The present application relates to copolymer-silica hybrid aerogels as well as methods for the preparation thereof. The methods comprise hydrolyzing a silica precursor in an organic solvent to obtain a partially polymerized silica wet gel, reacting the partially polymerized silica wet gel with a copolymer of Formula (II) to obtain a copolymer-silica hybrid wet gel, reacting the copolymer-silica hybrid wet gel with a surface passivation agent and removing solvent from the copolymer-silica hybrid wet gel to obtain the copolymer-silica hybrid aerogel. The mechanical properties of the copolymer-silica hybrid aerogels can be further improved by blending cellulose nanofibrils into the hybrid aerogels. (II)