Bears' season grades are in. How did they do?

The Bears won 11 games during the regular season, finished first in the NFC North, beat the Packers not once but — hello, playoff football at Soldier Field — twice.

We got to know and appreciate rookie coach Ben Johnson. We marveled at the repeated heroics of quarterback Caleb Williams, sometimes mere hours or even minutes after bemoaning his imperfections. We wondered where the defense was, but then — bam! — the next turnover arrived, right on time.

We had fun, didn’t we? But the fun is over. It’s time to grade the 2025 Bears — dispassionately, impartially, with a keen professional eye — and then you, esteemed commenters and emailers, can begin the important work of telling me why I’m an imbecile.

QUARTERBACK — B

Williams passed for a franchise-record 3,942 yards, seventh in the league, and committed just under half a turnover per game, a terrific stat given how much he had on his shoulders. Of course, he was a comeback machine, because of which his upstart team almost never was out of it. But his 58.1% completion rate ranked near the very bottom, and his 90.1 rating was run of the mill. In a world where the Patriots’ Drake Maye — the third QB drafted when Williams went No. 1 overall in 2024 — came in at 72% and 113.5, there’s a higher floor to which a potential all-time Bears great must ascend.

RUNNING BACK — B+

Veteran D’Andre Swift and seventh-round steal Kyle Monangai combined to rush for 1,870 yards and 14 touchdowns, outstanding production, with Swift doing well at taking what was there — though his longest run was only 25 yards, a bit surprising — and Monangai doing all sorts of damage after contact. Between them, they fumbled only once over the last 17 games, including the playoffs. There were more than a few bigger stars, and some better duos, but these two were up there.

WIDE RECEIVER — C

After missing five games with injuries, Rome Odunze needs an O-do-over, not that all the right signs aren’t there. DJ Moore made big plays — epic plays — but sometimes didn’t come through with much in between them, though his durability and toughness are duly noted. Luther Burden III stole yards after catches often enough to tickle the imagination; his talent is undeniable. Olamide Zaccheaus started strong but faded; drops became an issue.

TIGHT END — A

Pro Football Focus’ highest grade among rookie tight ends belonged to Colston Loveland, a major win for the Bears, who made him the first player drafted at the position. Loveland was the most targeted tight end (82) in the NFC North — Cole Kmet was fourth (48) — and Loveland’s route running and hands made him a rare beast in Bears country. This group, also including Durham Smythe, blocked like mad in the run game, too. Great stuff.

OFFENSIVE LINE — A-

PFF’s third-ranked line during the regular season had a mere 13 sacks attributed to it — way down from 37 the year before — and allowed 145 pressures on 643 pass-blocking snaps, a ratio the Bears would happily live with any year. Guard Joe Thuney was top of class in the passing game. Monster of the Midsection Darnell Wright became a standout at tackle in the run game. Center Drew Dalman and guard Jonah Jackson more than fit the bill, too, and rookie Ozzy Trapilo came around at left tackle nicely before getting hurt in the playoffs.

DEFENSIVE LINE — D

In fairness to oft-criticized Montez Sweat, he was the best guy the Bears had. End Austin Booker has an edge to his play and certainly some talent. It would’ve been nice to have seen more of Shemar Turner, the second-rounder who tore an ACL in Week 8. But the Bears were in the bottom third of the league in sacks overall and toward the very bottom in pressure generated by the line, and were one of only four teams unable to hold the opposition under five yards per rush. Reinforcements are sorely needed.

LINEBACKER — C

Tremaine Edmunds had a flurry of interceptions early on, but by the end — after missing four games with a groin injury — too often was chasing faster pass-catchers around. Everything was harder when T.J. Edwards, who started only 10 games, was sidelined by injury. A tip of the helmet to D’Marco Jackson, who held his own in the most action of his career. Noah Sewell largely struggled.

SECONDARY — B

Somehow, the Bears pieced it together all season despite a rash of injuries and created so many turnovers — thanks mostly to safety Kevin Byard III and cornerback Nahshon Wright — that the deficiencies against the pass weren’t so damaging. Safety Jaquan Brisker didn’t get in on the turnover action much at all, and in-season acquisition C.J. Gardner-Johnson had an instant impact that didn’t last. But you can’t ding this unit too hard given the front four’s inability to create pressure and — a huge factor — how much time top corners Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon missed.

SPECIAL TEAMS — B

Cairo Santos hurt the Bears in the opener with a missed kick and a short kickoff in a 27-24 loss to the Vikings. After that, he was mostly rock solid — especially at Soldier Field — though his leg could cost the team a couple of yards a pop on kickoffs. Punter Tory Taylor was unremarkable but good enough. Return man Devin Duvernay was dependable and better than most, and Josh Blackwell stood out in various ways.

HEAD COACH — A-

Good, better, best — who would dare deny Johnson’s impact? — put the Bears in excellent hands. Two quibbles: Johnson didn’t unlock Williams’ efficiency, and the offense’s first-quarter effectiveness really went away as the season progressed. But there’s zero doubt Johnson’s fire and demanding nature landed in his first year on the job. Special bonus: He hates the Packers.

GENERAL MANAGER — A

Hand it to Ryan Poles — the Bears rebuilt their offensive line successfully and crushed it in the draft. Poles also landed Johnson and gets belated credit for going all-in on Williams. The man can puff out his chest these days, though there’s more to do. Future grades await.