The Chicago Bears are officially on the Super Bowl roadmap, according to ESPN’s latest tally of future projections. But here’s the kicker, and this is gonna sting some of you: it might not be for a few years. Yeah, you read that right. While the big game is in their future, ESPN doesn’t know if it’ll be this year, suggesting it could take until 2029 for the Bears to actually make it. Talk about a gut punch for a fanbase ready to run through a brick wall for their squad right now.
The Long Road to Glory
Seth Walder’s bold prediction for the 2027-29 window is where all this comes from. He flat out states, “Chicago will reach the Super Bowl at some point.” That’s awesome, right? But then he hits you with the cold reality. Walder admits he’s “worried that the Bears are a little overhyped in 2026” because of some concerns with their defense and some accuracy issues for Williams last season. Ouch. Despite those worries, he also says, “I want to buy as much Johnson stock as I can,” referencing coach Ben Johnson. The long-term vision is that “At some point in this window, the Bears will combine a good enough defense with a strong offense to win the NFC.” So, the pieces are there, the belief in Johnson is there, but the timing? That’s the million-dollar question.
From Bottom to Top, Now What?
Remember Ben Johnson’s first season with the Bears? It was a wild ride. This team went from the bottom of the NFC North to topping the division. That’s a massive leap for any team, and it had the city buzzing. They would have gone further in the postseason, but they heartbreakingly fell in the NFC Divisional Round in overtime to the Los Angeles Rams. It was brutal, but it also showed everyone what this team could do. They’re definitely hungry for more after getting that taste of success. Now, with ESPN predicting a Super Bowl appearance by 2029, it could certainly be a worse projection, but you know how those fans are, right? They’re absolutely buzzing, pumped up to win this thing now. This waiting part? It could definitely get annoying real fast for them.
So, while the Super Bowl dream is officially on the horizon for the Bears, the real test might be how patient that passionate fanbase can be. Can they ride out the next few seasons, knowing the ultimate prize might still be a few years off, or will the “annoying” wait turn into full-blown frustration? Every game from here on out is a step toward that 2029 window, and you bet those fans will be watching every single one.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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