Most Impactful Bears of 2025: Ranking Chicago's biggest contributors
· Yahoo Sports
The Chicago Bears concluded their 2025 season, where they finished with an 11-6 record, an NFC North title and their first playoff win in 15 years under first-year head coach Ben Johnson. And there's no denying that the future is incredibly bright.
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We counted down our 15 Most Impactful Bears from the 2025 season, which featured plenty of young talent that made huge contributions in Chicago's magical season. We'll recap their 2025 season and look ahead to how they factor into 2026. There were plenty of top talent to highlight this season, which made for difficult decisions when narrowing the field to just 15 players and/or coaches.
From breakout rookies to new and returning veterans, we've rounded up our most impactful contributors from the Bears' 2025 season.
15. K Cairo Santos
Santos has been the picture of stability at kicker for the Bears over the last five years, but he was somewhat of a controversial topic early in the season where some wanted Chicago to move forward with Jake Moody, who stepped in for a couple of games with Santos sidelined. Santos has been pretty reliable for the Bears, especially considering their kicker history after Robbie Gould, but he's not exactly a modern NFL kicker known for his leg strength. Santos' 83.3% field goal percentage was the lowest since joining Chicago, although he made all of his extra points for his first time with the Bears. While he got off to a rough start, he rebounded in a massive way and led the way for the offense when they stalled. Santos came through with some clutch kicks to force overtime, win games or even put the Chicago in a position to win. -- Alyssa Barbieri
14. DE Montez Sweat
All offseason, the word out of Halas Hall was that Montez Sweat was working as hard as anyone in the building to bounce back from a disappointing 2024 season. Though he may not have gotten back to the same Pro Bowl-caliber player the Bears acquired in 2023, he rebounded nicely in 2025. Sweat played in all 17 games and was fairly consistent when it came to locking down one side of the defensive line. Statistically speaking, Sweat had arguably the second-best season of his career, but his impact really shined in the middle of the season. From Weeks 7 through 12, Sweat totaled 6.5 sacks, eight tackles for loss, nine QB hits, and two forced fumbles. He also came up big in key moments, like thwarting any sort of momentum from the Packers at the end of regulation in the Week 16 thrilling comeback win, and terrorizing Mason Rudolph and the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 12. Sweat may not be the dominant pass rusher the Bears were hoping he would be, but he showed he's valuable on the defensive line. -- Brendan Sugrue
13. WR Luther Burden III
Luther Burden III wasn't part of the plan heading into the pre-draft process, but he fell right into the waiting arms of Ben Johnson and the Bears at 39th overall. Now, Burden is looking like one of the biggest steals of the 2025 draft class after a modest but promising rookie season in Chicago. After suffering an injury during rookie minicamp that slowed him down, Burden immediately showcased his playmaking potential during training camp and preseason. But it came to fruition for the first time in Week 3 against the Dallas Cowboys, where he caught all three targets for 101 yards and a touchdown, including a 65-yard flea-flicker touchdown from quarterback Caleb Williams. While there were a lot of mouths to feed on offense, Burden got an opportunity to step up with Rome Odunze being sidelined with a foot injury. Burden's best game of the season came in a Week 17 shootout against the San Francisco 49ers, where he caught eight passes (on nine targets) for 138 yards and a score. While Burden's impact wasn't as big as his rookie counterpart Colston Loveland, it's clear that Burden has the potential to be a breakout star in Year 2 in this Ben Johnson-led offense. -- Alyssa Barbieri
12. RB Kyle Monangai
For much of the 2025 offseason, the Bears seemed destined to select a running back in the NFL Draft. Players like Ashton Jeanty, TreVeyon Henderson, and Kaleb Johnson were floated as possibilities to give Ben Johnson's offense a skilled playmaker to utilize. The Bears thwarted expectations when they waited until the seventh round to address the position when they selected Kyle Monangai. Despite being a late-round pick, Monangai quickly made a strong first impression and became the primary backup behind D'Andre Swift. His first big opportunity came in Week 7 against the New Orleans Saints when Monangai ran for 81 yards on 13 carries and scored his first touchdown. It wasn't until Week 9, however, that he made a name for himself. Monangai started in place of an injured Swift against the Cincinnati Bengals and ran 26 times for 176 yards. It was the second-most rushing yards in a single game by a Bears rookie in team history. From then on, Monangai saw more opportunities and formed a dangerous one-two punch with Swift and had more memorable moments. Monangai's punishing running style complemented Swift's quickness well, and the rookie played an important role in the offense's success, though he did seem to hit a rookie wall the final few games of the season. -- Brendan Sugrue
11. OL coach Dan Roushar
While Dan Roushar was committed to retiring after the 2024 season, after spending two years with Tulane, he was convinced to return to coaching by Ben Johnson. And what a hire it was for the first-time head coach. Roushar led an offensive line group that was one of the best in the NFL during the 2025 season, whether it was leading the third-best run game in the league or allowing a league-low 25 sacks. After quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked a league-high 68 times as a rookie, the Bears overhauled the interior of the offensive line with the additions of All Pro left guard Joe Thuney, Pro Bowl center Drew Dalman and Jonah Jackson to pair with rising right tackle Darnell Wright. While it certainly helped to elevate the talent along the offensive line, Roushar has long been one of the better offensive line coaches in the NFL and college. Case in point, rookie Ozzy Trapilo went from third-string left tackle to establishing himself as a potential long-term answer (before his torn patellar tendon in the playoffs) or Jordan McFadden stepping in to start at left guard, when Thuney kicked over to left tackle in the divisional playoff game against the Rams. McFadden had three snaps all year up to that point, and he came in and was very solid. Roushar is certainly one of the more underrated coaches on Johnson's staff, but he's been a key part in the offense's turnaround. -- Alyssa Barbieri
10. CB Nahshon Wright
The Bears made multiple big moves last offseason, from bringing in offensive linemen like Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson, and Drew Dalman to taking big swings on defense with Grady Jarrett and Dayo Odeyingbo. But one of their best acquisitions came when they signed Nahshon Wright to a one-year deal to compete at cornerback. Once seen as a depth player who had experience with defensive backs coach Al Harris, Wright quickly stood out at training camp and earned a starting spot on the defense, in part due to injuries. In Week 1, Wright began his Pro Bowl campaign with a pick six against the Minnesota Vikings, a preview of what was to come in 2025. As the season wore on, Wright started taking the ball away at will. Whether he was using his long frame to pick passes out of the air or force fumbles at the most critical time, it always felt like Wright would make a game-changing play. Wright's five picks were tied for the NFL lead amongst cornerbacks, and he led the NFL with total takeaways. Though his pass coverage skills were hit or miss, the turnovers Wright created were key in getting the Bears to 11 wins, and he was rewarded with a trip to the Pro Bowl when it was all said and done. -- Brendan Sugrue
9. WR DJ Moore
There were questions surrounding Moore's fit in Ben Johnson's offense, where it was clear Chicago was looking at different ways to get him involved with an influx of weapons. Moore saw some snaps at running back, which translated at times to the regular season, but he proved to be most vital as Caleb Williams' go-to receiver later in the season. While Rome Odunze had appeared to pass up Moore as WR1, he was hampered by a stress fracture in his foot that allowed young playmakers like Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III to step up, but it also opened the door for a dependable veteran like Moore to flourish. Moore had two of the most important and iconic touchdowns in recent Bears history, both against the Packers in Week 16 and the wild-card playoffs. Although his final play, a miscommunication with Williams against the Rams in the divisional playoffs, ended on a sour note with an interception in overtime. In 2025, Moore did it all: He caught passes, he carried the ball on occasion and he was dependable blocker. -- Alyssa Barbieri
8. RB D'Andre Swift
Entering the 2025 season, there were plenty of skeptics when it came to D'Andre Swift and his effectiveness in the offense. The prized free agent back in 2024 struggled mightily in his first year as a Bear, and there were questions as to whether or not he would even be on the team when Ben Johnson was hired as head coach. It took a couple of weeks into the regular season, but those concerns eventually faded. Swift produced a career year as the lead back in 2025, producing more rushing yards (1,087) and rushing touchdowns (nine). He, along with rookie Kyle Monangai, produced the third-best rushing offense in the NFL with 144.5 yards per game. And thanks to an improved blocking scheme, Swift was able to find better running lanes and hit them with more anticipation. In 2025, Swift produced four 100-yard rushing games, including a pair of dominating performances in Week 7 against the New Orleans Saints and Week 13 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Though Monangai had his moments, Swift was the clear lead back last season to help the Bears capture the NFC North title. -- Brendan Sugrue
7. S Kevin Byard
Kevin Byard was one of the bright spots on defense during a putrid 2024 season, and he saved his best for 2025 as part of new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen's unit. Byard had one of the best seasons in his 10-year career, where he led the NFL in interceptions (7) while leading a defense that also led the league in takeaways (33). Byard, a team captain, played a key role in a bend-don't-break secondary that was hampered by injuries. He was named First-Team All-Pro while also earning Pro Bowl nods in a magical season. Byard's best game came in Week 4 against the Las Vegas Raiders, where he picked off quarterback Geno Smith twice while totaling seven tackles, including one for a loss. While Byard did allow a career-high seven touchdowns in 2025, he was no doubt the MVP of the Bears defense and played a key role in the team's worst-to-first season, NFC North title and wild-card playoff win. -- Alyssa Barbieri
6. RT Darnell Wright
Entering the 2025 season, Darnell Wright was already an established right tackle in the league. He had been the anchor on the right side of the offensive line ever since his rookie season, all while working with different guards next to him, from Teven Jenkins to Nate Davis. Wright was good, but he was still looking to reach his potential as a great tackle. All of it finally clicked in his third season with new offensive line coach Dan Roushar and veteran guard Jonah Jackson. Wright had the best season of his career and became the franchise tackle the Bears envisioned when he was the No. 10 overall pick in 2023. He and Jackson formed a lethal blocking duo, particularly in the run game. Wright became a monster who bullied defenders off the ball and played with an attitude we had not seen. When it came to pass protection, Wright allowed just three sacks and three hits in 638 pass-blocking snaps. For his efforts, Wright was named Second-Team all-Pro at this position. -- Brendan Sugrue
5. TE Colston Loveland
When the Bears selected Colston Loveland with the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, there were some questions about the decision. But Loveland easily put those to bed with an impressive rookie season. While it took some time to get Colston Loveland involved in the passing game, once the Bears did, he was electric. Loveland showed exactly why he was coveted by Ben Johnson with his receiver-like separation and pass catching ability. Loveland led the team in receptions (58) and receiving yards (713), and he really didn't even get going until midway through the 2025 season. In the final 12 games of the season (including two postseason contests), he caught 59 passes for 790 yards and six touchdowns. Loveland's biggest game came against the Green Bay Packers in the wild-card playoffs, where he dominated that defense to the tune of eight catches for 137 yards and a two-point conversion, including some crucial receptions to help lead Chicago to a comeback win. Loveland led the Bears' rookie class across the board. He played the most snaps (818), led the team in WAR (0.514), led the team in PFF grade (85.3) and also ranked first among all rookie tight ends (85.3). -- Alyssa Barbieri
4. C Drew Dalman
Going into last offseason, the Bears were all over Dalman as an upgrade to the center position. Their interest in the former Atlanta Falcon was one of the worst-kept secrets at the time. So it wasn't a surprise to see they had agreed to a three-year deal with him worth $42 million and $28 million guaranteed on the first day of the negotiating window. Dalman's arrival gave the Bears a proven center who could not only execute the necessary blocks but also work seamlessly with Williams to command the offense. Dalman helped anchor a new interior of the line, along with Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, and the Bears offense thrived with improved blocking. As Williams said last year, Dalman is "the brains of it all" on the line while he can move guys off the ball like the Hulk. Despite a few snap miscues, Dalman was a major upgrade at center and earned Pro Bowl honors for the first time in his career. -- Brendan Sugrue
3. LG Joe Thuney
The Bears acquired Thuney in a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs for a fourth-round pick last offseason, and he was part of a complete overhaul on the interior offensive line along with center Drew Dalman and right guard Jonah Jackson. Thuney proved to be worth the draft capital and contract extension he received from Chicago. Thuney helped anchor one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, which allowed just 25 sacks on Caleb Williams, and played a huge role in the Bears going 11-6, winning the NFC North and beating the Green Bay Packers in the wild-card playoffs. In 17 games, Thuney allowed zero sacks, one hit and 15 pressures and was only penalized twice. He played 1,149 offensive snaps, the second-most of any guard in the league, per Pro Football Focus. Thuney was named First-Team All-Pro, earned a Pro Bowl nod and was named the NFL's inaugural Protector of the Year award winner. -- Alyssa Barbieri
2. QB Caleb Williams
After a tumultuous rookie season following the hype of being the No. 1 overall pick, Caleb Williams was trying to keep his head above water. Fortunately, the Bears threw him a life raft with the hiring of Ben Johnson as the team's next coach and revamped the protection on the offensive line. Johnson worked tirelessly with Williams to refine his game and unlock his potential all offseason long. And despite some early struggles, Williams began to turn a corner. The more games Williams played, the more comfortable he looked. Especially in the fourth quarter. Thanks to numerous comeback victories, Williams earned the nickname "Iceman" for being cool under pressure. Week by week, he made dazzling throws to keep drives alive and became a fan favorite for his electrifying play style. Williams set the team record for most passing yards in a season and narrowly missed the elusive 4,000-yard threshold. That won't be what people remember from his 2025 season, though. His legendary comeback wins against the Green Bay Packers and the incredible postseason moments will live in history forever from one of the best seasons a Bears quarterback has ever had. -- Brendan Sugrue
1. HC Ben Johnson
It's not hyperbole to say that when the Bears hired Ben Johnson as their head coach on Jan. 20, 2025, that it changed the trajectory of the franchise for the better. In just one season, Johnson helped flip the culture and turned Chicago into a playoff contender ahead of schedule. The Bears went from worst to first (5-12 to 11-6), won the NFC North for the first time since 2018 and won a playoff game for the first time in 15 years. Johnson also made good on his promise to beat Matt LaFleur and the Packers twice (going 2-1, including a wild-card playoff win) and reignited the Bears-Packers rivalry. Chicago's offense went from a bottom-five unit to a top-five unit in just one season under Johnson, who orchestrated the overhaul of the offensive line, added some impact rookies in Colston Loveland, Luther Burden III and Kyle Monangai and helped second-year pro Caleb Williams make big strides as the team's franchise quarterback. -- Alyssa Barbieri
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Most Impactful Bears of 2025: Ranking Chicago's biggest contributors