They were all winners, but Film Study selects the Top 25 Bears of 2025

While players clean out lockers when the season ends, Bears Film Study considers everything learned over the course of the season and completes the final exam.

This campaign felt a little unusual. Instead of searching for bright spots in an otherwise brutal season, this year's Bears Top 25 considers players who were part of winning a playoff game for the first time in 15 years.

There were also a number of defenders slowed by injuries and generally not at their best in 2025. Maybe this is cause for optimism, if the Bears got as far as they did with a hobbled defense. No guarantees they're any healthier next year, of course.

One player not on this list is nickel Kyler Gordon, last year's No. 1, who played in just five games, including playoffs. Here's the ranking of the Bears' Top 25 players of 2025:

1. QB Caleb Williams: Two reasons why Williams might have even better days ahead: He improved during the course of this season, especially with throw decisions and reading defenses. Also, he just didn't take many hits because of his ability to escape the pass rush and coach Ben Johnson's refusal to make him a featured runner. The last part is smart, because we saw again this year with Washington's Jayden Daniels — it is tough for running quarterbacks to survive in the NFL.

2. TE Colston Loveland: According to rotowire.com, the Bears rookie was fifth in the league in receiving yards over the last eight weeks of the season, trailing names like Puka Nacua and Ja'Marr Chase. And he quickly became a solid blocker. Williams to Loveland has a chance to be one of the great NFL combinations over the next 5-10 years.

3. S Kevin Byard: On a defense with all sorts of pieces missing, Byard was pretty much the one stable contributor and led the league with 7 interceptions. At 32 he's hitting free agency.

4. C Drew Dalman: The Bears felt a solid center could solidify the offensive line, and it paid off in Year 1. Dalman looks like best free-agent addition of Ryan Poles’ era.

5. LG Joe Thuney: Former Chiefs veteran kind of went hand-in-hand with Dalman. Both those guys could get bullied by elite defensive tackles, but generally Thuney turned in a solid performance this season.

6. WR Luther Burden Jr: It's the 47 catches on 60 targets that lifts this second-round rookie so high on the list. Among NFL wide receivers with 50-plus targets, Burden ranked fifth in yards per target (10.9). And it turned out, the Bears needed him badly.

7. CB Nahshon Wright: He faded as the season progressed but might have been Bears MVP through Week 10, considering all the injuries in the defensive backfield. Probably deserves a season savior award.

8. RB D'Andre Swift: Second-year Bear set career highs in rushing yards and touchdowns. He fumbled just twice and had a nice balance of running inside and out. Under contract for one more season.

9. RT Darnell Wright: Another solid season, he's started 51 of 53 games since joining the Bears.

10. DE Montez Sweat: Maybe it feels like he was quiet, but there were just 17 NFL players who collected 10 sacks this season. For pressures he was tied for 30th with 27.

11. S Jaquon Brisker: There's been talk of this being a disappointing season, but don't forget he missed 12 games last year when the Bears let him keep playing in a game despite being involved in a violent helmet-to-helmet collision. By the second half of this season, Brisker seemed back to his old form.

12. DT Gervon Dexter: He was the standout on the defensive line early in the season, then dropped off, probably wasn't 100% healthy. Dexter did finish second on the team with 6 sacks.

13. LB Tremaine Edmunds: Shouldn't be the team's third highest-paid player but did lead the Bears in tackles this fall.

14. DE Austin Booker: Played an insane number of snaps at the end of the year. Bears would like to see more than 4.5 sacks, but he's getting better.

15. RB Kyle Monangai: Every team needs depth at running back, and the Rutgers rookie was a nice find in the seventh round.

16. TE Cole Kmet: How long will the Bears stick with two starting-caliber tight ends? It is becoming trendy.

17. RG Jonah Jackson: Clearly got better as the season went on. Performance didn't match his high salary, but was a nice addition.

18. WR DJ Moore: There were obviously some huge highlights, but Moore went from 98 catches to 50. Not great for someone who made $24.9 million.

19. K Cairo Santos: Attempts were low, but he went 14-for-18 from beyond 40 yards and didn't miss an extra point.

20. DT Grady Jarrett: When the season began, it looked like the ex-Falcon would be a liability in run defense. After taking a few weeks off to get healthy, he seemed rejuvenated in the second half of the season.

21. LB Noah Sewell: Could have been a breakout star on defense had he stayed healthy.

22. DT Andrew Billings: Another player who faded later in the season. Bears need to improve on finishing No. 27 in rush yards allowed.

23. CB Tyrique Stevenson: Got benched at one point, but his 86.3 passer rating when targeted was best among Bears defensive backs.

24. LB D'Marco Jackson: Another season saver, made plenty of plays when given the chance.

25. WR Rome Odunze: Season output of 44 catches on 90 targets was a head-scratcher. Hoping for a healthier '26.

Honorable mention: T.J. Edwards finished fifth in total tackles despite playing just 10 games. Jaylon Johnson played nine games, including playoffs, and never looked healthy. Punter Tory Taylor was 11th in average yards but just 23rd in net punting and 21st at kicks inside the 20.