We’re days away from the start of the 2024 NFL season and a new era of Chicago Bears football. We ran last week, and the responses paint an optimistic (but somewhat guarded) picture. The epitome of the fan temperature heading i൩nto this season could be summed 🔯up with two quotes from the responses:
“I want to believe, but being let down so many times has made me cautious.”
“I’m ready to be hurt again!”
You have a segment of fans who are encouraged by the progress but afraid to venture down that dark alley again. On the other side, you have a group of fans ready🔴 to be all-in on this team again, regardless of past hurt.
You can find me in the latter description.
Let’s see what everyone had to say in our 2024 Chicago Bears Fan Survey.
How optimistic are you about the Chicago Bears this season?
The first question was straightforward, and the results show the two sides of the coin described above: 53.3 percent of respondents were cautiously optimistic, and 44.6 percent were extremely optimistic. We also had 2.1 percent of the respondents, who aren’t optimistic at all (and probably aren’t much fun at parties).
How many games do you believe the Chicago Bears will win this season?
Interestingly, 55.6 percent of respondents believe the Bears will win 10-11 games this season, despite only 44.6 percent considering themselves “extremely optimistic.” We have 35.3 percent of fans pegging the Bears in the 8-9 win range, 6.2 percent predicting 12 or more wins (I’m looking at you, Matt Rooney), and roughly three percent who believe that the team will win s✃even or fewer games this season.
How confident are you in Caleb Williams?
I wish I had thought about doing this last season, so I will probably do this every season moving forward. The overwhelming majority (62.9 percent) of respondents consider themselves “extremely confident” in Caleb Williams. We have 33.3 percent of people who are “mildly confident” in Williams and 3.4 percent still on the fence. Also, 2.1 percent voted “Bagent time,” so thank you to Tyson’s family for participating in this survey.
How confident are you in Matt Eberflus?
Similarly, I wish I had some previous date here, but from Week 5 of last season, where fans were ready to drive Eberflus to the airport. What a di𒀰fference a fresh haircut anღd a little facial scruff make.
How would you rate the work that Ryan Poles has done since the start of the offseason?
Ryan Poles has done an excellent job overhauling the roster he inherited ahead of the 2022 season, and 65.8 percent of respondents are over the moon about the work he did this offseason, in particular. There was precisely one vote for the “he stinks” option, and I would bet money that it was Ryan Pace.
Will the Chicago Bears beat the Green Bay Packers this season?
The Chicago Bears have not beaten the Green Bay Packers since December 16, 2018. Even Aaron Rodgers’ departure couldn’t help the Bears end their (now) 10-game losing streak against Green Bay last season. Can Caleb Williams do what Justin Fields couldn’t and beat the Packers? An overwhelming 85.9 percent of respondents believe so.
Will the Chicago Bears make the playoffs this season?
Nearly 70 percent of respondents believe that the Bears will make the playoffs this season, and it’s easier to make a case for them than against them, so I have to agree.
What Chicago Bears fans had to say about the 2024 team
Here are a few c🏅omments l🎃eft by fans participating in the survey that I found interesting, funny, or just off the wall enough to include here:
“Love the direction we’re headed, but I’m not counting any chickens before they hatch. I’ll believe they can beat GB and make the playoffs when I see it; hype doesn’t give us any extra wins.”
“Too many have ridiculous expectations. I hope for 9-10 wins.”
“With so many changes, how can you feel confident in anything? The only thing that stayed the same was the head coach, and he doesn’t really inspire confidence. I’m cautiously optimistic. A winning record should be attainable; beating the Packers would be nice, and the playoffs would be great.”
“There is hope, and hopefully, more change is coming—lots of faith in Caleb and many players. I’ve been a Bears fan since I first formed memories and have seen the ownership and management drive the franchise into the ground over the last (almost) 40 years. It feels good to have hope again. Belief also exists in Poles, although I’d be worried without Cunningham there. They also need to own the new stadium no matter where it goes. It’s more important to beat the Packers year in and year out than to have a stadium downtown, where you have limited control & cash flows, and being a horrible pain to travel to.”
“Poles finally did what no other GM here would do and ripped the bandaid off. He got lucky that the team was as bad as it was right away and that Carolina was desperate for Bryce Young to give away a ridiculous haul. Still, Poles has done everything imaginable to make the Bears relevant again. Sure, there have been a few bad trades or picks that didn’t work out, but his work is overwhelmingly positive. I can’t wait to watch this team play, and I believe we are looking at a 13+ win team next year when this team starts to gel. Bear Down!”
“Been burned too many times.”
“This Bears team has been put together through a lot of good work from Poles and Cunningham, and finally, a GM and assistant GM, who knows what they are doing from the coaching hires on down. There’s a great mix of veterans, really good young, talented players, draft picks up and coming, and so much to be excited and optimistic about. These Bears look to be pretty solid, up and coming!”
“Trying not to get too excited. I don’t want to get hurt again like the season after the double doink or with the excitement of Justin Fields. This feels different, but it’s the Bears, so I’m conditioned to expect bad things to happen.”
“Detroit 2023 – On the rise – making great moves – building the culture. Here we go!”
