Can the Chicago Bears Return to the Playoffs in 2026?

With the 2026 NFL Draft now concluded, the Chicago Bears’ starting roster is now essentially complete. The Bears had a busy offseason, filled with departures like wide receiver D.J. Moore and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds. Nearly the entire defensive backfield was cleared out, leading to Chicago signing cornerback Coby Bryant from the Seattle Seahawks. They’d also decided to draft safety Dillon Thieneman with their first-round selection to round out their needs at defensive back. Offensively, the team lost center Drew Dalman after deciding to retire, but acquired center Garrett Bradbury to fill the spot. Bradbury will also compete with rookie center Logan Jones, the Bears second round pick from the Iowa Hawkeyes. Chicago signed and drafted a few more depth pieces for their offense, which included wide receiver Kalif Raymond from the Detroit Lions. Now that the team is set, was it enough to reach the playoffs once again in 2026?

In 2025, quarterback Caleb Williams had one of the most successful seasons at his position in Bears history. Williams threw for 3,942 yards, 27 touchdowns, and only seven interceptions. Throughout last season, his connection grew with wide receiver Luther Burden III, who will step into a bigger role heading into next season. Wide receiver Rome Odunze and tight end Colston Loveland will also return to help the offense and try to build off their 2025 season. The running back duo of D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai is also another lethal part of head coach Ben Johnson’s offensive scheme, finishing third in rushing offense last year. Despite the parting of ways with Moore and the retirement of Dalman, Chicago’s offense is still intact with more depth that can make them take the next step as a unit. The biggest question for Chicago will be the decisions made on defense in the offseason.

While the Bears have seemingly fixed their defensive back issues with Bryant and Thieneman, their defensive line is still a major concern. Chicago would go after multiple different pass rushers in the offseason, which included Maxx Crosby and Trey Hendrickson, but was ultimately unable to find a deal to suit these players. Going into the NFL Draft, it was expected they’d go defensive line with their earlier picks, but wouldn’t select one until their last pick in the sixth round, which was defensive tackle Jordan Van Den Berg. Chicago has decided to lean on their current defensive line with Montez Sweat anchoring the position once again. Fans have voiced their concerns, but general manager Ryan Poles has expressed his belief in the current players having a much better season after struggling last year to attack the quarterback. While that pass-rushing attack is still questionable for the Bears, every other position on both offense and defense is ready to go, leaving the Bears as major contenders to not only make the playoffs but also chase their second Super Bowl Championship.