Considering the high expectations that came with the 2019 season, it’s no surprise why an 8-8 season feels more like a three-win season for Bears fans.
But it’s not just fans feeling the disappointment. It’s also Bears matriarch Virginia McCaskey.
“Like all Bears fans, she’s disappointed,” Bears chairman George McCaskey said. “The hope was there. The Bears were back. And then to take a step back was especially disappointing. And she feels it, like all Bears fans do.”
Looking back, it’s easy to see why expectations were sky-high for the Bears heading into this season. They were coming off an impressive 2018 season — including a 12-4 record, division title and hosting a playoff game — and it felt like a stepping stone in the future for this franchise.
This season had the potential to be a special one for the Bears, but ultimately their offensive deficiencies severely grounded them.
“You know, we talked a lot about that because the 2018 season kind of set the stage: ‘Wouldn’t it be wonderful in our centennial season, on George Halas’ birthday, to win the Super Bowl?’ ” McCaskey said. “And it didn’t work out. Everybody knows winning the Super Bowl in any season under any circumstances is special.”
Instead, it’s back to the drawing board for general manager Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy, who have a lot of work to do this offseason.
