Bears Report Card: Breaking down the good, better, and best from the first two-thirds of the 2025 season with six weeks remaining
Perfect time to take a step back and reassess how the team is looking.
The Chicago Bears improved to an 8-3 record last weekend with a close win over the Pittsburgh Steelers and have now won five of their last six games during the second-third of the season.
A lot of work still needs to be done over the final six weeks if this team wants to punch the ticket to the playoffs in the first season under head coach Ben Johnson with a daunting final stretch of games.
Luckily, the Bears have some players heating up at the right time with reinforcements on the way. With another six weeks behind us, let’s take another step back and hand out some grades for what we saw over the last third of the season.
Offensive superlatives
MVP: LG Joe Thuney
Joe Thuney has been as rock solid as it gets for the Bears this season and earned the right to be the offensive MVP after the last six games. Thuney has yet to allow a sack this season and only allowed one total pressure. His 85.4 pass blocking grade ranks 5th among all offensive lineman with 250+ pass blocking snaps while being a key leader behind the scenes for this entire team.
Glue guy: QB Caleb Williams
Caleb Williams lost out on the MVP this time around after the second-third of the season. His play hasn’t fallen off by any means, I just found it right to give Thuney some props for the way he’s playing. Williams, though, absolutely deserves to be the glue guy on offense. His demeanor during late game situations and following a negative play is huge and something his teammates gravitate toward.
Biggest surprise: RB Kyle Monangai
I don’t think anyone expected this out of the team’s seventh-round pick. Kyle Monangai has been playing like one of the best rookie backs in the league working within the two-back approach alongside D’Andre Swift. It took some time to get him fully integrated, but the last six games he’s totaled 380 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns while averaging 4.9 yards per attempt. He’s been a welcome surprise for this offense that helps keep the unit humming.
Biggest disappointment: WR Olamide Zaccheaus
Truthfully, there’s not too many disappointments with this offense. Rome Odunze has cooled off a bit from his hot start but he’s still playing at a solid level and so is DJ Moore. Looking specifically at the last six games, Olamide Zaccheaus would have to be my biggest offensive disappointment. His three drops in that span lead the team and his yards per reception of 6.5 ranks 9th on the team.
Offensive Overall Grade: A
Defensive superlatives
MVP: DE Montez Sweat
This isn’t just recency bias speaking coming off a multi-sack performance. Montez Sweat has been on a tear for this defense ever since the bye week with 6.5 sacks and 18 total pressures in that span. Sunday’s game just proved he’s heating back up to his elite status at the perfect time.
Glue guy: S Kevin Byard
Kevin Byard continues to be a strong leader for this entire defense with a high level of play backing up his words. Over the last six games, Byard is the team’s highest graded defender per PFF and currently leads the league in interceptions (tied with Nahshon Wright, more on him below). Byard is in the middle of a Pro Bowl, and possibly All-Pro, season at age 32. He’s a great role model for this team.
Biggest surprise: CB Nahshon Wright
No one expected Nahshon Wright to play the amount he has this year or at the level he’s been playing at. With the near season-long injury to Jaylon Johnson, Wright was forced into a major role as a starter on the outside for this team. While he’s had some issues when it comes to allowing touchdowns, he’s making up for it with his takeaways and even his ability in the run game.
Biggest disappointment: DT Grady Jarrett
I shouldn’t be the first to say the Bears hoped for more out of Grady Jarrett. Don’t get me wrong, he brings some valuable experience and leadership for the defense but his stats just aren’t backing up the price tag the Bears are paying him. He’s been more active in terms of playing the last six games but only totaled 13 tackles, 0 tackles for a loss, and 0 sacks in the span.
Defensive Overall Grade: C-
2025 draft class superlatives
Overachiever: TE Colston Loveland
Colston Loveland is starting to live up to the hype as a Top-10 selection and the upside his clear for what he can bring to Chicago for years to come. The first-round selection has three touchdowns and posted his first 100-yard game over the last six games since our previous report card. He’s coming into his own as a blocker and earning more of a featured role in the passing game. This guy is legit.
Rookie we need to see more from: WR Luther Burden III
Overall, Luther Burden III has been impressing with his limited opportunities and finally started to overtake Olamide Zaccheaus for the WR3 job. It hasn’t led to an explosion game like many expected, but you can tell it’s coming soon. So, that’s what we need to see more from when it comes to Burden. That monster game is coming once he can put it together and earn that opportunity.
Rookie Class Overall Grade: B
Coaching report card
Ben Johnson is knocking on the door of winning Coach of the Year for the way he’s turned around this team in just 11 games and put them in a position to a legit contender in the NFC. Dennis Allen has also been working miracles with the defense considering the amount of injuries his unit as suffered. This coaching staff is awesome and there’s not a single complaint I could have for this group.
Coaching Overall Grade: A+
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