The Chicago Bears are gearing up for an exciting 2025 NFL season, which features some new faces within the organization poised to get the franchise back to its winning ways. That starts with the hiring of Ben Johnson as head coach, as well as overhauling the interior offensive line, adding pieces on defense and a potenital impactful rookie draft class.
Every day from now right up through training camp, we’re counting down our 30 Most Important Bears for the 2025 season. We’ll recap their 2024 season, look ahead to 2025 and tackle the biggest question facing them this year.
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Next up at No. 27 is defensive tackle Andrew Billings, who will serve as a key rotational piece along the defensive line and an integral force against the run.
Background
Position:Â Defensive tackle
Age:Â 30
Experience:Â 8th season
2025 cap hit:Â $3.32 million
2024 recap
Billings quickly proved to be one of Ryan Poles’ better free agent signings, contributing immediately along the interior defensive line in his first seasons. While he brings interior pass rushing ability, he’s a stout run stuffer that helped turn around Chicago’s run defense in 2023. Billings picked up right where he left off at the start of 2024, where he helped elevate the play of second-year pro Gervon Dexter Sr. in his first season as a starter. Unfortunately, Billings suffered a torn pectoral muscle in Week 9 cutting his promising season short. Up until that point, Billings had appeared in all 25 games since joining the Bears as a free agent in 2023. In eight games, Billings totaled 13 tackles and one sack. The defensive line wasn’t the same following Billings’ absence, most notably Dexter, whose production dipped without Billings next to him. Most notably, the run defense was among the worst the NFL allowing an average 136.3 yards per game.
30 Most Important Bears of 2025: Andrew Billings (#27)
2025 outlook
The Bears have a new defensive coordinator in Dennis Allen, who is looking to employ an aggressive, violent defense that certainly fits Billings’ style as he’s been an enforcer along the interior. Chicago bolstered their interior defensive line this offseason with veteran Grady Jarrett, who brings experience and leadership, as well as second-round rookie Shemar Turner, who serves to benefit from Jarrett and Billings. The Bears will likely employ a three-player rotation between Gervon Dexter, Jarrett and Billings at defensive tackle with Billings continuing to play a key role in Chicago’s run defense, which struggled in his absence last season. Allen could also look to kick Dexter outside on some downs, which would give the Bears an opportunity to feature a defensive front with Montez Sweat, Dexter, Jarrett and Billings to make life difficult on opposing offenses.
Big Question: What does Billings’ future look like in Chicago?
Billings immediately proved to be a dominant force in his first season in Chicago, earning a two-year contract extension. But he’s in the final year of his contract and the Bears invested resources in veteran Grady Jarrett and rookie Shemar Turner which begs the question: What does Billings’ future in Chicago look like beyond 2025? In his short time in Chicago, Billings has proved to be a reliable force along the interior defensive line and his absence was certainly felt along the defensive line last season. But if Jarrett can stay healthy and Turner develops quickly, the Bears could look to move on from Billings next year. A strong outing from Billings in Dennis Allen’s defense could certainly make things interesting for general manager Ryan Poles as he has an important decision to make. But if Chicago is content to move on, Billings could make for an intriguing trade candidate at the trade deadline.
30 Most Important Bears of 2025
#28 – K Cairo Santos
#27 – DT Andrew Billings
#26 – Coming 7/4
#25 – Coming 7/5
#24 – Coming 7/6
#23 – Coming 7/7
#22 – Coming 7/8
#21 – Coming 7/9
#20 – Coming 7/10
#19 – Coming 7/11
#18 – Coming 7/12
#17 – Coming 7/13
#16 – Coming 7/14
#15 – Coming 7/15
#14 – Coming 7/16
#13 – Coming 7/17
#12 – Coming 7/18
#11 – Coming 7/19
#10 – Coming 7/20
#9 – Coming 7/21
#8 – Coming 7/22
#7 – Coming 7/23
#6 – Coming 7/24
#5 – Coming 7/25
#4 – Coming 7/26
#3 – Coming 7/27
#2 – Coming 7/28
#1 – Coming 7/29
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Most Important Bears of 2025: Andrew Billings (No. 27)