The 2022 Chicago Bears season marked a definitive, albeit difficult, restart for the franchise, finishing with a 3-14 record and placing fourth in the NFC North. Under first-year head coach Matt Eberflus, the team focused on evaluating talent while navigating a significant roster overhaul. Expectations were low, as the focus shifted toward developing second-year quarterback Justin Fields and establishing a new cultural foundation. While the season ended without a playoff appearance, the campaign served as a laboratory for the organization to identify key pieces for their long-term vision, despite a lack of competitive success throughout the regular season .

Offensively, the Bears struggled for consistency, ranking 23rd in points scored with 326 (19.2 ppg) and 32nd in passing yards. Justin Fields became the focal point of the attack, throwing for 2,242 yards and 17 touchdowns, while his truly electrifying performance came on the ground, where he rushed for a staggering 1,143 yards and eight touchdowns. The run-heavy scheme also featured running back David Montgomery, who added 801 rushing yards and five scores, supported by Khalil Herbert’s efficient 731 yards on the ground at 5.7 yards a pop. Though the passing attack lacked explosive volume, tight end Cole Kmet provided a reliable target, leading the team with 544 receiving yards and seven touchdown receptions .

Defensively, the team struggled significantly, ranking last in points allowed by conceding 463 (27.2 ppg) and 29th in total yards allowed. The unit faced immense challenges in both stopping the run and containing opposing passing games, as opponents consistently exploited both weaknesses throughout the year. Despite these defensive woes, the organization used the season to integrate younger prospects and evaluate their defensive personnel, aiming to build a more resilient core for the future. The lack of defensive consistency was a major factor in the team’s inability to keep games close, often forcing an offense built to run the ball to play from behind.

Key moments were sparse, though the team provided a glimpse of potential in a surprising 33-14 win over the New England Patriots in Week 7. However, the season was defined by a lengthy, disheartening losing streak that extended through the final ten games, including tough defeats against division rivals like the Packers and Vikings. The turning point - if it can be called that -was the shift toward prioritizing Fields' development as a dual-threat playmaker, a strategy that offered some excitement even as the wins failed to materialize. The collapse during the final stretch of the season solidified the team's standing at the bottom of the division.

Ultimately, the 2022 season was a clear building block that left the Bears out of the playoffs but in a prime position to make high-value selections in the upcoming draft. Justin Fields’ historic rushing production served as the primary legacy of the year, earning him MVP vote. While there were no major individual awards for the coaching staff or team, the year was pivotal for establishing the new regime’s philosophy. The historical significance of this season lies in its role as a necessary, if painful, reset, clearing the deck to pursue a more competitive trajectory in the following years.