Bears Minicamp 2026: 3 Thoughts/Reactions

June 10, 2026; Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson recovers a loose ball during a practice session at the team's mandatory minicamp at Halas Hall in Lake Forest, Illinois. Credit: Stacey Wescott | Chicago Tribune

It was another busy week at Halas Hall for the Bears—and the last time they’ll be there for a little while.

Yesterday saw the Monsters of the Midway wrap up their three days of mandatory minicamp, and by extension their offseason program. Now, the Bears will head into a brief (albeit well-earned) summer vacation before training camp begins in late July. It’s true that minicamp is still very far from regular-season football—but it’s also the closest thing we’ve gotten to meaningful Bears action since January’s playoff loss to the Rams.

And based on everything that came out of Lake Forest this week, there was plenty to like.

From Caleb Williams’ continued development as a leader to several young players making strong impressions—and several other surprising names showing out as well—, the reigning NFC North champions appear to be trending in the right direction as they prepare for what many hope (and they expect) will be a legitimate Super Bowl push in 2026.

One thing’s for sure—much like OTAs last week, there’s definitely plenty to talk about. And, like last week, that’s exactly what I’ll be doing here. Here are three of my thoughts/reactions following Bears minicamp.

1: Caleb Williams Is Quickly Becoming One of the Team’s True Leaders

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from this week wasn’t a specific throw Caleb Williams made. Instead, it was the way he carried himself. Earlier in the week, Williams described last offseason as feeling like he was “drowning” while trying to learn a new offense. Now, he’s building off the foundation established during Chicago’s NFC North championship season.

That’s not to say his play wasn’t impressive—it absolutely was. By virtually every account, Williams looked sharp throughout the three-day minicamp, continuing the strong showing he put together during OTAs. For evidence, see this throw to Luther Burden III from Thursday (and also note Burden’s excellent catch).

But what stood out most was Williams’ leadership. The Bears quarterback spoke openly during minicamp about wanting to take that aspect of his game “to the next level” entering Year 3, and there was perhaps no better example than Thursday’s practice.

During a two-minute drill, Burden thought he had scored on a big completion and began celebrating; that completion is the same one as in the video linked above. What that clip doesn’t show is Williams immediately getting on his receiver, loudly urging him to get lined up so the offense could spike the ball and continue the drive. In a real game, the play may have been ruled a touchdown, but Williams wasn’t taking any chances. It may not seem like much, but trust me when I tell you that’s a very good sign.

Indeed, that’s the kind of urgency, accountability, and attention to detail you’d expect from a franchise quarterback. Williams is no longer the young quarterback trying to survive his first offseason under a new coaching staff—he’s the face of a team with legitimate Super Bowl expectations. And while signs of his leadership growth began to emerge during the Bears’ playoff run last season, minicamp offered perhaps the clearest indication yet that he’s fully embracing that role. The standard has changed—and it's a change he not only seems to be welcoming, but adjusting to quickly, as well.

In short, if Bears fans were hoping to see signs that Williams is ready to make the jump from star quarterback to one of the NFL’s elite, minicamp provided plenty of evidence that he’ll do exactly that.

2: The Defense Might Be MUCH Better Than We Thought

While Caleb Williams and the offense generated most of the headlines throughout minicamp, the defense put together an impressive week of its own. And more importantly, it continues to look like a unit that's becoming increasingly comfortable in Dennis Allen's system entering Year 2.

Like I said last week, that’s an especially encouraging thought considering how strongly they performed last year despite spending much of it adjusting to that new scheme. Now, with another offseason under their belt, the communication, confidence, and playmaking ability appear to be trending in the right direction.

The secondary remains the biggest reason for optimism. Jaylon Johnson looked fully healthy and recorded multiple interceptions during minicamp, reminding everyone why he's still one of the league's premier cornerbacks. Coby Bryant also continued to stand out, including picking off Caleb Williams during a two-minute drill and drawing praise for the leadership role he's assumed since arriving in Chicago. Rookie Dillon Thieneman remains one of the team's most intriguing storylines as well. The Bears’ first-round pick continued to flash the versatility and instincts that made him one of the top defensive backs in this year's draft— and, most notably, he did so while taking first-team reps throughout the week. Just as importantly, Bryant has taken Thieneman under his wing, helping him learn both the defense and the day-to-day demands of being an NFL safety.

The encouraging signs weren't limited to the secondary, either. Montez Sweat consistently generated pressure throughout minicamp and appears poised for a bounce-back season after acknowledging the scrutiny surrounding Chicago's pass rush. Gervon Dexter was another player up front to receive praise, and looks increasingly capable of becoming the disruptive interior presence the Bears envisioned when they drafted him.

Of course, there are still questions to answer. The pass rush must become more consistent, and health remains something to monitor across the roster. But if minicamp was any indication, the Bears' defense has a chance to be one of the team's biggest strengths once again. And if the secondary lives up to its potential, this could be one of the NFL's most opportunistic defenses by the time Week 1 arrives.

3: The Bears Still Need To Get Healthy

For all the positive developments this spring, the Bears’ biggest question after this week—and thus, entering training camp—hasn't changed: health. Several key players were limited throughout OTAs and minicamp, most notably Kyler Gordon. After injuries disrupted much of his 2025 season, Gordon's availability remains something worth monitoring heading into camp, and in fact is starting to become a larger concern the closer to the preseason the Bears get.

The good news is that overall, there’s no reason for extreme concern/alarm. Teams are typically cautious this time of year, and veterans such as T.J. Edwards and Dayo Odeyingbo appear on track to be ready when training camp begins—both were participants in full team drills during the week.

When looking at the team more broadly, though, it appears that health may be the biggest thing standing between the Bears and their lofty expectations entering 2026. The roster appears deeper and more talented than it did a year ago, but even the most talented teams need their key contributors on the field. Whether it's building chemistry in Ben Johnson's offense, sorting out position battles (left tackle being the obvious one), or continuing to develop younger players, consistent availability across the roster will be critical once training camp begins.

Put bluntly, availability matters. The Bears have the talent to field one of the NFL's best defenses, but developing chemistry and continuity requires reps. The same can be said for the team as a whole. If the Bears are going to take another step in 2026 and establish themselves as legitimate Super Bowl contenders, staying healthy may be just as important as any schematic improvement.

In the end, spring football doesn’t mean anything when it comes to the standings. But it did reinforce the direction this Bears team is seemingly headed. They’re deeper, more confident, and increasingly comfortable in both of their systems—but they’re also not a finished product yet.

Now comes the long wait until training camp, where real position battles will take shape and expectations will only grow louder. If this week (and OTAs as well, for that matter) was any indication, though, Chicago isn’t just building to contend in 2026—they’re building to win it all.