Technically, we're a week removed from the midway point of the NFL season. But it's still a good time to announce midseason awards for the Chicago Bears.
Through nine games and 10 weeks, the Bears are 6-3 and have already exceeded their 2024 win total under first-year head coach Ben Johnson. Caleb Williams looks like a different quarterback. Their resiliency is showing over so many games.
They've been an entertaining -- and endearing -- team to watch. And that's a far cry from so many past seasons.
Without further ado, here are your 2025 Chicago Bears Midseason Award winners! Follow me on X @DhruvKoul to continue the conversation.
Chicago Bears Midseason Awards
Offensive Player of the Year: Darnell Wright
I know, I know. Traditionally, this is a quarterback or skill player award and the Bears have a few to choose from. But that's how good I think Wright has been this year.
He's playing as a true "set it and forget it" anchoring right tackle. Frankly, that's been his story since he joined the Bears... but now that the rest of the Bears' offensive line is solid as well, Wright's dominance is shining through weekly. He's one of Ryan Poles' best draft picks and a true upper echelon offensive lineman in the NFL. The Bears got this one right.
Honorable mention(s): Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze, Joe Thuney
Defensive Player of the Year: Tremaine Edmunds
The Bears' defense is something else. They're one of the most beat-up units in the league in terms of injuries. Their pass rush isn't great. They're not great at stopping the run. And down-to-down, they're one of the worst defenses in the league.
And yet, they lead the league in takeaways and have one of the league's best stop rates on third down. They just suck at getting to third down.
Overall, Edmunds has been fantastic this season. Kudos to Dennis Allen for moving Edmunds to the Will spot. He was brought in to play the Mike in Matt Eberflus' defense a couple years ago and struggled to make the impact he and the Bears wanted. Since his move to Will, he's been able to rely on his size and speed and not have to be a natively instinctual player (because he isn't). He's had a knack for timely interceptions and has formed a strong tandem with T.J. Edwards (who takes the Mike spot when healthy).
Honorable mentions(s): Kevin Byard, Montez Sweat
Worst Moment: Bears Lose 52-21 in Detroit
The last time the Bears opened the season in primetime was in 2019, when Matt LaFleur's Packers came to Soldier Field and stunned an excited Chicago crowd 10-3. A highly anticipated season started off with a total dud.
Not to be outdone, in Week 1 this season, the Bears jumped out to a 17-6 lead in Ben Johnson's debut, only to unravel in the fourth quarter to hometown kid J.J. McCarthy and the Vikings to start 0-1. And if that wasn't bad enough, Johnson returned to Ford Field in Week 2 in front of a ravenous Detroit crowd... where the Lions whipped Chicago 52-21 put them at 0-2.
That was a low point. Every Bears fan came out of that game feeling like they'd been duped... as if there was no hope. To lose that badly in a "revenge game" in Detroit after all the offseason anticipation? Yuck.
Of course, the Bears have course corrected very well since then. But that was a low moment. And it's a feeling Bears fans expect to not have again for a long time.
Honorable mention: Bears Blow 41-27 Lead to Bengals
Best Moment: Bears Walk Off Commanders in Washington
Let's be real, the Bears have plenty of candidates for this one. The blocked field goal in Vegas before their bye week got them to 2-2 despite one of their worst played games in a long time. Caleb Williams' comebacks against the Bengals and Giants in consecutive weeks were script-worthy. Caleb's flea-flicker touchdown to Luther Burden against Dallas was their first moment where it felt the offense had figured things out.
Lots of things to choose from when the team is 6-3.
But at the time, that Commanders game was everything for Chicago. The opportunity to go back to Landover and avenge the Hail Mary loss from 2024. A prime time battle on Monday Night Football. Another Williams vs. Jayden Daniels battle. Another Williams comeback. And Jake Moody kicking in relief of Cairo Santos to walk off the Commanders before Washington went into its tailspin?
Yeah, that was sick.
Honorable mention(s): Caleb-To-Colston Loveland in Cincinnati, Josh Blackwell's Blocked Field Goal
Best Coaching Accomplishment: Ben Johnson's Bye Week Tweaks of the Running Game
The Bears' rushing attack was a deadweight unit the first four weeks of the season. The run blocking was a bit messy, and D'Andre Swift wasn't able to maximize the opportunities with good blocking that he DID get.
And then something changed over the bye week. Johnson said he would figure it out -- and he did. The Bears unveiled their tweaks against the aforementioned Commanders in prime time, leaning on a dominant run game on the final drive to win the game. And since then, the Bears' success has made their rushing attack a Top-5 unit. Insanely impressive accomplishment.
Honorable mention(s): Caleb Williams' Progression, Edmunds-Edwards Positional Swap
Predicting the Bears' Remaining Schedule
Let's round this off with a quick second-half prediction...
@ MIN: L
vs. PIT: W
@ PHI: L
@ GB: L
vs. CLE: W
vs. GB: W
@ SF: W
vs. DET: L
Final record: 10-7.
