Bold opening: The NFL wanted the Chicago Bears in the Super Bowl, and the storyline almost wrote itself. But here’s where it gets controversial: the league’s wishful thinking isn’t proof of any conspiracy, just a reflection of how compelling that Bears arc was—and why it mattered to ratings and narratives alike.
It was impossible to ignore the air being let out of the NFL playoffs once the Chicago Bears were eliminated. Over three months, the team had become must-watch TV, fueled by unpredictable comebacks each week. Their playoff games were twists and turns from start to finish. After an overtime loss to the Los Angeles Rams, the postseason buzz dimmed. The other remaining teams didn’t capture the national imagination in the same way.
This isn’t mere fan exaggeration. Paul Pabst, co-host of The Dan Patrick Show, was in San Francisco during Super Bowl week and spoke with people connected to the league office. He told 104.3 The Score that there was an undercurrent of disappointment that the Bears couldn’t reach the big game. Those insiders felt the team’s character, exhilarating style of play, and the potential star power of Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson would have made the game the hottest ticket in years.
Pabst, the Bears, and a wave of enthusiasm around Chicago’s story mattered. The Bears, once mocked as a laughing stock for much of the past decade, had delivered the sport’s most dramatic ride. They endured the infamous Double Doink playoff blunder, weathered a turbulent three-year stretch under Matt Eberflus that set franchise records for long losing streaks, and then suddenly embraced a brash, innovative coach who reshaped the offense and wasn’t shy about trash-talking rivals. Their quarterback developed a near-mythic aura as the late-game savior—an “Iceman” who could flip a game in the closing minutes.
The Bears grew into box office material, even in a market as large as Chicago. The NFL would have loved a Super Bowl featuring this group. It would have been an easy, blockbuster sell: the Bears in their first Super Bowl in 19 years, Ben Johnson taking the field in his first season as a head coach, Caleb Williams versus Drake Maye, with narratives lining up like dominoes. In a perfect world, ratings would have surged. Reality, however, is rarely that tidy.
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The Bears can’t rely on luck next season.
Any sensible person knows you don’t stack the deck with fortunate bounces two years in a row. The coming offseason is critical. The team will likely pursue significant upgrades on defense, with a probable overhaul of half the starting lineup. Expect the defensive line to be a top priority as Dennis Allen seeks more pass rush help.
On offense, the main question is who will protect the blind side. Ozzy Trapilo won’t be ready at the start of the regular season. Should Chicago keep Braxton Jones as a bridge option, or sign a veteran left tackle from elsewhere? If the Bears can steady these questions, the league’s hypothetical wish might become a reality again: a return to the big dance. Bears fans remain eager, still haunted by the 2006 Super Bowl loss.
Erik Lambert is a football writer with over 15 years covering the Bears. He has a master’s in the Teaching of Writing from Columbia College Chicago and has contributed to Sports Mockery, 670 The Score, ESPN 1000, and multiple football podcasts in the U.S. and Europe.
