NFC North
Chicago Bears
AI Summary
The Bears enter Ben Johnson's second season off an 11-6, NFC North-winning 2025 campaign, but that first-place finish saddled them with the NFL's toughest projected 2026 schedule (opponents' .550 winning percentage). Chicago overhauled its safety room and center spot this offseason, signing Coby Bryant and Devin Bush and trading for Garrett Bradbury after Drew Dalman's surprise retirement, while also dealing longtime WR1 DJ Moore to Buffalo and handing that role to Rome Odunze. Camp has been shadowed by a serious training-camp knee injury to Bryant that will keep him out for the start of the season, though left tackle Ozzy Trapilo has made a notably fast return from a ruptured patellar tendon. Oddsmakers have set Chicago's win total at 9.5 and list the Bears as only the third choice in the NFC North behind Green Bay and Detroit.
Researched by Team Research Desk · last updated August 20, 2026
Real Efficiency KPIs
Offensive EPA/play
+0.080
#8 of 32
Defensive EPA/play allowed
+0.018
#19 of 32
2025 regular season, 1096 offensive / 1022 defensive plays. Source: nflverse play-by-play (github.com/nflverse/nflverse-data), real 2025 regular season. This is a prior-season baseline — this team's 2026 numbers will replace it once real Week 1 plays exist.
Key Players (2025 production)
Leading Passer
Caleb Williams · QB
330/568, 27 TD, 7 INT
+42.2 passing EPA
Leading Rusher
D'Andre Swift · RB
223 car, 1087 yds, 9 TD
+15.4 rushing EPA
Leading Receiver
Rome Odunze · WR
44/90, 661 yds, 17% target share
+20.9 receiving EPA
Leading Pass Rusher
Montez Sweat · DE
10 sacks, 18 QB hits
Leading Tackler
Tremaine Edmunds · MLB
57 solo, 51 assist
Leading Interceptor
Kevin Byard · FS
7 INT
Source: nflverse player stats (github.com/nflverse/nflverse-data), real 2025 regular season; team attribution updated for documented 2026 offseason trades. Prior-season baseline, not 2026 in-season stats.
Key Storylines
- S Coby Bryant, signed this offseason to a 3-year, $40M deal, suffered a hyperextended knee, bone bruise and small fracture in an early-August camp practice and needed knee surgery that is expected to sideline him roughly 4-6 months, costing him the start of the season
- Chicago carries the NFL's hardest 2026 strength of schedule (opponents' .550 win percentage) as a result of a first-place schedule following its 11-6, NFC North title season under first-year coach Ben Johnson
- DJ Moore was traded to the Buffalo Bills, opening the WR1 job for Rome Odunze; 2025 rookie standout Luther Burden III is being held out of the rest of the preseason with a groin injury
- Center Drew Dalman's surprise retirement prompted Chicago to trade a 2027 fifth-round pick to New England for center Garrett Bradbury
- LT Ozzy Trapilo was activated from the PUP list in mid-August, an unusually fast recovery from the ruptured patellar tendon he suffered in the January playoff win over Green Bay, while Kiran Amegadjie and Jedrick Wills Jr. have been splitting left tackle reps with the first team
Injury Report
Coby Bryant · S
Out (recovering from surgery)
Suffered a hyperextended knee, bone bruise and small fracture in an early-August training camp practice; underwent knee surgery and is expected to miss roughly 4-6 months, including the start of the regular season.
Luther Burden III · WR
Out for remainder of preseason
Being held out of the rest of the preseason with a groin injury as a precaution.
Ozzy Trapilo · OT
Activated from PUP list
Returned to practice in mid-August, well ahead of typical recovery timelines, after rupturing his patellar tendon during Chicago's January playoff win over Green Bay.