Head Coach Ben Johnson Paused the Celebration After the Decisive Playoff-Clinching Win — A Message That Left Chicago Silent
Chicago, Illinois – December 22, 2025
The final whistle echoed through Soldier Field, sealing a 22–16 overtime victory for the Chicago Bears over the Green Bay Packers. It wasn’t just another chapter in one of the NFL’s fiercest rivalries — it was the decisive win that officially clinched a playoff berth for the Bears.
The stadium erupted. The biting December cold was no match for the roar of a fan base that had waited years for this moment. Chicago didn’t simply beat Green Bay — the Bears reclaimed belief, reclaimed pride, and pried open the door to January football with their own hands.
But in a moment that usually belongs to pure celebration, head coach Ben Johnson chose to stop.
![]()
There was no victory lap. No chest-thumping. Johnson stood still, scanning the sea of navy and orange that filled the stands, and delivered a message that was measured, heartfelt, and deeply human — as if he understood exactly what had truly been won that night.
“Beating Green Bay right here means something different,” Johnson said. “The people in these stands waited, endured, and never turned away — through the freezing cold and through the hardest years. Tonight isn’t just a win. It’s about pride, belief, and giving this city the moment it has patiently waited so long to receive.”
On the field, the Bears played as if the season depended on it — because it did. They trailed, absorbed pressure, and stared down an opponent that had haunted them for decades. This time, Chicago didn’t fold. They pushed back, forced overtime, and delivered the finishing blow that sent Soldier Field into disbelief.
It wasn’t perfect football.
It was fearless football.
A gritty, uncompromising performance that decided the fate of the season.
For the Bears, this playoff berth represents far more than a single game. It is the culmination of a long rebuild marked by painful losses, public doubt, and years spent chasing relevance — often falling short against the very opponent they conquered on this night. Above all, it is a reward for a fan base that never left.
The scoreboard will forever show 22–16 and a playoff clinch.
But the moment that will linger longest is the one when Ben Johnson halted the celebration to say thank you — a reminder that Chicago didn’t just win a game.
The Bears announced their return to where they believe they belong: the NFL playoff stage.
May You Like

Bears Pro Bowler Breaks Silence on Record Contract Request, Leaving Front Office in a Tough Spot












