevating King into a new role as the right-hand man for GM Ryan Poles provides some stability and continuity at the top of the front office.