The NFL season is over. What’s ahead for Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks and Bulls? And how about the Bears?

The Patriots beating the Rams 13-3 on Sunday to win Super Bowl LIII confirmed two things for the Bears.

First, relying on defense still represents a viable path to a championship in the supposedly new NFL. Second, expecting a young quarterback such as Jared Goff — the Rams’ equivalent of Mitch Trubisky — to succeed means dealing with bouts of inconsistency nothing but experience can cure.

Beyond that, the last game of the NFL season shifts our focus to what’s next for the city’s five professional teams and local college basketball.

Bears

State of the team: Matt Nagy winning NFL coach of the year Saturday confirmed one of the greatest turnarounds in sports. Respect for the Bears has grown so much that the NFL reportedly will schedule the league’s 2019 season opener at Soldier Field against the Packers to celebrate the NFL’s 100th anniversary. The offseason narrative will shift to how the Bears can handle success now that they have achieved it. With so many key players under contract, the Bears have reason to believe they have one of the NFL’s top five rosters.

Next important date: NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, Feb. 26-March 4.

Most pressing question: Will the Bears sign troubled running back Kareem Hunt?

Most intriguing personalities over the next six weeks: Hunt and kicker Cody Parkey’s replacement.

Short-term projection: The Bears have behaved like a team trying to talk itself into signing Hunt — and, at this point, it would surprise me if they didn’t. Nagy complimented Hunt’s character and last week wide receiver Allen Robinson promised players would welcome Hunt in the locker room. All that’s missing is ownership’s endorsement, and Chairman George McCaskey didn’t say no when asked. He only said the Bears “weren’t there yet,’’ and he had not watched the video of Hunt kicking a woman. By the beginning of NFL free agency in March, expect more clarity concerning Hunt’s future — possibly in Chicago.

Cubs

State of the team: The Cubs have endured an odd offseason. It began with calls for urgency by Cubs President Theo Epstein — putting manager Joe Maddon on notice entering the final year of his contract — but the front office took a laissez-faire approach to the roster. The big move never came. The small moves put the onus on the returning core players to have big years. This feels like the start of a make-or-break year for many people on the Cubs payroll, starting with Maddon.

Next important date: Feb. 12. Pitchers and catchers report to Mesa, Ariz., five days before the full team arrives.

Most pressing question: If the Cubs indeed expect to be considered World Series contenders, who is the closer?

Most intriguing personalities over the next six weeks: Yu Darvish, Kris Bryant.

Short-term projection: Darvish will resemble the ace the Cubs thought they were getting last winter for $126 million, solidifying one of the most reliable starting rotations in baseball. Repairs to a broken offense — starting with Bryant — will convince the Cubs in Arizona that changing hitting coaches again was justified.

White Sox

State of the team: For the first time in recent memory, the White Sox created more conversation than the Cubs over the winter, a product of their pursuit of free agents Bryce Harper and Manny Machado. Their aggressiveness overshadowed everything else they did, from the sneaky-good moves to bolster the back of their bullpen to the acquisition of proven veterans and Machado pals Yonder Alonso and Jon Jay. A referendum on their offseason comes down to Machado saying yes or no to their offer. The Sox have a chance to flirt with .500 or they could spend another summer in the AL Central basement. It all comes down to what team Machado chooses. When Punxsutawney Phil appeared Saturday on Groundhog Day, it didn’t mean six more weeks of waiting for Machado’s answer. It just seemed like it.

Next important date: Today. Then tomorrow. And every day that follows until Machado decides.

Most pressing question: Will Machado sign with the White Sox? Any and all other questions about the Sox’s direction depends on that answer.

Most intriguing personality over the next six weeks: Manny Machado. Once Machado makes up his mind, attention can either shift or be shared with Eloy Jimenez, the future star whose likely promotion before May 1 fills the South Side with anticipation.

Short-term projection: The Phillies sign Harper, the Sox get Machado and Chicago baseball gets a needed jolt.

Bulls

State of the team: A disastrous season threatens to make 20 victories difficult for the Bulls, the NBA’s fourth-worst team. The offense is stuck in the 1990s, the defense too often is optional and the gap between players and theatrical throwback coach Jim Boylen looks more like a canyon. Dysfunction looms and change beckons for an organization that must re-evaluate everything from top to bottom.

Next important date: May 14, when Chicago plays host to the NBA draft lottery.

Most pressing question: Can the Bulls position themselves to be among the three worst teams in the league, taking advantage of the new NBA lottery rules guaranteeing the bottom three finishers a 14 percent chance of the No. 1 pick?

Most intriguing personality over next six weeks: Duke forward Zion Williamson, the presumptive No. 1 pick and generational talent capable of changing a franchise.

Short-term projection: The Bulls will unload veteran center Robin Lopez — imagine Lopez’s glee if he lands with the Warriors — but still finish ahead of the lowly Knicks, Cavaliers and Suns.

Blackhawks

State of the team: In the midst of a rebuild nobody wants to label as such, the Hawks have 49 points in 53 games — only five behind the No. 8 playoff spot in the Western Conference. But five teams also stand in their way. That reality makes postseason chances remote for a team showing improvement under coach Jeremy Colliton, especially during a four-game winning streak. The defense has stiffened while the offensive stars keep performing like stars. Colliton’s first season as an NHL coach could end without a playoff berth but with the arrow pointing up.

Next important date: Feb. 25, the NHL trade deadline.

Most pressing question: Will the Hawks try to deal future Hall of Fame defenseman Duncan Keith, who would have to approve any trade? Longtime teammate Brent Seabrook turned down the Hawks’ request, according to Sportsnet in Canada, and Keith might do the same knowing the Hawks could challenge for the playoffs as early as next year. A veteran more likely to be on the move could be center Artem Anisimov.

Most intriguing personality over the next six weeks: Patrick Kane. No matter what the standings say, Kane is dominating enough to receive serious consideration for his second Hart Trophy.

Short-term projection: The Hawks will keep Keith and Seabrook, miss the playoffs and head into the offseason encouraged enough to aggressively pursue talent to fill gaps.

Local college basketball

State of the season: In a word, meh. The Big Ten basketball tournament returns to Chicago from March 13-17, but will anybody notice? The sport remains closer to rumor than relevance in a city preoccupied with pro sports. Loyola took the expected half-step backward and needs to win the Missouri Valley Conference tournament to experience March Madness again. Northwestern plays too inconsistently for its program to count on anything but its first-class new venue at Welsh-Ryan Arena. DePaul continues to flirt with respectability — and too often gets rebuffed. Illinois has become an afterthought. The biggest moment locally so far this season came courtesy of Northern Illinois, which upset No. 14 Buffalo last month on a last-second shot.

Next important date: March 17, Saint Patrick’s Day, which this year also is Selection Sunday.

Most pressing question: Why is college basketball in town so easy to ignore?

Most intriguing personality over the next six weeks: Clayton Custer. One of the legacy members of Loyola’s Final Four team, Custer has found repeating that success tricky. In the Ramblers’ first 23 games, Custer had only four more assists than big man Cameron Krutwig and a 59-to-50 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Short-term projection: Loyola will win the MVC tournament to squeak into the NCAA tournament while Northwestern and DePaul will struggle to keep their records above .500.

David Haugh is a special contributor to the Chicago Tribune and co-host of the “Mully and Haugh Show” weekdays from 5-9 a.m. on WSCR-AM-670.