Bears Fans Optimistic After Surprise 2025 Season

Chicago fans look to the future after an unexpected playoff run.

Feb. 19, 2026 at 2:15pm

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As a Chicago sports fan, the author admits they get more joy from ranting about sports than actually watching them. However, the 2025 Chicago Bears season was an exception, as the team exceeded all expectations by making an unexpected playoff run. The author is now looking ahead to the offseason and ways the team can improve, particularly on the defensive line.

Why it matters

The Bears' surprise success in 2025 has reinvigorated the fan base and created optimism about the team's future potential. However, the author recognizes that the defense will need to be upgraded, especially in terms of generating more consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks, in order for the team to truly contend for a Super Bowl.

The details

While the Bears' defense created the most turnovers in the league in 2025, the author notes this is not a stat they can rely on going forward. The team struggled to pressure quarterbacks, finishing in the bottom third of the league with only 214 total QB pressures despite recording 35 sacks. To address this, the author identifies three potential defensive line targets: Bradley Chubb, Tre Hendrickson, and the pipe dream of Myles Garrett.

  • In 2023, Bradley Chubb tore his ACL and missed the 2024 season.
  • In 2025, Chubb returned and recorded 8.5 sacks and 48 QB pressures.
  • In 2025, Tre Hendrickson held out during a contract dispute with the Bengals before signing a 1-year, $30 million deal.
  • In 2025, Myles Garrett broke the NFL single-season sack record with 23 sacks and 84 QB pressures.

The players

Bradley Chubb

A defensive end who made 2 Pro Bowls in his first 5 NFL seasons before being traded to the Dolphins, where he tore his ACL in 2023 and missed the 2024 season. He returned in 2025 and recorded 8.5 sacks and 48 QB pressures.

Tre Hendrickson

A defensive end who held out during a contract dispute with the Bengals in 2025, resulting in a 1-year, $30 million deal. Between 2023-2025, he recorded 299 QB pressures.

Myles Garrett

A defensive end who broke the NFL single-season sack record in 2025 with 23 sacks and 84 QB pressures, cementing his status as one of the best defensive players in the league.

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What they’re saying

“I am honestly not sure what I like more, watching sports or ranting about sports. As a Chicago fan, I'm lucky that I get so much joy from ranting as there is a lot to be angry about.”

— The author (hive.blog)

The takeaway

The Bears' surprise success in 2025 has created optimism among the fan base, but the team will need to significantly upgrade its defensive line, particularly in terms of generating more consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks, in order to truly contend for a Super Bowl in the future.