Bears finish preseason strong with 24-15 win over Titans, lifting Ben Johnson to 4-1-1 mark

The Chicago Bears closed out their 2026 preseason in a positive way, beating the Tennessee Titans 24-15 on Saturday in Tennessee. The result gave Chicago momentum heading into the regular season and capped a three-game stretch in which the Bears were able to end on a win after earlier results left their preseason résumé at 1-1 before the finale.

In the matchup, the Bears’ 24-15 final score served as a reminder that preseason football is not only about evaluating players for the opening depth chart, but also about how well a coaching staff can install and execute a workable game plan with changing lineups. With rosters constantly in flux, the focus typically turns to repeatable themes: protecting the football, creating sustained possessions, and limiting the types of mistakes that are easiest to carry into Week 1.

Chicago’s coaching performance also carried a measurable storyline. According to notes from the game, the win bumped Bears head coach Ben Johnson’s career preseason record to 4-1-1 over his two seasons as the franchise’s head coach. That specific mark matters in context because preseason records can reflect how consistently a staff prepares, rotates, and uses its opportunities to create realistic game situations rather than treating the exhibition period as an afterthought.

The Bears entered the preseason finale looking to finish cleanly, and the 2-1 preseason record suggests they were able to find a better rhythm as the summer progressed. A winning finish can matter internally, even if preseason results never translate into official standings. Players who are on the edge of earning roles often pay attention to who performed when the reps were most meaningful, particularly in the later stages of exhibition games when long drives, third-down packages, and situational play become more visible.

For Tennessee, the 24-15 outcome meant a losing end to the exhibition schedule. Preseason finales can also act as a final evaluation checkpoint for fringe roster players and for units trying to earn more trust from the coaching staff. While the Titans were not able to avoid the defeat, the game still fits the broader pattern of preseason football where coaching staffs look for process and development, not just the scoreboard.

As Chicago moves from preseason into the regular season, the immediate thing to watch is whether the Bears can carry forward the execution and discipline that came through in the win. The other focal point is Ben Johnson’s ability to translate his preparation style into roster management decisions. With his preseason record now sitting at 4-1-1 over two seasons, the question becomes whether the Bears can use the developmental groundwork from exhibitions to build consistency once points and stakes truly matter.