Head coach Ben Johnson enters his second season after transforming Chicago from a five-win squad into an 11-win NFC North champion. The 2025 campaign saw the Bears secure their first playoff win in 15 years, driven by an NFL-record seven fourth-quarter comebacks and a league-leading 23 interceptions. Quarterback Caleb Williams set a franchise single-season passing record with 3,942 yards under Johnson's demanding leadership.

Despite the success, the roster faces significant defensive attrition. Chicago lost its top four interception leaders—Kevin Byard III, Nahshon Wright, Tremaine Edmunds, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson—who combined for 18 picks. This personnel loss is a major concern given that the defense ranked 30th in expected points added (EPA) on all plays excluding takeaways last year.

Facing the league's toughest schedule, the Bears must overcome a regression in takeaways to compete with the Lions and Packers. Success now depends on whether Johnson's emphasis on physicality can mask defensive gaps and sustain the offensive momentum generated by Williams. The team's reliance on opportunistic turnovers last season makes them vulnerable if the new secondary cannot replicate that production.