2025-26 Chicago Bears: Key Matchups, 2025 Outlook & More

From pop culture to pivotal plays on the gridiron, the Chicago Bears are more than just an NFL team; they’re a cultural institution. As they gear up for a competitive season in the NFC North, fans are buzzing with excitement about the team they affectionately refer to as “Da Bears” or the “Monsters of the Midway.” Whether you’re looking for where to watch the Chicago Bears game today or want to dive into the franchise’s history, we’ve got you covered in this article. So, put on your Chicago Bears jersey, throw the game on TV or settle into your seat at the Chicago Bears stadium…it’s game time!

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2025 Outlook

The Bears enter 2025 with a buzz of cautious optimism anchored by new head coach Ben Johnson and rookie quarterback Caleb Williams; an intriguing duo drawing comparisons to past transformative systems. Chicago revamped its offensive line with savvy veteran additions like Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman and Jonah Jackson, aimed at giving Williams reliable protection and enabling a potent offense. Though the preseason has been promising, highlighted by a dominant 38-0 win over the Bills that earned glowing praise, some analysts temper that enthusiasm, pointing to a tough schedule, a still-developing running game and defensive inconsistencies as potential roadblocks. Betting markets and projections largely anticipate incremental improvement, forecasting a win total around eight, along with slim playoff odds in a fierce NFC North. Essentially, Chicago looks poised for a rebound, but the key will be sustaining the early momentum and growth under Johnson and Williams to exceed those modest external expectations.

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Key Chicago Bears Matchups in 2025

The Bears have their hands full with a strong NFC North this year. They’ll play each team in the division twice, in what are sure to be can’t-miss matchups:

Chicago Bears vs Detroit Lions (Week 2 and Week 18)

Detroit’s bruising offensive line and established culture under Dan Campbell provide Chicago’s biggest divisional measuring stick, a true test of whether the new-look Bears can contend in the North.

Chicago Bears vs Green Bay Packers (Week 14 and Week 16)

Caleb Williams faces his first Lambeau test, with Chicago hoping to flip a rivalry long dominated by Green Bay; expect fireworks between two young, franchise-hopeful quarterbacks.

Chicago Bears vs Minnesota Vikings (Week 1 and Week 11)

With Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison stretching defenses, this clash tests the Bears’ secondary, while Williams looks to exploit a Minnesota defense in transition.

Find the full Chicago Bears game schedule for 2025 right here!

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Chicago Bears Draft Picks, Offseason Signings, Trade Acquisitions, Releases in 2025

Chicago made some strategic decisions in the 2025 NFL Draft, particularly in the trenches and with playmakers on offense.

Here are the results of the Bears’ draft decisions:

Draft Picks:

Round – Pick	Position	Player	College
Round 1 – Pick 10	Tight End	Colston Loveland	Michigan
Round 2 – Pick 7	Wide Receiver	Luther Burden 111	Missouri
Round 2 – Pick 24	Offensive Tackle	Ozzy Trapilo	Boston College
Round 2 – Pick 30	Defensive Tackle	Shemar Turner	Texas A&M
Round 4 – Pick 30	Linebacker	Ruben Hyppolite 11	Maryland
Round 5 – Pick 33	Corner Back	Zah Frazier	Texas-San Antonio
Round 6 – Pick 19	Guard	Luke Newman	Michigan State
Round 7 – Pick 17	Running Back	Kyle Monangai	Rutgers

Offseason Signings:

Who you draft is crucial, but offseason roster decisions can be just as important to a team’s success. Here are the Chicago Bears offseason signings and transactions for 2025.

Position	Player	Previous Team	Contract Terms
TE	Durham Smythe	Miami Dolphins	1 year, minimum
DT	Grady Jarrett	Atlanta Falcons	3 years, $42.75 million
C	Drew Dalman	Atlanta Falcons	3 years, $42 million
DE	Dayo Odeyingbo	Indianapolis Colts	3 years, $48 million
WR	Olamide Zaccheaus	Washington Commanders	1 year, minimum
WR	Devin Duvernay	Jacksonville Jaguars	1 year, minimum
CB	Nick McCloud	San Francisco 49ers	1 year, minimum
CB	Shaun Wade	Los Angeles Chargers	1 year, minimum
WR	Miles Boykin	Seattle Seahawks	1 year, minimum
QB	Case Keenum	Houston Texans	1 year, $3 million

Trade Acquisitions:

Position	Player	Previous Team	Traded Away
G	Jonah Jackson	Los Angeles Rams	2025 sixth-round pick (202nd overall)
G	Joe Thuney	Kansas City Chiefs	2026 fourth-round pick

Releases:

Position	Player	Date
TE	Gerald Everett	February 21, 2025
DE	DeMarcus Walker

Find the full 2025 roster for the Bears right here!

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Noteworthy Shows and Movies

Brian’s Song (1971): Recounts the life of Brian Piccolo (James Caan), a Chicago Bears football player stricken with terminal cancer, focusing on his friendship with teammate Gale Sayers (Billy Dee Williams). 

’85: The Greatest Team in Football History (2016): Featuring commentary from Bill Murray, Mike Ditka, Mike Singletary and more, this movie chronicles the pop culture and on-field successes of the 1985 Chicago Bears.

Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Chicago Bears (2025): A Chicago Bears training camp edition of the popular HBO docuseries, which provides an all-access look into the team’s preparations for the 2024 NFL season, led by 2024’s first overall draft pick, QB Caleb Williams.

Bill Swerski’s Super Fans: Thanksgiving (SNL, Season 17, 1991]: A Bears media rundown is simply not complete without the iconic Saturday Night Live sketch starring George Wendt, Chris Farley, Mike Myers and Robert Smigel. Take a trip down “Da Bears” memory lane:

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Keep Up With The Chicago Bears This Season

To stay in the loop this season, you’ll want to keep an eye on the latest Chicago Bears news and rumors, especially surrounding the Chicago Bears injury report or any intriguing maneuvers of the Chicago Bears roster. Whether you’re a loyal fan or just want a great fantasy football season, check out the Bears’ socials to stay tapped into team info!

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How to Watch the Chicago Bears

If there’s one thing we know about Bears fans it’s that they don’t want to miss a single game. Here are all the networks and streaming services you can leverage to make that a reality! 

• ABC
• CBS
• FOX
• NBC
• ESPN
• NFL Network 
• NFL Red Zone provided by NFL Network
• Netflix
• Prime Video

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