2025-26 NFL Season Thread

[chw42]

5 minutes ago, almagest said:

They can probably push some of Sweat's money next year into 2027. He'll likely still be here and still be reasonably effective. They can do the same with DJ but I don't know if I want an older WR to be a big cap hit if cut. I'd probably just eat one more year with him and then move on. They could push some of Odeyingbo's cap hit to 2027, but who knows if he recovers from his injury, so he's probably best left alone and cut in 2027. They could push some of JJ's money into 2027 too.

Cutting Edmunds saves $15 million, so you'll likely see that. Cutting Swift saves $7.5 million - if they draft an RB this might happen.

I've done a 180 on Swift. I don't think they can get a better RB than him for his salary next year. You might as well keep him unless you can get a value RB on day 3. They really should be focusing on the defense in days 1 and 2 of the draft. 

[chw42]

1 hour ago, almagest said:

Yeah, I was misreading that. He's here for another year.

If they trade him, the dead cap hit is only about 12 million, making a savings of 16.5 million. I have to imagine it would be hard for anyone to give much in return for him though. You're probably getting a 4th rounder with how much guaranteed money is left on his contract. 

[Kyyle23]

10 hours ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

Completely unrelated but I watched Stafford’s postgame interview and could not help but notice his ridiculous fake teeth.  The dude is worth over $150 million and can’t buy a better set of veneers than those?  I found this thread on Reddit from a year ago and someone just updated it tonight with the comment, “whiter than the snow tonight.”  🤣

 

I noticed it too!  He has a very faint lisp because of them!  Lmao

[bmags]

So sad this year is over.

[WhiteSox2023]

32 minutes ago, Kyyle23 said:

I noticed it too!  He has a very faint lisp because of them!  Lmao

Yep.  I also thought that Mevis was speaking his own language but the broadcast was actually glitching out.

https://www.reddit.com/r/LosAngelesRams/s/U20D3Q5ZAL

[Quin]

Gotta imagine Beane's trade history with Poles + hot seat + Josh Allen desperately needing a WR = Trade spot for DJ

Dayo's contract is murder.

[Chisoxfn]

Fun season. They had so many chances and a tough way to loose but now leverage that as the next step of the learning process. I expect more growth next year but a lot of work ahead. Caleb and offense have a lot to continue to improve on and defensively the front office and coaching staff are going to be busy. Will be interesting to see what they do at LT too. 

[SoxAce]

DJ Moore getting called out now by the media for (once again) quitting on a route. And rightfully so. Chase Daniel had a fantastic breakdown of it on his channel.

 

Also Chiefs trying to poach Ben Johnson's RBs coach.

 

 

[southsider2k5]

 

[almagest]

9 hours ago, chw42 said:

I've done a 180 on Swift. I don't think they can get a better RB than him for his salary next year. You might as well keep him unless you can get a value RB on day 3. They really should be focusing on the defense in days 1 and 2 of the draft. 

I’m not cutting him either, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bears take a running back and cut him. Ben Johnson already did that in Detroit.

[almagest]

8 hours ago, chw42 said:

If they trade him, the dead cap hit is only about 12 million, making a savings of 16.5 million. I have to imagine it would be hard for anyone to give much in return for him though. You're probably getting a 4th rounder with how much guaranteed money is left on his contract. 

Yup. I misread the trade savings on OTC. I’d take a 4th rounder to save some $. Rome, Burden, Loveland and Kmet are enough, and I think Jahdae Walker is worth keeping around.

[Milkman delivers]

13 hours ago, chw42 said:

Obviously amazing season. 

But man...to get that TD to send the game to OT and then fumble the game on that interception. That hurts. I'm not sure this team had what it takes to go win next week in Seattle, but you play the games for a reason. I bet nobody thought this defense could hold Stafford and the Rams to 17 points over 4 quarters. If you had told me that before the game, I would have guaranteed that we'd win. The offense just could not convert key 4th downs in the first half. That pick in OT was probably on Moore. We don't know what the play is, but I don't think Caleb just throws it up there like that if he didn't think Moore was going to break his route off. DJ's kind of known for improvising at the worst times, but he played a great game before that today. That's just part of the DJ Moore experience I guess. 

And if you had told Johnson that they’d hold the Rams to 17 through four quarters, he probably takes that fucking field goal.

But it was a hell of a season. And I don’t think anyone’s beating Seattle.

[Lip Man 1]

The Tribune's Brad Biggs 10 points from the game has a terrific and honest look at the entire Bears stadium situation. It is point 10 in his long story:

"Here’s what I know:

There has been frustration at Halas Hall that the stadium project has not already started.
There’s more optimism inside the building than there has been for some time that actual progress might not be far off.

Here’s what I think:

Indiana is moving quickly because the best chance the Hoosier state has is to play ball and prove the obstacles to a stadium in Illinois do not exist across the border.
The Bears, whose leadership and lobbyists haven’t been savvy enough to get traction in Springfield on their own, are now going to use maximum leverage on folks in Illinois.

“This is not about leverage,” President/CEO Kevin Warren wrote in a letter to fans last month.

Phooey."

He writes a lot more about the situation:

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/01/19/chicago-bears-brad-biggs-10-thoughts-rams-playoffs/

 

[joejoesox]

are the bears seriously moving to another state, how could that even happen 

[joejoesox]

losing bieniemy would be huge 

[chw42]

3 hours ago, Quin said:

Gotta imagine Beane's trade history with Poles + hot seat + Josh Allen desperately needing a WR = Trade spot for DJ

Dayo's contract is murder.

My thoughts exactly. If we can somehow get a 3rd for DJ, Poles should do it. It saves us about 16.5 million in cap space. 

The WR free agency class is pretty weak outside of Pickens. But he's probably gonna get franchise tagged. The draft isn't loaded at WR either, especially at where the Bills pick. The top 3 guys are probably all gone by the time the Bills pick in the 20s.

[chw42]

4 hours ago, bmags said:

So sad this year is over.

I thought that losing wouldn't hurt after last week, but the fact they had a miracle play to tie it and were 15 yards away from possibly winning it in OT stings a lot. This really felt like a special team with how they came back in games. I think the future is bright for the team, but we might never experience the level of magic this team had again. 

[Kyyle23]

2 hours ago, SoxAce said:

DJ Moore getting called out now by the media for (once again) quitting on a route. And rightfully so. Chase Daniel had a fantastic breakdown of it on his channel.

 

Also Chiefs trying to poach Ben Johnson's RBs coach.

 

 

Pretty confident that Nagy is getting a HC job lol

[chw42]

2 minutes ago, Kyyle23 said:

Pretty confident that Nagy is getting a HC job lol

They're interviewing Bienemy because Nagy's contract is up. 

[Flash Tizzle]

9 minutes ago, chw42 said:

I thought that losing wouldn't hurt after last week, but the fact they had a miracle play to tie it and were 15 yards away from possibly winning it in OT stings a lot. This really felt like a special team with how they came back in games. I think the future is bright for the team, but we might never experience the level of magic this team had again. 

Absolutely. And while I’m grateful for the season (and playoff win), there’s a feeling that the Bears may be in store for a huge letdown next year. I can only hope the coaches and Poles feel similarity. The “magic” of the late game comebacks and defensive turnover abilities masked a lot of issues. I understand the clutchness and will to win from Williams - but that completion percentage needs work. I believe he even acknowledged it yesterday. We’ll also need to spend a significant amount of draft capital on the defense.

No one expected the Bears to be winning a Super Bowl this season. But the path was there to make an unexpected run. 

[Chisoxfn]

It sucks - Moore made a mistake just as Loveland did on the 2nd pick. Both of those are huge plays of wideout and TE make right read. That said it happens and it is still year 1. 
 

There was clearly a miscommunication and Moore still willed himself to play through injured and was otherwise having a pretty darn good game and a good final stretch of the season. 
 

The way this year ended set a great launch point but I also think there a ton of coachable moments and growth opportunities to come from the loss on the offensive side of the ball and I hope after they let their bodies rest we see Caleb put in a ton of work on enhancing his footwork and clubs (ie better use of touch vs power) while also continuing to advance his mastery of the offense. 
 

Similarly I hope the whole offensive skill positions continue to put their work in - work the juggs - lots of work with Caleb and lots of work on mastery of the various reads. I expect a big jump from Rome, Luther and Loveland and I think Moore and Kmet still have valuable roles if we keep them - but my guess is one might be traded. At same time Jahdae Walker should be putting in the work too and I’m sure they’ll try another late end weapon too but I expect offense isn’t going to get much new investment this offseason and that is okay. 
 

Defensively I think we will see massive change and in draft they should be moving around and just targeting best available defensive player…I trust defensive staff to develop these guys and could see a scenario where it starts slow with lots of new faces and than you see real ascension as season goes. 
 

But also - thanks for this team for making it a fun season, hopefully one that we look back at 5 and 10 years from now as the start of a special era in Bears football!!! 

[Goober]

Anyone know whether Caleb Williams chose a one-piece or a two-piece swimsuit for the beach in Cancun today?

[Chisoxfn]

6 minutes ago, Flash Tizzle said:

Absolutely. And while I’m grateful for the season (and playoff win), there’s a feeling that the Bears may be in store for a huge letdown next year. I can only hope the coaches and Poles feel similarity. The “magic” of the late game comebacks and defensive turnover abilities masked a lot of issues. I understand the clutchness and will to win from Williams - but that completion percentage needs work. I believe he even acknowledged it yesterday. We’ll also need to spend a significant amount of draft capital on the defense.

No one expected the Bears to be winning a Super Bowl this season. But the path was there to make an unexpected run. 

I think we see defense stay similar - loss of turnovers will be offset by a better D. Offensively I think they will be better. Overall though tougher completion and a few less breaks - but I see it kind of of setting each other. 
 

The big thing is can Caleb take that big step and obviously do we see the same from some of the offensive weapons. I believe the talent is there, the want is their and the staff to push them is there! 

[soulfly]

22 minutes ago, Flash Tizzle said:

Absolutely. And while I’m grateful for the season (and playoff win), there’s a feeling that the Bears may be in store for a huge letdown next year. I can only hope the coaches and Poles feel similarity. The “magic” of the late game comebacks and defensive turnover abilities masked a lot of issues. I understand the clutchness and will to win from Williams - but that completion percentage needs work. I believe he even acknowledged it yesterday. We’ll also need to spend a significant amount of draft capital on the defense.

No one expected the Bears to be winning a Super Bowl this season. But the path was there to make an unexpected run. 

Yea, next year is going to be pretty rough.  Harder schedule.  Most likely going to have a Minnesota type year when they don't win all those close games.  This team was great to watch, but could have very easily only won 5 games if not for late game magic.  Glad to finally get another playoff win though.

 

That all said, this was a game they should have won.  Take the fucking points early in the game.  If you as a head coach have zero confidence in your defense, then fire the DC and start over.