Bears’ Owner George McCaskey Has Strong Words for Ben Johnson

The Chicago Bears may have taken a major step forward in 2025, but inside the organization, there’s no sense of satisfaction.

Team chairman George McCaskey made that clear while reflecting on what he called a “great” and “miraculous” season. He emphasized that the bigger goal still hasn’t been reached. “It was a great run. It was a miraculous run.

Surreal run,” McCaskey said. “But ultimately, we fell short of our goal. The goal is to win the Super Bowl. So there’s some more work to be done.”

After an 11-6 finish, a division title and a playoff win, expectations have quickly shifted, but McCaskey isn’t letting the moment turn into complacency. “What do we have to be complacent about?” he said. “We haven’t achieved our goal.”

Bears Turnaround Built on Belief in Ben Johnson

Chicago’s rapid rise in its first season under head coach Ben Johnson was fueled by resilience as much as talent. The team opened 0-2 before rallying to win 11 games, with multiple comeback victories defining the year. According to McCaskey, that mindset starts with Johnson’s presence.

“He’s intense, intelligent, innovative and passionate,” McCaskey said. “He’s got the players believing in him and, more importantly, believing in themselves.”

That belief showed up consistently late in games. Even when trailing, Chicago carried a belief that it could find a way back.

“No matter what happens, this group of players figures, ‘We’re not out of it, we’re going to have to find a way to win, and we will find a way to win,’” McCaskey said.

The confidence wasn’t just internal. Around the league, the Bears’ ability to close tight games became one of their defining traits, a clear shift from previous seasons where those same situations often ended very differently.

Why the Bears’ Next Steps Matters More

Despite the progress, the way the season ended still lingers. Chicago’s playoff run came to a halt in the divisional round against the Los Angeles Rams, a loss that quickly refocused the organization on what still needs to improve.

McCaskey pointed to the roster foundation as a reason for optimism but made it clear that growth is expected, not hoped for.

“I think we have a good core of players,” he said. “They fight like hell for each other. They fight like hell for their coach.”

That combination of talent and belief gives Chicago a legitimate platform heading into 2026, but the message from the top is unmistakable. A division title and playoff win are no longer enough.

Prior to last season, the Bears hadn’t had a winning record since 2018 and went 57-92 dating back to 2016. Now, that has changed.

For a franchise that spent years searching for stability, the Bears may have finally found it. Now, as McCaskey made clear, the standard has changed, and anything short of a Super Bowl push won’t be viewed the same way anymore.

The Bears ownership and front office have complete belief that Johnson will get them there.

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