The Chicago Bears are heading into training camp with a very different feeling than in years past. After snapping a long playoff drought and picking up their first postseason win since 2010, the Bears now carry real expectations into the 2026 season, and for fans exploring Illinois sportsbooks markets, this team looks like one worth watching closely.
Bears Open Camp Coming Off Playoff Run
Rookies and quarterbacks report to Halas Hall on July 25, with veterans following a few days later, officially kicking off a training camp unlike any the franchise has hosted in over a decade. Head coach Ben Johnson set the bar high in his debut season, guiding Chicago to an 11-6 record, an NFC North title, and a playoff victory over the rival Packers at Soldier Field. That kind of turnaround changes the tone of camp entirely. Instead of evaluating whether the roster can simply compete, the Bears are now building toward sustained contention, and every practice this summer will be measured against a standard the organization has not held in a long time.
Caleb Williams Hopes To Take The Next Step
Chicago's offseason has been about adding pieces around its franchise quarterback while continuing to develop him. Caleb Williams enters year two under Johnson after a breakout campaign that included a franchise record 3,942 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, and a 90.1 passer rating. Williams has been putting in extra work with teammates like Rome Odunze, Luther Burden, Colston Loveland, and Sam Roush ahead of camp, signaling a young core that already has real chemistry. On defense, the Bears lost several familiar faces this offseason, including linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and multiple members of the secondary, but first-round pick Dillon Thieneman is expected to step in immediately at safety, with veteran addition Coby Bryant also in the mix. The continuity in the quarterback room, paired with Williams saying there is still "so much to unlock" in his game, has fueled optimism that his third season could be even better than his second.
Sportsbooks see the Bears as a team on the rise, but not quite among the true elite just yet. DraftKings currently lists Chicago at +2400 to win the Super Bowl, which ranks 15th best among all 32 teams, putting the Bears squarely in the middle of the pack. For those following Illinois sports betting apps this summer, that number reflects a franchise viewed as legitimate but still unproven over a full season, especially with a defense that must replace several key contributors. It is a fair midpoint for a team that made a genuine leap last year but has not yet shown it can do it twice in a row.
NFC North Competition Remains Fierce
None of this happens in a vacuum, because the NFC North is shaping up as one of the toughest divisions in football again. The Green Bay Packers remain a perennial contender and pushed Chicago in a memorable Week 17 finish last season. The Detroit Lions are looking for a bounce-back after a disappointing 9-8 finish, still armed with plenty of talent on both sides of the ball. The Minnesota Vikings, meanwhile, are the division's wild card, a team capable of flipping a switch and stringing together wins when things click. With all three teams expected to improve, the Bears will need to prove last season was a foundation, not a fluke, if they want to hold onto the division crown.
