The Chicago Bears haven’t had a winning season since 2018. While there have been longer droughts in franchise history, it doesn’t make it sting any less. Fans are starved for a contender. For the first time in what feels like ages, the roster looks like it’s ready to challenge the NFC. Is that presumptuous? Many seem to think so. For one, the Bears are stuck in one of the toughest divisions in the league. Detroit went to the NFC championship last year. Green Bay won a playoff game. Minnesota is still talented. Chicago might be better on paper, but they still need to play the games. Few understand this better than Cole Kmet.
He arrived in 2020, right as the team was beginning to nosedive during the Matt Nagy/Ryan Pace era. Enduring the rebuild under Ryan Poles and Matt Eberflus hasn’t been easy because he understands one fundamental truth of football. Kmet only has so many years in this league. The nature of the sport means he’ll be lucky to play ten seasons. That means ten cracks at winning a Super Bowl. Four have already been wasted. He was asked during a golf outing with Barstool Sports if he is thinking championship this year.
Kmet smiled before giving a surprisingly thoughtful response.
Like he said, if you don’t, then why are you playing this game? Yes, the Bears are thinking Super Bowl. That is their responsibility. Every year should be spent believing you can reach the big game and win it. Most experts don’t believe this is the case. Chicago is still a year or two away from being ready. For one, no rookie quarterback has ever reached a Super Bowl in NFL history. Caleb Williams would be the first. Chicago also has some roster questions that have some believing they’re not equipped to slug with the big boys. Namely, it’s their thin pass rush outside of Montez Sweat and their uncertain offensive line.
That said, there is no rule that says the roster must be perfect to win a championship. All it takes is everybody clicking at the right time to go on that magical run. The 2010 Bears almost pulled it off and it isn’t a stretch to argue this team is more talented than that one was, especially on offense. Cole Kmet is excited. He sees what Poles and Eberflus have built and what it is capable of. The tight end is a key part of it. If he can elevate his own game to its highest level yet, the Bears could shock the world.
