The 2022 season was the Chicago Bears' 103rd in the National Football League (NFL) and their first under general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus. They failed to improve upon their 6–11 record from the previous season.
Despite starting with a 2–1 record, the Bears lost 13 of their last 14 games including a franchise-record 10-game losing streak to end the season. In Week 13, the Bears were eliminated from playoff contention for the second consecutive season and failed to improve on their 6–11 record from the previous season. With their Week 18 loss combined with a Houston win, the Bears secured the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft (which they later traded to Carolina for a package that included D. J. Moore and the eventual first overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft). The Bears set a franchise record with 14 losses. The Bears also failed to win a game against a divisional opponent for the third time in franchise history following the 1969 and 2017 seasons.
Despite the struggles, second-year quarterback Justin Fields had a breakout season, becoming the third quarterback in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season and setting the Bears' single-season quarterback rushing yards record. The Bears also led the league in rushing with 3,014 yards on 558 attempts, breaking their previous single-season record of 2,974 set in 1984.Chicago Bears Tweeter accountr
Offseason
Offseason changes
Head coach
The Chicago Bears fired fourth-year head coach Matt Nagy on January 10, 2022, who most notably led the organization to one NFC North title and two NFL Playoffs appearances among other accolades. On January 27, 2022, Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus was hired as the 17th head coach in franchise history. Eberflus has planned to transitioned the Bears defense scheme from a 3–4 defense to a 4–3 defense.
General manager
The Chicago Bears fired seventh-year general manager Ryan Pace on January 10, 2022, who most notably led the organization to draft Eddie Jackson, Tarik Cohen, and Mitchell Trubisky. On January 25, 2022, Kansas City Chiefs executive director of player personnel Ryan Poles was named the general manager of the Bears.
Roster changes The Chicago Bears made several moves in order to clear salary cap space, such as trading defensive end/outside linebacker Khalil Mack to the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for a 2022 second round pick (48th overall; later used to draft Jaquan Brisker) and a sixth round pick in the 2023 NFL draft.
Draft
2022 Chicago Bears Draft Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 7 Traded to the New York Giants 2 39 Kyler Gordon CB Washington 48 Jaquan Brisker S Penn State from LA Chargers 3 71 Velus Jones Jr. WR Tennessee 4 112 Traded to the New York Giants 5 148 Traded to Buffalo from Houston 150 Traded to Houston 166 Traded to Cincinnati from Arizona via Philadelphia and Houston 168 Braxton Jones OT Southern Utah from Buffalo 174 Dominique Robinson DE Miami (OH) from Cincinnati6 186 Zachary Thomas OT San Diego State 203 Trestan Ebner RB Baylor from Bills 207 Doug Kramer C Illinois from San Francisco via NY Jets and Houston 7 226 Ja'Tyre Carter OT Southern from NY Giants via Cincinnati 228 Traded to Houston 254 Elijah Hicks S California from LA Chargers 255 Trenton Gill P NC State from LA Chargers Draft trades
+ 2022 Chicago Bears undrafted free agents Name Position College Ref. Christian Albright LB Ball State Jaylan Alexander Purdue Jon Alexander S Charlotte Chase Allen TE Iowa State C. J. Avery LB Louisville Amari Carter S Miami (FL) Jean Delance OT Florida Micah Dew-Treadway DT Minnesota Allie Green IV CB Missouri Cyrus Holder WR Duquesne Jaylon Jones CB Ole Miss Landon Lenoir WR Southern Illinois Henry Litwin Slippery Rock Antonio Ortiz LS TCU Jack Sanborn LB Wisconsin Savon Scarver WR Utah State Kevin Shaa Liberty Carson Taylor DE Northern Arizona Master Teague RB Ohio State A. J. Thomas S Western Michigan Jake Tonges TE California De'Montre Tuggle RB Ohio
Staff
Final roster
Preseason
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 Kansas City Chiefs W 19–14 1–0 Soldier Field Recap 2 at Seattle Seahawks W 27–11 2–0 Lumen Field Recap 3 at Cleveland Browns W 21–20 3–0 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap
Regular season Schedule The Bears' 2022 schedule was announced on May 12. Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 11 San Francisco 49ers W 19–10 1–0 Soldier Field Recap 2 September 18 at Green Bay Packers L 10–27 1–1 Lambeau Field Recap 3 September 25 Houston Texans W 23–20 2–1 Soldier Field Recap 4 October 2 at New York Giants L 12–20 2–2 MetLife Stadium Recap 5 October 9 at Minnesota Vikings L 22–29 2–3 U.S. Bank Stadium Recap 6 Washington Commanders L 7–12 2–4 Soldier Field Recap 7 at New England Patriots W 33–14 3–4 Gillette Stadium Recap 8 October 30 at Dallas Cowboys L 29–49 3–5 AT&T Stadium Recap 9 November 6 Miami Dolphins L 32–35 3–6 Soldier Field Recap 10 November 13 Detroit Lions L 30–31 3–7 Soldier Field Recap 11 November 20 at Atlanta Falcons L 24–27 3–8 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap 12 November 27 at New York Jets L 10–31 3–9 MetLife Stadium Recap 13 December 4 Green Bay Packers L 19–28 3–10 Soldier Field Recap 14Bye 15 December 18 Philadelphia Eagles L 20–25 3–11 Soldier Field Recap 16 Buffalo Bills L 13–35 3–12 Soldier Field Recap 17 January 1 at Detroit Lions L 10–41 3–13 Ford Field Recap 18 January 8 Minnesota Vikings L 13–29 3–14 Soldier Field Recap
Game summaries Week 1: vs. San Francisco 49ers
With the sloppy win, the Bears started the season 1-0.
Week 2: at Green Bay Packers
Week 3: vs. Houston Texans
Week 4: at New York Giants
Week 5: at Minnesota Vikings
Week 6: vs. Washington Commanders
Week 7: at New England Patriots
This was the first time in franchise history the Bears defeated the Pats on the road and their first overall win over New England since 2000 snapping a 4-game losing streak. This would end up being the Bears last win until Week 5 of 2023.
Week 8: at Dallas Cowboys
Week 9: vs. Miami Dolphins
Bears quarterback Justin Fields set an NFL single-game regular season record for most rushing yards by a Quarterback at 178 rushing yards. This record surpassed Michael Vick. He also became the first QB in NFL history to throw for 3 touchdowns and have at least 150 rushing yards in 1 game and set a Bears franchise record for the longest rushing touchdown by a QB with a 61-yard touchdown run. For his efforts, Fields won NFC Offensive Player of the Week for Week 9.
Week 10: vs. Detroit Lions
With this loss, the Bears are the first team in NFL history to score at least 29 points in three consecutive games and lose all three. The Bears have lost to the Lions (scored 30 points), Miami Dolphins (scored 32 points) and Dallas Cowboys (scored 29 points) over the last three weeks.
Week 11: at Atlanta Falcons
Week 12: at New York Jets
Week 13: vs. Green Bay Packers
With their 8th straight loss to Green Bay, the Bears no longer hold the record of most wins in NFL history, which they have had since 1921, with the Packers taking over. The loss, along with Giants and Commanders tying, the Bears were eliminated from the playoffs for the second straight season and for the tenth time in 12 seasons.
Week 15: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
With this loss, the Bears have dropped 7 straight, the 2nd longest losing streak in franchise history. Justin Fields also broke the team's single season QB rushing yards record set in 1972 by Bobby Douglass, now with 143 carries for 1,000 yards and 8 Touchdowns.
Week 16: vs. Buffalo Bills
Week 17: at Detroit Lions
Despite having a 10–7 lead, the Bears were held scoreless the rest of the game, allowing the Lions to score 34 unanswered points in the process. The Bears lost their ninth straight, swept by Detroit for the first time since 2017, and will finish dead last in the NFC.
Week 18: vs. Minnesota Vikings
With this loss, the Bears have now lost seven straight home games, 10 straight overall, both new franchise records. Houston's win over the Colts also ensured the Bears would finish dead last in the NFL, thus earning the #1 pick for the 2023 draft. This also marked the first time since 2017 the Bears were swept by the NFC North.
Standings Division
Conference
References
External links