This initially was meant to be a eulogy for the NFC North, the most underachieving division in football. The past few days have changed that. The division might be the best soap opera in the National Football League.

The NFC North’s dominance this season was historic. So was the flameout. The four teams combined for a 45-23 record, with the Detroit Lions (1

The Bears acquired a top-notch coach to nurture Caleb Williams and boost the offense. And the Lions have lost not only Johnson, but defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who was hired as the Jets' head coach.

The NFC North was the best division in the NFL this season, which featured three playoff teams and then the Chicago Bears, who went 5-12 in a disappointing season.

The NFC North produced three playoff teams, two teams with 14 or more wins and the conference’s No. 1 seed — creating a historic, never-before-seen regular season inside the division. Then the playoffs began, and it all fell apart in stunning fashion. Not a single team from the NFC North won a playoff game.

Ben Johnson mentioned Detroit Lions owner Sheila Ford Hamp and head coach Dan Campbell in his first spoken sentences as head coach of the Chicago Bears.

The NFC North had a terrific regular season and a tough playoffs. Here's what life could look like in 2025 for the NFC North.

Packers' Xavier McKinney, Keisean Nixon and Jayden Reed trolled the Detroit Lions following their 45-31 loss to the Washington Commanders in the NFL playoffs.

Chicago has hired Detroit Lions OC Ben Johnson to be their next head coach. The toughest division in the NFL could get even more competitive.

The NFC North is the place to be if you’re an elite NFL coach. It’s also now the toughest division in football. The Chicago Bears are reportedly hiring Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as their next head coach. That gives the division arguably the best roster of head coaches in the NFL.

The NFC North was called the best division in football, but they've been swept from the playoffs. Are the Bears closer to the top than they look?

Bob McGinn, the Pro Football Hall of Fame reporter who covered the Packers for four decades and now works for golongtd.com, talked with several NFL executives and assembled an All-NFC North team. Not surprisingly, the Packers had just one first-team selection on offense — left guard Elgton Jenkins.