標籤: Bears

Last season, first-year head coach Ben Johnson turned his innovative offense over to Caleb Williams, leading the Chicago Bears to their best season since 2018 and their first playoff victory since 2010. While the Bears had a top-10 offense, they had a bottom-line defense, ranking 23rd in points.

One area in which he struggled was getting to the quarterback. Chicago’s defense only had 35 sacks last season, and 10 of those came from Montez Sweat. The Bears did not draft any edge rushers, but they did add a defensive tackle in the sixth round after signing Neville Gallimore, Kentavious Street and James Lynch in free agency. No one is projected to start.

After Chicago’s struggles last season, it’s no surprise that some skeptics are wondering if the Bears have done enough to overcome a glaring weakness. Still, there may still be a solution available in free agency.

recently, Sports IllustratedAlbert Breer predicted that the Bears would sign longtime New Orleans Saints defender Cameron Jordan.

Jordan will turn 37 in July, but the eight-time Pro Bowler was still extremely effective in his 15th season, recording 10.5 sacks. This was the seventh time Jordan recorded double-digit sacks in a season.

Still unsigned, Jordan enters the 2026 season ranking second on the NFL’s all-time sack leaders list with 132 (17th on the ‘official list’). He is 6.5 sacks behind 37-year-old Von Miller, who is also unsigned but is 13th on the career sacks list.

Even if the Bears don’t trust Jordan for a starting role, it’s clear he still has something to offer. Still, after appearing in 242 of 243 games, there’s no reason to believe Jordan isn’t ready to resume playing all 17 games, which he has done the past three seasons.

RELATED: Chicago Bears urged to sign former Pro Bowler who played for Ben Johnson

Dedicated NFL copywriter/editor. My work has been found on SportsNut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports… More about Andrew Buller-Russ

The Chicago Bears made a huge jump in Ben Johnson’s first season as head coach, going from a five-game winning team in 2024 to an 11-winning team in 2025. Still, it looks like there’s another level of development available to unlock in the Windy City.

While Bears general manager Ryan Poles has done a good job of upgrading the team in every way, as well as addressing key weaknesses, there is still one area of ​​concern. Is the offensive line ready to compete for another playoff spot?

However, Sports IllustratedEva Geitheim believes the Bears can still address their offensive line by turning to one of Coach Johnson’s old friends, Taylor Decker. The Detroit Lions’ longtime left tackle requested and received his release from Johnson’s former team earlier this offseason, and he is still unsigned in free agency.

Decker, who turns 33 in August, earned his only Pro Bowl nomination in 2024 after starting 14 games for the Lions. Still, after a 10-year career with the Lions, Decker was ready to move on, and Chicago has a soft landing spot available with a coach he’s already very familiar with.

Additionally, with Trapillo set to miss a significant amount of time, Decker can ensure that the left side of Chicago’s offensive line remains in good shape. Having started all 140 of his appearances since arriving as the 16th overall pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, Decker still has a lot left in the tank.

RELATED: Chicago Bears coach addresses rumors of adding All-Pro talent

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It is safe to say that the Chicago Bears made the right decision last season in hiring Ben Johnson as head coach and former head coach Dennis Allen as their defensive coordinator. That coaching duo led a sharp turnaround, resulting in an 11–6 record and Chicago’s first playoff win since 2010.

Now the Bears’ brand-new coaching structure is moving into Year 2 together, and this time, they have an even better handle on things. Whether it’s covering up weaknesses or making short-term improvements, the Bears still have room for growth.

One of those areas involves the pass-rusher position, where Chicago ranked near the bottom with 35 total sacks last season. As the offseason progresses, some Bears rumors have led the team to sign free agent and potential future Hall of Famer Cameron Jordan, who remains unsigned after spending the first 15 years of his career with the New Orleans Saints.

It helps that Allen coached Jordan for the first 10 seasons of his career in New Orleans. Could their relationship set the wheels in motion for a reunion in the Windy City?

Coach Allen was recently asked about the possibility of the Bears signing Jordan as a free agent. But he made it seem like the Bears coaching staff hasn’t spent much time thinking about adding the 37-year-old to their roster any time soon.

“I don’t know that there’s been much discussion about it.” [signing him]. “We feel very good about where we are and what we have,” Allen said. “Yet you never know what opportunities may arise down the road.”

While Jordan is not someone who can make a long-term impact on the field of play, he still recorded 10.5 sacks as a member of the Saints last season. This suggests he will be able to help make an impact in Chicago this season, especially since he is already very familiar with the Bears’ defensive coordinator.

RELATED: 2026 NFL QB rankings: From the NFL’s worst starting QBs to the best

Dedicated NFL copywriter/editor. My work has been found on SportsNut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports… More about Andrew Buller-Russ

The Illinois House of Representatives is considering legislation that would give the Chicago Bears a huge tax break to keep the team from moving to Indiana.

The idea of ​​bears leaving the kingdom seems absurd. However, these are very different times for the NFL. With the value of teams and leagues at an all-time high, owners are looking to squeeze as much money as possible from venues, broadcasters and fans to maximize their money-making opportunities. The Kansas City Chiefs leaving Missouri in a few years to build a new stadium in Kansas shows that the franchise is prioritizing revenue over loyalty.

While the Bears should look higher than that due to their rich history in Chi-Town as one of the NFL’s original teams, they are already set to leave Chicago for a potential stadium in Arlington Heights, IL. However, the idea of ​​leaving the state entirely has become very real in recent months as Indiana has made a serious effort to lure the iconic brand next door.

The idea has apparently struck fear in the hearts of Illinois natives and their state representatives, even though a stadium in Indiana would be quite close to the border of both states. Well, to avoid this possibility and anger its citizens, an interesting idea has come up in the capital.

Illinois may impose property tax moratorium on Chicago Bears stadium in Arlington Heights

According to the Chicago Sun Times, “State Rep. Kam Buckner, D-Chicago, plans to brief Illinois House Democrats on the new amendment Tuesday. The pilot measure, shorthand for payment in lieu of taxes, would allow the Bears to renegotiate their property taxes with Arlington Heights.”

The measure would have prohibited property tax assessments on land the Bears purchased in Arlington Heights for a potential stadium. Being able to build a state-of-the-art NFL stadium without having to worry about current property tax rates could save the Bears a tremendous amount of money. However, there is one issue.

As WGN 9 in Chicago reports, “Chicago lawmakers are hesitant in saying they want something in return for voting to have the Bears leave the city.” State Representative La Shawn Ford recently mentioned the need for some type of support on how the city uses Soldier Field if the Bears move to Arlington Heights.

The MPs are scheduled to meet over the next three days before taking a recess till May 4. It still must pass through the Illinois House of Representatives, but it’s a bold new step in the state’s efforts to avoid losing the Chicago Bears to Indiana.

After earning a journalism degree in 2017, Jason Burgos worked as a contributor to several sites, including MMA Sacca… More about Jason Burgos

The Chicago Bears have shown a keen interest in strengthening the trenches since general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson took over. Last offseason, the Bears upgraded the offensive line by trading for Joe Thuney. This offseason, the Bears have an opportunity to boost the defensive line.

On Monday, second-team All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence requested a trade from the New York Giants. Lawrence is a 28-year-old three-time Pro Bowler who now wants a raise over the $26.9 million cap hit he faces in 2026.

It is highly doubtful that the Giants would be willing to trade their best defenseman, yet now that the trade request has become public, their trade offers will only increase. This may also include bears.

Since the trade request came out, Bleacher Report’s Mo Moton has ruled out a few trade possibilities for the 6-foot-4, 340-pound DT. In doing so, he cited the Bears as one of the most ideal landing spots.

In doing so, he suggested that the Bears could offer a second-round pick and a fourth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Bears have the 57th and 60th overall picks in the second round, as well as the 129th overall pick in the fourth round. Is that enough for the Giants to trade one of their best players?

There’s no doubt he’ll provide a significant upgrade to the Bears’ defensive line, but then they’ll likely have to make him one of the NFL’s highest-paid defensive tackles. Still, the Giants are likely to receive multiple trade offers, and they may prefer to trade him out of the NFC.

RELATED: 6 best Dexter Lawrence landing spots after Giants trade request

Dedicated NFL copywriter/editor. My work has been found on SportsNut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports… More about Andrew Buller-Russ

The Chicago Bears made some stealth-solid moves in the offseason, but ultimately took L off the field. They lost a key piece of the front office when Ian Cunningham applied for the Atlanta Falcons GM job, and now the comp pick they’re counting on? Yep… looks like there’s no action to be taken.

Chicago was hoping the NFL would give them a compensatory pick after Cunningham opted out. However, since Matt Ryan is running the show as president of football ops in Atlanta, Cunningham does not technically hold the role of top football authority.

The NFL has just made it official. No compensatory selection. Case closed. According to ESPN’s Courtney Cronin on X, the league told Chicago that their appeal did not remove the chains: Cunningham’s opting out is not eligible for the draft comp, and this is the final whistle on that debate.

The Bears tried to make the case that Ian Cunningham’s move into the GM role with the Falcons should count, but the league was not convinced. Even though Cunningham took over GM duties and showed up in the annual GM photo, the NFL said it was not enough to meet the criteria.

Chicago reportedly played hard even after the league withdrew its 2026 draft order in March (with zero comp picks for them), but the replay didn’t go their way. Now, they head into the 2026 NFL Draft with their original seven picks. Headlined by the No. 25 overall pick and a pair of second-rounders.

No bonus selection. No dole. He was disposed of with just that hand. And now it’s up to the Bears front office to make every snap count heading into draft weekend.

All teams have strengths and weaknesses. Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Polese has done a good job trying to establish the strongest roster possible, without too many weaknesses. Unfortunately, an unexpected hole has suddenly developed on the Bears roster.

Bears starting center Drew Dallman is retiring at the age of 27, according to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter. This move was completely unexpected.

Dallman is coming off his first Pro Bowl season after starting all 17 games in his first year with the Bears. The team signed him to a three-year, $42 million contract as one of its prized free agency picks. Dallman was a key figure in helping transform Chicago’s offensive line from one of the worst to one of the best.

Dallman was drafted in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft as the 114th overall pick and spent the first four seasons of his career with the Atlanta Falcons. If so, Dallman finished his career by starting 57 of his 74 appearances, which is a huge accomplishment for a former fourth-round pick.

Now the Bears enter the offseason with a major question mark at center. However, they are already hosting former Pro Bowl center Tyler Biadasz, who was recently released by the Washington Commanders.

Biadasz is a possibility. If they’re willing to be patient and throw some money around, Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum could also be available in free agency, unless the Baltimore Ravens re-sign him first.

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The 2026 NFL Scouting Combine is happening, which is generating all kinds of football rumors, including rumors involving the Chicago Bears. General managers are in close contact with each other, making it easier for them to discuss the offseason ahead, including which players may become available via trade.

So far, Bears general manager Ryan Polese has been busy gaining trade interest in several players on the roster. According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, teams are calling the Bears about trading for backup quarterback Tyson Baigent, wide receiver DJ Moore and defensive tackle Gervon Dexter.

Each of the three have been considered valuable contributors for the Bears. While Baigent does not get a chance to play often, the Bears feel Baigent has the potential to be a future starter, so they value him as a capable player if something happens to Caleb Williams.

Moore, meanwhile, led the team in receiving yards in 2023 and 2024, but he saw his role diminished in Ben Johnson’s debut last season. However, now that Moore has a guaranteed salary of $26 million for 2026, he is considered expendable in Chicago.

As for Dexter, he is entering the final season of his rookie contract. Still, he’s recorded a respectable 13.5 sacks in three seasons, and he’s still only 24.

Since teams are already expressing interest in each of the players mentioned above, the Bears should be able to add to their draft capital this offseason. They currently have seven selections in the 2026 NFL Draft, including three of the first 90 selections.

RELATED: Chicago Bears trying to trade 2x Pro Bowl player

Dedicated NFL copywriter/editor. My work has been found on SportsNut, Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, MSN, Yahoo, and Minnesota Sports… More about Andrew Buller-Russ

亞特蘭大獵鷹隊這個休賽期一直忙於對他們的足球體系進行徹底改革，聘請馬特·瑞安擔任總裁，凱文·斯特凡斯基擔任主教練。據報導，隨著斯特凡斯基對獵鷹隊教練組進行最後的調整，亞特蘭大也將很快任命一位新總經理。

據《體育畫報》阿爾伯特·布里爾報導，芝加哥熊隊助理總經理伊恩·坎寧安和休斯敦德州人隊助理總經理詹姆斯·利普費特是下任獵鷹隊總經理的兩名最終入圍者。

閱讀更多：2026 年 NFL 選秀順序、獵鷹 2026 年選秀順位

據報導，預計將在本週末做出決定，坎寧安和利普費特與瑞安和斯特凡斯基的配合將是決定的關鍵因素。對於即將前往亞特蘭大進行第二次採訪的利普費爾特來說，這對於這位佐治亞人來說是一次回家。

坎寧安，40 歲，兩屆超級碗冠軍。他最初擔任巴爾的摩烏鴉隊的人事助理（2008-2012 年），後來晉升為區域球探（2013-16 年）。在巴爾的摩服役後，他加入費城老鷹隊擔任大學球探總監（2017-18），然後於 2019 年晉升為球員人事助理總監。

2022年，當瑞恩·波爾斯(Ryan Poles)被聘為芝加哥隊總經理時，他聘請了坎寧安(Cunningham)擔任助理總經理。此後，坎寧安多次入圍多支球隊總經理空缺的決賽，被認為是 NFL 的後起之秀。

相關：芝加哥熊隊有望在自由球員市場中追求頂級進攻武器

Liipfert 是佐治亞理工學院的校友，曾在 2005 年至 08 年期間為黃夾克隊擔任線衛。根據球隊的官方網站，他在休斯頓負責大學球探工作，為 NFL 聯合賽、職業日、秋季球探和 NFL 選秀做準備。

兩位高管都與斯特凡斯基沒有直接關係，斯特凡斯基在明尼蘇達維京隊教練組工作了十多年（2006-2019），並在不同的主教練手下工作。然而，亞特蘭大希望確保其主教練、總經理和總裁擁有牢固的工作關係，並在開啟新時代時對球隊的未來願景保持一致。

馬特·約翰遜 (Matt Johnson) 是《Sportsnaut》雜誌《NFL》和《大學橄欖球》的高級編輯。他的工作包括每週 NFL 和大學……有關馬特·約翰遜的更多信息

毫無疑問，芝加哥熊隊在準備在分區季后賽中對陣洛杉磯公羊隊時已經激勵了他們的城市。他們得到了球迷的全力支持，也得到了該市其他職業運動隊的支持。

在周日芝加哥公牛隊對陣布魯克林籃網隊的比賽開始之前，公牛隊後衛阿約·多蘇穆 (Ayo Dosunmu) 來到聯合中心球館，身穿一件印有熊隊外接手 DJ Moore 戰勝綠灣包裝工隊防守後衛凱森·尼克森 (Keisean Nixan) 的製勝達陣接球的球衣。這場令人難忘的比賽發生在第 16 週兩隊在士兵球場的比賽中。

熊隊在那場比賽中以 22-16 獲勝，並在 NFC 北部比賽中與包裝工隊分開。他們將在外卡賽中再次遇到包裝工隊，摩爾在那場比賽中還接住了四分衛凱萊布·威廉姆斯的製勝達陣傳球。在這次接球中，摩爾在第四節後期暢通無阻地衝進達陣區，大步接球。

這 Dosunmu表現出的支持 週末，熊隊還參加了另外兩場芝加哥體育賽事。週六晚上，在聯合中心球場，芝加哥黑鷹隊主場迎戰波士頓棕熊隊的 NHL 比賽中，熊隊的支持聲響亮而清晰。芝加哥小熊隊的球迷還在周末在市中心一家酒店舉行的年度球隊大會上支持了熊隊。

多孫木是來自伊利諾伊州的四年級後衛，他為公牛隊場均貢獻14.4分和3.5次助攻。芝加哥隊以19勝22負的戰績排在東部第九位。