Remember the last time the Chicago Bears were in the playoffs?
It was the first Nickelodeon broadcast of an NFL game, where Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky won the Nickelodeon Valuable Player (NVP) award. The result showed that he didn't deserve it after the New Orleans Saints blew out the Bears 21-9 in the 2020 NFC Wild Card game.
Since then, it has been a period of pain and misery for Bears fans, marked by four consecutive losing seasons and no postseason appearances. The team hasn't even won more than seven games in a season.
Chicago is hoping that the 2025 campaign will end it and see the Bears return to the playoffs. Their odds of doing it are not something to be optimistic about.
The Bears have low odds of getting into the 2025 playoffs
Bleacher Report writer Brad Gagnon looked at each team's playoff drought and the odds of returning to the postseason. The Bears are tied with the 19th-best odds at +150. Gagnon shared why people would buy or not buy into Chicago making the postseason.
Why one might buy: Top 2024 pick Caleb Williams should continue to ascend behind a completely retooled offensive line, and the defense already proved last year that it has the potential to be a top-10 unit. Plus, there’s the presence of new head coach Ben Johnson.
Why we're selling: Williams and Johnson may still need some time to come together, and the same goes for that almost entirely new line. They should improve on a five-win 2024 campaign, but it won't be enough in arguably the league’s toughest division.
The real question that Bears fans need to ask is if not making the postseason would be okay. It's never great to not make the playoffs, but there are still things that need to get figured out that might not in 2025.
Johnson and Williams will need to feel each other out as Johnson determines which calls are best for Williams. On the flip side, Williams needs to get into rhythm with Johnson's play calling and execute what is being called on the fieldThe hope, at least, is that the team shows dramatic improvement from last year. All signs point towards that happening with three new starters on the offensive line, two rookie playmakers for Williams to throw it to, and a defensive line that added pass rushers.
2025 won't be perfect for Chicago, but the foundation is there to make a turnaround similar to what their division rival, the Detroit Lions, has just achieved over the last three years. Williams and Johnson should be enough for Bears fans to have confidence in the future, even if this year doesn't end in a playoff appearance.
