(Photo: DAZN)
1. Chicago Bears– (2025 Record: 11-6)
I had so much fun watching this group last year. They got hot, never looked back, and won the NFC North for the first time since 2018. The best thing this organization did was hire Ben Johnson as its head coach, and the rest is history. Ben brings energy, knows how to handle the media, and, most importantly, is a highly competent football coach. Caleb Williams also earned a lot more of my respect in 2025. He consistently kept the Bears in games and led the franchise to its first playoff win since the 2010 season. Chicago was just one game away from reaching the NFC Championship Game. I’m anxious to see what they do in 2026. I expect Luther Burden to have a larger role in the offense, and I hope the defense doesn’t rely so heavily on forcing turnovers.
2. Green Bay Packers– (2025 Record: 9-7-1)
Many people handed the division to the Packers after they acquired Micah Parsons last August, and I understood why. They dominated their first two games of the season but never seemed quite the same after losing to the Cleveland Browns in Week 3. At times, I saw inconsistent football from Green Bay, and it didn’t help when Parsons tore his ACL last December. After he went down, the Packers didn’t win another game and suffered a heartbreaking Wild Card loss to the Bears in Chicago. This year, Green Bay enters the season without Jeff Hafley, who accepted the Miami Dolphins’ head coaching job. Parsons is also expected to miss the first month of the season while recovering from his ACL injury. If the Packers commit more to the running game, it could take pressure off Jordan Love and help the offense become more balanced.
3. Detroit Lions– (2025 Record: 9-8)
The facts are the facts: the Lions were terrible down the stretch. After winning 15 games and securing the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs in 2024, they missed the postseason entirely in 2025. Many expected Detroit to take a step back after losing both Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn to head coaching opportunities. Still, this team has plenty of talent. They possess a consistent, explosive offense, a defense capable of making plays and getting off the field, and one of the league’s best coaches in Dan Campbell. The only concern is that Campbell’s aggressive fourth-down decision-making can sometimes become a hindrance rather than an advantage and it leaves me side eyeing and questioning him.
4. Minnesota Vikings– (2025 Record: 9-8)
I’m sure the Vikings are kicking themselves for letting Sam Darnold walk, but I understand why they did it. He was always viewed as a temporary solution after the team traded back into the top ten a few years ago to draft J.J. McCarthy. I loved McCarthy at Michigan, but I’m not convinced he’s the long-term answer. The Vikings may share those concerns, considering they signed Kyler Murray. This might be the best situation of Murray’s career. He joins a team with a stingy defense and gets to throw to Justin Jefferson, who is arguably the best wide receiver in football. I won’t automatically pencil the Vikings in for a losing season. In fact, I think they could be better than many people expect.
2026 NFC North Predictions
- Bears (12-5)
- Packers (11-6)
- Lions (9-8)
- Vikings (7-10)
This division has a chance to be one of the most competitive in football. I like the Bears to win the NFC North again under Ben Johnson and capture their second consecutive division title. I believe Caleb Williams has the highest upside among the division’s quarterbacks. Jordan Love has already made a Pro Bowl, and Jared Goff is more established, but if Williams can make the jump from a talented young quarterback to an MVP candidate, the Bears could have the best offense in the NFC North. The biggest areas for improvement are getting off to faster starts and becoming less dependent on turnovers defensively. Last season, the Bears often fell behind early and fought their way back into games. While that resilience is admirable, it isn’t a sustainable formula for success. One thing is certain: Ben Johnson has completely changed the mentality of this organization.
