Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) is tackled by 49ers defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos (94) as he makes an unsuccessful pass on the final play of the game at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 28, 2025, in Santa Clara. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Bears nickel back C.J. Gardner-Johnson makes an interception that was wiped out by a penalty for illegal use of hands during the second quarter against the 49ers on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Bears cornerback Josh Blackwell heads to the locker room after a 42-38 loss to the 49ers on Dec. 28, 2025, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
San Francisco 49ers players celebrate after Bears wide receiver Jahdae Walker couldn't make a game-winning catch in the end zone on the final play Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey scores a touchdown during the second quarter against the Bears on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards (53) returns an interception for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage against the 49ers on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) talks with Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) after the 49ers defeated the Bears, 42-38, at Levi's Stadium Sunday Dec. 28, 2025 in Santa Clara. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland (84) makes a first down catch with less than a minute in the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium Sunday Dec. 28, 2025 in Santa Clara. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Bears running back Kyle Monangai (25) runs for a first down as 49ers linebacker Dee Winters falls during the tackle in the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 28, 2025, in Santa Clara. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams throws in the fourth quarter against the 49ers on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Bears running back D'Andre Swift leaps into the end zone for a touchdown run in the fourth quarter against the 49ers at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 28, 2025, in Santa Clara. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) eludes Bears defenders for a first-down run in the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 28, 2025, in Santa Clara. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Bears tight end Colston Loveland (84) makes a first-down reception in the fourth quarter against the 49ers at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 28, 2025, in Santa Clara. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) looks before throwing a pass during the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium Sunday Dec. 28, 2025 in Santa Clara. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings scores a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Bears on Dec. 28, 2025, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Fireworks explode before the Chicago Bears play the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium Sunday Dec. 28, 2025 in Santa Clara. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Bears running back D'Andre Swift (4) leaps into the end zone for a touchdown against the 49ers in the third quarter at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 28, 2025, in Santa Clara. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Bears head coach Ben Johnson heads to the sideline after checking on linebacker Noah Sewell in the third quarter against the 49ers at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 28, 2025, in Santa Clara. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) throws a pass for a first down during the third quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium Sunday Dec. 28, 2025 in Santa Clara. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Bears linebacker Noah Sewell (44) is carted off the field after an injury in the third quarter against the 49ers at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 28, 2025, in Santa Clara. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
49ers quarterback Brock Purdy dances after throwing a touchdown pass during the third quarter against the Bears on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
49ers running back Christian McCaffrey runs through the Bears defense in the second quarter at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 28, 2025, in Santa Clara. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears running back Kyle Monangai (25) celebrates with Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland (84) after Loveland scored a touchdown during the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium Sunday Dec. 28, 2025 in Santa Clara. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III (10) scores a touchdown during the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium Sunday Dec. 28, 2025 in Santa Clara. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams waits to take the snap in the first quarter against the 49ers on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams throws against the 49ers in the first quarter at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 28, 2025, in Santa Clara. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
49ers quarterback Brock Purdy rushes for a touchdown as Bears safety Kevin Byard III defends in the second quarter at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 28, 2025, in Santa Clara. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams warms up during a media timeout in the second quarter against the 49ers at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 28, 2025, in Santa Clara. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III (10) makes a touchdown catch during the first quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium Sunday Dec. 28, 2025 in Santa Clara. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Bears nickel back C.J. Gardner-Johnson intercepts a pass intended for 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (1) in the second quarter Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. The play was overturned because of a Bears penalty. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams throws a touchdown pass to wide receiver Luther Burden III in the first quarter against the 49ers on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Olympic gymnast Simone Biles is hoisted by her husband, Bears safety Jonathan Owens, during warmups before a game against the 49ers on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren, center, waits for the team to take the field before a game against the 49ers at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 28, 2025, in Santa Clara. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Jesse Gervantes gives out free hotdogs to tailgaters before the Chicago Bears play the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium Sunday Dec. 28, 2025 in Santa Clara. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) yells to receivers before the final play of the fourth quarter against the 49ers at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 28, 2025, in Santa Clara. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Bears tight end Colston Loveland makes a first-down reception in the fourth quarter against the 49ers on Dec. 28, 2025, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) hands off to running back Christian McCaffrey (23) in the second quarter against the Bears at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 28, 2025, in Santa Clara. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Bears running back D'Andre Swift (4) rushes in the second quarter against the 49ers at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 28, 2025, in Santa Clara. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Bears head coach Ben Johnson watches the second quarter against the 49ers at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 28, 2025, in Santa Clara. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Bears defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. (99) is helped to his feet after a play in the second quarter against the 49ers at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 28, 2025, in Santa Clara. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Bears linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (49) is kept away from 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey in the second quarter at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 28, 2025, in Santa Clara. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III (10) celebrates after a touchdown reception in the first quarter against the 49ers on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears safety Jaquan Brisker (9) blocks San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges (88) from making a catch during the second quarter at Levi's Stadium Sunday Dec. 28, 2025 in Santa Clara. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
1 of 43
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) is tackled by 49ers defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos (94) as he makes an unsuccessful pass on the final play of the game at Levi's Stadium on Dec. 28, 2025, in Santa Clara. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Expand
By Phil Thompson | plthompson@chicagotribune.com | Chicago Tribune
PUBLISHED:
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
The Chicago Bears’ bid for a seventh fourth-quarter comeback got bogged down by problems with execution. Here's how it unfolded.
Already have an account Log In
This article is only available to subscribers
Flash Sale
Standard Digital
$1 for 1 year
Offer valid for non-subscribers only
