What Is 2019 Chicago Bears football team

Content on WhatAnswers is provided "as is" for informational purposes. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees. Content is AI-assisted and should not be used as professional advice.

Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2019 Chicago Bears finished the NFL season with an 8-8 record, placing second in the NFC North under head coach Matt Nagy. They failed to make the playoffs after a 12-4 season the previous year.

Key Facts

The 2019 Chicago Bears had an 8-8 win-loss record
They finished second in the NFC North division
Head coach Matt Nagy led the team for the second consecutive season
Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky started 14 games
Defensive tackle Akiem Hicks played in only 9 games due to injury

Overview

The 2019 Chicago Bears entered the season with high expectations following their 12-4 record and NFC North title in 2018. Despite a strong defensive foundation, the team regressed to an 8-8 record and missed the playoffs, failing to build on their prior success.

Head coach Matt Nagy entered his second year with a focus on improving the offense, but inconsistent quarterback play and injuries derailed momentum. The Bears’ defense remained competitive but lacked the dominance seen in 2018, contributing to a middling overall performance.

Regular season record: The Bears finished 8-8, a significant drop from their 12-4 record in 2018, falling short of playoff qualification.
Division standing: They placed second in the NFC North, behind the 13-3 Green Bay Packers, with losses to division rivals proving costly.
Quarterback performance:Mitchell Trubisky started 14 games, throwing for 3,131 yards with 17 touchdowns and 8 interceptions, showing flashes but lacking consistency.
Defensive struggles: The defense ranked 9th in points allowed (377), down from 1st in 2018, with key players like Akiem Hicks missing significant time.
Coaching continuity:Matt Nagy remained head coach, but his second-year campaign was criticized for stagnant offensive development and play-calling decisions.

How It Works

The 2019 Chicago Bears’ season structure followed the standard NFL format, with 16 regular-season games, a coaching staff led by Matt Nagy, and a roster built around defensive strength and quarterback development.

Regular Season: The NFL season consists of 16 games over 17 weeks; the Bears played 8 home games at Soldier Field and 8 on the road, starting September 8.
Division Games: Each team plays 6 division games (home and away against three rivals); the Bears faced Green Bay, Minnesota, and Detroit twice each.
Playoff Qualification: Only 7 teams per conference make the playoffs; the Bears’ 8-8 record left them out, as the Packers and Vikings secured NFC North spots.
Salary Cap: The NFL salary cap in 2019 was $188.2 million, influencing roster decisions, including retaining key defensive players and extending Trubisky.
Injury Management: The Bears placed 17 players on injured reserve, including star defensive end Kyle Fuller missing 5 games, weakening secondary depth.
Game Strategy: The offense relied on play-action passes and short throws, while the defense used aggressive blitz packages, though less effectively than in 2018.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 2019 Bears compared to their 2018 and 2020 seasons across key metrics:

Season	Record	Division Finish	Points For	Points Against	Playoff Result
2018	12-4	1st (NFC North)	421	283	Lost Wild Card
2019	8-8	2nd (NFC North)	334	377	Did not qualify
2020	8-8	3rd (NFC North)	372	361	Lost Wild Card
2017	5-11	4th (NFC North)	279	329	Did not qualify
2021	6-11	4th (NFC North)	309	380	Did not qualify

The 2019 season marked a clear step back from the team’s 2018 success, with a drop in both offensive production and defensive efficiency. While they avoided a full collapse, the inability to maintain momentum raised concerns about long-term competitiveness under Nagy’s leadership.

Why It Matters

The 2019 Chicago Bears season is significant as a case study in NFL regression, showing how even a strong defense and playoff appearance one year don’t guarantee sustained success.

Quarterback development:Mitchell Trubisky’s uneven performance raised doubts about his long-term viability as a franchise QB, impacting future draft and free agency decisions.
Defensive decline: The unit fell from 1st to 9th in points allowed, highlighting the difficulty of maintaining elite defensive performance year-to-year.
Coaching scrutiny: Matt Nagy faced increased criticism for play-calling and clock management, especially in close games, affecting his long-term job security.
Playoff drought: Missing the playoffs extended the Bears’ streak of inconsistent postseason appearances, deepening fan frustration despite occasional bright spots.
Roster decisions: The season influenced future moves, including the 2020 signing of Nick Foles and later drafting of Justin Fields in 2021.
Team trajectory: The 8-8 record signaled a lack of upward momentum, setting the stage for major organizational changes in the following seasons.

Ultimately, the 2019 season served as a turning point, revealing structural weaknesses and prompting a reevaluation of the Bears’ path forward in a competitive NFC North.