Bears’ 2025 Opponents Announced
The Bears do not have their 2025 schedule yet, but they do know who their opponents will be. Chicago finished its season with a 24-22 win over the Packers on Sunday but still ended up in last place in the NFC North. Though they earned a last-place schedule, the Bears will play 10 games against teams that made this year’s playoffs. That includes home and away sets against Green Bay, the Vikings, and the Lions, who finished with the best record in the NFC.
When @KevinByard produced a strip/sack by blasting GB QB Malik Willis yesterday, it reminded me of a nearly identical play by Mike Brown (@21MB30) against Brett Favre in 2005. Check it out: pic.twitter.com/CaUIfyZnAv
— Larry Mayer (@LarryMayer) January 6, 2025
Based on 2024 records, Chicago has the second-toughest 2025 schedule. A lot of fans are complaining that it’s unfair, but the Lions, Vikings, and Packers finished a combined 40-11 (.784). The Bears will take on opponents in the AFC North and the NFC East and will also face the last-place teams in the AFC West, NFC West, and NFC South under the NFL’s scheduling formula. Chicago has seven games against opponents who won 12 or more games in 2024.
HOME GAMES
- Lions (15-2)
- Vikings (14-3)
- Packers (11-6)
- Giants (3-14)
- Cowboys (7-10)
- Saints (5-12)
- Browns (3-14)
- Steelers (10-7)
ROAD GAMES
- Lions
- Vikings
- Packers
- Eagles (14-3)
- Commanders (12-5)
- 49ers (6-11)
- Ravens (12-5)
- Bengals (9-8)
- Raiders (4-13)
The Bears have an extra road game next season (at Las Vegas) because they played nine home games this season, though one was in London. Chicago was the home team in their 35-16 win over the Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. That was the high-water mark for the Bears, who lost 10 straight following that win after coming home with a 4-2 record. Cole Kmet caught two touchdown passes in that game and then was left out of the offense for the rest of the season. he also held on extra point attempts for kicker Cairo Santos. Those were some good times, yes?
Chicago also travels to Washington for the third straight season. They lost to the Commanders on a Hail Mary pass two weeks and one bye after their big win in London. Expect Caleb Williams to outplay Jayden Daniels, with half of Chicago’s fan base still clinging to the notion that they chose the wrong franchise quarterback. Williams is better than Daniels and C.J. Stroud, whether you believe it or not. Expect the NFL to make the second Williams-Daniels matchup a nationally televised contest.
The Bears were the only team in the NFC North to miss the playoffs this season, so overall improvement is once again tied to being competitive in the division. Detroit won all six of its games against the Bears, Lions, and Vikings this season. Minnesota was 5-1 against NFC North opponents. Chicago and Green Bay were 1-5 in interdivisional games, each winning one against the other. We are all still waiting for Ryan Poles to take the NFC North and never give it back.
Don’t forget, the Vikings could reset with quarterback J.J. McCarthy even though Sam Darnold led Minnesota to a 14-3 finish. McCarthy will be the subject of plenty of trade rumors this offseason, too, given the success of this year’s rookie signal callers and a weak quarterback draft this April.
Other than their NFC North brethren, the Bears play just two games next season against teams they played this year. They have the game against the Commanders, and they’ll also travel to San Francisco. Chicago lost to the 49ers 38-13 in their Week 14 game.
The Bears will enter the 2025 season with a new head coach and play at least one game against a team in a similar situation. The Saints fired Dennis Allen in November and finished the season with interim head coach Darren Rizzi. The Bears, of course, fired Matt Eberflus after a Thanksgiving day loss to the Lions. Eberflus was replaced by Thomas Brown, who guided Chicago to a 1-4 record. Brown is under consideration to have the interim tag removed, though the Saints are seeking an outside candidate.
Chicago’s roster will look vastly different next year. Chicago has 32 free agents set to hit the open market, including WR Keenan Allen, DE Darrell Taylor, LB Jack Sanborn, and OL Teven Jenkins. Free agency starts March 10, and the Bears are armed with approximately $80 million in cap space. That’s fifth-most in the NFL behind the Patriots, Raiders, Commanders, and Cardinals. Barring any trades, Chicago also has three of the top 41 picks in the 2025 draft. Poles is armed with eight total picks in the upcoming draft and desperately needs help on the offensive and defensive lines.
