The Los Angeles Rams told you everything about their plans going into this season by what they did in the spring. Trading for Trent McDuffie and Myles Garrett while coaxing Aaron Donald out of retirement made it crystal clear. This team is Super Bowl-or-bust in 2026. It isn’t hard to see why. Matthew Stafford is 38 years old. He is about to embark on his 18th season. The Rams know their window is closing. After coming up short in the NFC Championship last year, they know they’re close. They must seize the moment. By contrast, you can’t really say that about the Chicago Bears.
While they lost to the Rams in the divisional round, their circumstances are very different. Quarterback Caleb Williams is only 24 years old. He should have a long career ahead of him. The same goes for other members of the roster, such as Darnell Wright, Colston Loveland, Luther Burden, and Rome Odunze. They don’t have to operate with nearly the urgency L.A. does.
Just don’t tell them that. Based on what NFL reports Stacey Dales has seen and heard at Halas Hall, everybody in that locker room, players and coaches, has tunnel vision for the Super Bowl. She said as much on Hoge & Jahns.
The Chicago Bears are showing that urgency should always be active.
Sure, the Rams are up against the clock, given their age in some critical areas. That doesn’t mean they have exclusive rights to feeling the need to win a championship. That mentality should be ingrained in your organization every single year, regardless of the situation. Head coach Ben Johnson has preached that from the moment he arrived in January of 2025. While some felt the Bears would need time to get oriented, he stated that his goal was to win immediately. He certainly accomplished that goal.
🔥 Subscribe to the Untold Chicago YouTube channel to hear Chicago legends tell stories you’ve never seen in headlines — real moments, real experiences, straight from the athletes themselves.
However, Johnson wasn’t happy with the outcome. While fans were thrilled with a division title and a playoff win over the Packers, that wasn’t the main objective. The Chicago Bears wanted a Super Bowl title. They didn’t win it, and therefore, the season was a failure. Maybe a little harsh, but that is the standard Johnson set. He wants all of his players to think that nothing less than a championship is acceptable in that building. It sounds like the message has been well-received.
Mindset is the first step.
Now it comes down to whether the Bears are good enough. They certainly feel they are. From the outside, the offense isn’t the concern. Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles assembled an impressive roster at every position on that side. The big issue for most is the defense. The Bears were among the league’s worst last season in pass rush and run defense. Only a league-leading 30 takeaways managed to mask how rough it was. Based on the moves made this offseason, it doesn’t feel like the unit got better. Ongoing injury problems haven’t helped.
Don’t expect Johnson to use that as an excuse. He believes the Bears have enough to beat anybody. The team is certainly younger and faster than it was last season. If some things align defensively and the offense stays healthy, the predictions of regression may look foolish. This team will need to reach deep down for something special if they’re to overcome the powerhouses in the NFC. As we’ve seen already, they aren’t afraid of anybody. If you want a fight, they will oblige.
