In the 2025 off-season, the Chicago Bears made a potential franchise-altering decision and hired creative offensive mind Ben Johnson as head coach. During the past five seasons, Chicago has dealt with multiple head coaches, countless offensive coordinators, and different franchise quarterbacks leading the charge. To start the season, Chicago has gotten off to its best start since 2018 (read about their start in our article about the NFC North). Referencing this season to Chicago sports fans causes discomfort and sadness, even with the success of the 2018 Chicago Bears.
In 2018, Chicago found success that it hadn’t found in half a decade. With a terrifying defense and a creative offense, this team was expected to create havoc for a long time; however, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Even if this team was a one-year wonder, the success in 2018 changed the Chicago Bears franchise forever.
Let’s turn back the clock and relive the 2018 season.
Matt Nagy’s Arrival: A New Era for the Chicago Bears
After the conclusion of a disappointing 5-11 2017 season, Chicago Bears head coach John Fox was fired after three consecutive last-place finishes in the NFC North. After years of hiring defensive minds as head coaches, Chicago’s front office wanted to hire somebody to change the culture. Their answer to all of their questions would be Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy.
This hire was set to be a change of pace that Chicago has become accustomed to. According to an article written by Jeff Dickerson, Chicago had only hired one coach since the NFL merger who had previously worked as an offensive coordinator, Marc Trestman. Since he was let go before the 2015 season, Chicago ranked dead last in the NFL, scoring 18.3 points per game.
Nagy had worked under Andy Reid, who has become notorious for his creative and motion-heavy offense, and he had displayed his creative play-call ability in 2017, serving his first full season as offensive coordinator. Chicago had never experienced a play-caller like Matt Nagy, and things were looking up for an offense led by a former No. 2 overall draft pick.
Chicagoβs Offense Begins to Take Shape
Going into the 2017 season, all eyes were on second-year quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. Just a year prior, Chicago traded heavy draft capital to trade up and draft the former North Carolina Tar Heel. However, unlike in years past, Chicago spent heavily before the start of the 2018 season.
At wide receiver, pro-bowler Allen Robinson was the big fish signing, being handed a 3-year/ $42 million contract to instantly become Chicago’s most dangerous receiving threat. Wide receiver Taylor Gabriel and tight end Trey Burton signed long-term deals to join pro-bowler Jordan Howard and the speedy, versatile Tarik Cohen to form a solid skill position group. Cody Whitehair, James Daniels, and Charles Leno Jr. were a great foundation for a good offensive line. This Matt Nagy-led offense was falling into place.
Luckily for Matt Nagy and the offense, they had one of the best defenses in football that could carry the success of the Chicago Bears.
Chicagoβs Defense Becomes Elite with Khalil Mackβs Arrival
In 2017, Chicago finished with a top ten defense in the NFL with notable players like Akiem Hicks, Kyle Fuller, Danny Trevathan, and youngsters Eddie Jackson and Adrian Amos. In 2017, they would draft pass-rusher Leonard Floyd, and in 2018, they would select Roquan Smith with the No. 8 overall pick. With defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, Chicago was primed for another leap; however, its only weakness defensively was at pass rush. This would lead General Manager Ryan Pace to make one of the biggest trades in franchise history.
DPOY and First-Team All-Pro superstar Khalil Mack was traded to the Chicago Bears just a week before the start of the season. He would immediately receive a six-year extension and would become the face of the Chicago Bears.
With an already top ten defense in football, Khalil Mack would spark one of the most exciting defenses of the past decade and would push for another DPOY.
Chicagoβs Impressive Climb to the NFC North Crown
With Khalil Mack playing limited snaps, Chicago would start the season off with a thriller but would fall to Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. However, fans were excited after he finished with a sack, forced fumble, fumble recovery, and a pick-6. Chicago would rattle off three consecutive victories, including a six-touchdown performance by second-year quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. Following those three wins, Chicago would lose back-to-back AFC East matchups by one score each.
At 3-3, Chicago would kick things into gear, dominating throughout the next five games, improving to 8-3. They would lose in overtime to the New York Giants and would sit at 8-4, already a successful season by many fans. To this point in the season, you can tell the defense is the vocal point and the driving force behind Chicago’s success.
At 8-4, they would be taking on the Los Angeles Rams, the No. 1-ranked offense in 2018. At this point, Chicago hadn’t become a true contender, but after this game, the NFL would be put on notice. Both offenses would struggle, combining for seven interceptions; however, Jared Goff would throw four interceptions, and Chicago would dominate in a 15-6 victory. After this matchup, Chicago would win out the rest of the season, finishing 12-4 and would be crowned NFC North champions. Chicago would end the season with four First Team All-Pro members those being Khalil Mack, Eddie Jackson, Kyle Fuller, and Tarik Cohen.
The Double Doink: A Kick That Changed Everything
Heading into the post-season, Chicago would have to play in the Wild Card round, and they were dealt a tough matchup against the defending champions, the Philadelphia Eagles. Nick Foles was starting at quarterback again, and everyone knew it would be a defensive battle.
The first quarter was a low-scoring, punt fest, but Philadelphia drove down and snatched a field goal to take an early 3-0 lead. Philadelphia would struggle in the second quarter, throwing two interceptions, and Chicago would answer with two field goals, taking a 6-3 halftime lead.
Coming out of halftime, Chicago would punt, and that would lead to the first touchdown of the game to Dallas Goedert. Philadelphia would take a 10-6 lead. Chicago would score a field goal, cutting the lead to one, but then Allen Robinson would haul in Chicago’s first touchdown of the game, giving Chicago the lead. However, Chicago would fail the two-point conversion and would hold just a five-point lead.
Nick Foles would drive Philadelphia down the field and score the go-ahead touchdown, but Chicago would have around a minute to go down and settle for a game-winning field goal. Mitchell Trubisky and Allen Robinson would drive Chicago down the field, putting kicker Cody Parkey in field goal range. Cody Parkey’s first attempt was good, but Philadelphia had a timeout to “ice” the kicker. Parkey’s second attempt would be tipped, causing the ball to hit off the left upright and ricochetted into the bottom bar and bounce back onto the field.
In an article written by CBS, Matt Nagy said, “It’s hard. It’s a difficult deal. I don’t think you could write that story, you know, just with how things went this year, and how he rebounded, and then for that to happen. It’s tough.”
When a Special Season Slipped Away
The Los Angeles Rams would win the NFC that season, losing to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, two teams that Chicago played well against during the regular season. In one of the most memorable seasons in team history, it is a shame this squad would finish its season without a playoff win. In a season with such a culture change, Chicago’s “club dub” is still talked about as one of the best cultures the Chicago Bears have ever had.
Chicago would miss the postseason in 2019 after being the favorites to win the NFC. They would make the postseason in 2020, but would be knocked out by the New Orleans Saints in the Wild Card round. Matt Nagy would be fired after the 2020 season, Mitchell Trubisky would sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and this stellar defense would slowly leave and retire. This squad, unfortunately, is now viewed as just a “what if”.
The tides are turning in Chicago. Chicago has found their franchise quarterback in Caleb Williams and their head coach in Ben Johnson. After a close win against the Minnesota Vikings, Chicago is sitting in first place in the NFC North throughout ten games, giving them their best start to a season since 2018. The 2018 Chicago Bears had an incredible defense and an opportunistic offense and they turned into the biggest “what if” in the franchise’s history.
