GREEN BAY, Wis. (670 The Score) — Bears kicker Cairo Santos had hoped for the moment he found Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field, lining up for a potential game-winning field goal and a chance at redemption.
Santos had mentally prepared himself for this opportunity, even praying for it last week, but the visions started long before that. Back on Nov. 17 at Soldier Field, Santos’ game-winning 46-yard field-goal attempt to beat the Packers was blocked at the buzzer as Chicago lost 20-19.
This time, Santos lined up from 51 yards out and drilled it through the uprights as time expired to give the Bears a 24-22 win against the Packers. The Bears finally flipped the script, snapping a 10-game losing streak and ending their 11-game losing streak against rival Packers.
“I don’t think I could write a cooler script for myself,” Santos said.
The Bears stormed from the sideline to the south end zone of Lambeau Field, celebrating a victory for the first time since Oct. 13. Santos even attempted a “Lambeau Leap” into the first row of the stands but felt his head getting pushed back down.
By Monday morning at Halas Hall, the Bears will all come back down to earth. They went 5-12 this season, making it one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history.
The season began with such high hopes and plenty of talk, but the Bears failed to respond when adversity hit with a stunning loss to the Commanders on a last-second Hail Mary on Oct. 27. What followed was nine more losses in a row, a stretch that included the firing of head coach Matt Eberflus on Nov. 29. The need to overcome adversity is a lesson the Bears will take into the offseason.
Even as the Bears blasted music and celebrated inside the visiting locker room at Lambeau Field, they recognized the reality at hand.
"We obviously had a lot of emotional games that we played in and a lot of emotional losses,” tight end Cole Kmet said. “So, if we can just rebound quicker, we can be a pretty good team. I think that's where we have to grow up a little bit as players and be better in that regard.
"There's a lot of work ahead this offseason. I know everyone's for sure feeling good right now, and I'm feeling good right now, but we got to get ready and get back to work pretty soon once we all get rested up."
The Bears will begin their offseason in earnest Monday morning when they clean out the locker room at Halas Hall. Inside the second-floor offices, team brass will need to make a decision on general manager Ryan Poles' future before formally embarking on the coaching search.
Bears president/CEO Kevin Warren – who smiled and congratulated players inside the locker room Sunday – stated in early December that he believes the team will have the best coaching opening in the NFL this offseason. That sentiment is largely tied to 23-year-old quarterback Caleb Williams' talent and promising future.
Williams threw for 3,541 yards, 20 touchdowns and just six interceptions in 17 games as a rookie. His final completion of the season was an 18-yard strike to top receiver DJ Moore that got the Bears to the Packers’ 33-yard line, which set up Santos for the game-winning field goal.
In a season filled with losses, Williams capped off the campaign by leading a comeback and game-winning drive.
"Being able to have that moment was great,” Williams said. "Being able to have the first win of 2025, being able to have the first win since 2015 in Lambeau, being able to have the first win versus Green Bay in (11) games, first of a lot. I'm really excited about this offseason and being able to grow for myself, the moves and people that we get to be able to grow and make a monumental jump for next year and start next season off right.”
Bears interim head coach Thomas Brown earned his first ever victory, capping off a turbulent season with the team by beating the rival Packers.
Brown is expected to be interviewed by the Bears for their head coaching vacancy, sources said. The team is likely to conduct a wide-ranging search.
Given how Eberflus lost his grip on the Bears’ locker room, players are eager to see whom management covets in the coaching search.
“Somebody who’s all about winning,” running back D’Andre Swift said of what he wants in the next Bears coach. “Whoever comes in here – that's above my pay grade – but sets a great culture and should be all about winning, from top to bottom, for everybody in the building. We’re trying to start out next season strong and finish even stronger.”
Bears pass rusher Montez Sweat set his expectations for the next coach with direct terms.
“An alpha,” Sweat said.
Santos’ winning kick didn't undo the Bears' heartbreak and disappointment from earlier in a derailed season, but it gave the team something to celebrate.
As this offseason begins, there are lessons for the Bears to learn in how a humbling, painful season unfolded. Key decisions lie ahead, and significant changes are necessary.
But as the Bears celebrated a season-ending victory, they once again were filled with hope.
"The sky's the limit, and probably more than the sky,” Williams said. “We got to find ways to get the right people here and from there grow, build the culture. This is just a stepping stone, the first win of 2025. We got a lot more to come."
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on X @CEmma670.