Former Chicago Bears linebacker Mike Singletary, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, was impressed with the team’s fight in 2025-26. File Photo by Mark Black/UPI | License Photo
Hall of Famer Mike Singletary praised the 2025 Chicago Bears’ fight, but told UPI he hopes to see consistent dominance from the Caleb Williams-led roster in 2026.
The Bears, who posted the NFL’s No. 6 offense and No. 29 defense, were a roller-coaster watch. Singletary witnessed his former team lose their first two games before winning nine of their next 10. They went on to overcome a 21-3 deficit against the Green Bay Packers in the wild card round to win their first playoff game in 15 years.
“This year, they earned the title fighters,” Singletary said. “They were fighters until the end of the game. Cardiac arrest kids, when I look at them this year. Next year, they’ve gotta start it at the beginning.”
The 2025 Bears rallied to victories seven times after trailing in the final two minutes of games, the most instances by an NFL team since 1970. They were aided by a league-best plus-22 turnover differential.
Singletary, who also served as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers from 2008 through 2010, watched the Bears reach the postseason just seven times over the 32 years between the end of his playing career and the 2025 campaign. That stretch included a Super Bowl appearance in 2007, but also featured 10 different head coaches.
Last month, Ben Johnson became the first Bears head coach in the Super Bowl era to win a playoff game in his first year.
“I take my hat off to the organization,” Singletary said. “I think they’ve done a nice job of getting a head coach and having a quarterback that to me, has the world by the tail. It’s a matter of: can they come back from this year and all of the excitement at the end of the games and all of that?
“Can they come back next year and be able to settle down and not wait until the end of the game, but be able to control the game, be able to dominate the game from start to finish.”
The 1998 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee also spoke about the growth of the game since his legendary playing career, which spanned from 1981 through 1992.
The next off-season was the first to feature unrestricted free agency, resulting in a 38% increase in salaries for the 1993 campaign. But although Singletary, 67, says potential lucrative offers wouldn’t have made him swaps his Bears jersey for that of another franchise, the prosperity of the league has been exciting to experience.
But it also brought along new complications for work-life balance. Increasing name, image and likeness, or NIL, dollars for college athletes are another concern for the NFL legend and ordained minister, who serves as a spokesman for Athletes in Action.
The ministry, which was founded in 1966, works with athletes on all levels in physical, mental and spiritual development to maximize their potential.
“There is a part of me really excited about the amount of money being made,” Singletary said. “On the other side, I have a bit of concern. It goes to show you how much more Athletes in Action and Fellowship of Christian Athletes and things like that are important to come alongside these kids and help them understand what to do with those funds, how to set themselves up or the future.
“So many of those kids are getting the money and not prepared to deal with the responsibility and, before you know it, it’s gone. That’s the scary thing, a kid ending up worse off than they were before they ever got into sports.”
Singletary provided explicit examples of his personal balance during his decorated football tenure and after retirement. The two-time Defensive Player of the Year, who won a Super Bowl with the Bears in 1985-86, was the NFL’s Man of the Year in 1990. He also won the Alan Page Community Award, given to players for outstanding community service, in 1989.
“It’s just equipping,” Singletary said. “It’s all about equipping young people to be able to deal with some of the things that are happening today and the things that are coming.”
NFL: Seattle Seahawks defeat Los Angeles Rams in NFC Championship game
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold holds the George Halas trophy after the Seahawks defeated the Los Angeles Rams 31-27 to win the NFC Championship game at Lumen Field in Seattle on January 25, 2026. The Seahawks advance to play the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl LX on February 8, 2026. Photo by Gary Caskey/UPI | License Photo
