SOMETHING SMARTY-PANTS sports pundits tend to forget is that pro athletes are people too — people just like us, except with way more strength and speed, and way way more money.

I’ll include myself amongst the smarty-pantses.

Like it’s easy for me to sit here and write, “Taking his on- and off-court numbers into account, Patrick Williams is the biggest bust in Chicago Bulls history,” (he is), but something like that could hurt Patrick’s feelings so after reading that, maybe he’d start his own Substack page, where he’d say, “Taking his garbage Game of Thrones parody into account, Alan Goldsher is the biggest bust in book publishing history.” (Based on that book, I kind of can’t argue. But it would still hurt.)

It’s also easy for me to sit here and say, “In aggregate, the Chicago Bears’ 2026 free agent signings sucked lollipops,” but then I watch the new guys give love to the franchise in the Bears’ contract signing Instagram, and I can’t help but dig them.

Chicago Bears on Instagram: “New guys checking in 👋”

All that said, as it stands now — despite the new arrivals’ respective levels of charm and enthusiasm — the 2026 Chicago Bears’ defense will likely be a mirror(ish) image of the 2025 Chicago Bears’ defense. And, newsflash, the 2025 Chicago Bears defense was less than good:

Passing yards allowed: 4,067 (26th place)

Rushing yards allowed: 2,287 (27th place)

Points allowed: 415 (23rd place)

Total defense (yards allowed): 6,150 (26th place)

All of which is why last week’s free agency whirlwind — in which the Bears lost more notable players than they signed — elicited a whole lot of mixed feelings. Like the team said b’bye to a bunch of quality performers who also happened to be quality people:

Jaquan Brisker (S): Pittsburgh Steelers (one year, $5.5 million)

Kevin Byard (S): New England Patriots (one year, $9 million)

Tremaine Edmunds (LB): New York Giants (three years, $36 million)

C. J. Gardner-Johnson (S): Buffalo Bills (one year, $6 million)

Jonathan Owens (S): Indianapolis Colts (one year, terms not reported)

Nahshon Wright (CB): New York Jets (one year, $5.5 million)

Five of the six defectors were key components of a defense that led the league interceptions, but while a nice pick is all fine and swell, wrapping up the season ranked 26th isn’t. So one might fairly think, Best of luck to Brisker et al, let’s embrace the revamp and bear down, shall we?

But I think we can all agree that the new arrivals upon whom GM Ryan Poles landed don’t fall into the better category:

Coby Bryant (S): Three years, $40 million

Devin Bush (LB): Two years, $10 million

Neville Gallimore (DT): Terms not reported as of writing

Cam Lewis (CB) Two years, $6 million

Sure, Bryant and Bush are quality replacements for Edmunds and Brisker, but are they better? Hmm…

Games: 17

Tackles: 93 total

Solo tackles: 52

Interceptions: 1

Passes defended: 8

Tackles for loss: 1

Sacks: 0

Pressures: 11

Receptions allowed: 31

On paper, Brisker and Byard get the edge, but Bryant earned a 2025 Super Bowl ring with the Seahawks, so we’ll call it a draw. And no matter how good QB Caleb Williams and his offense are expected be — and they’re expected to be very, very good — the barely rebooted defensive backfield doesn’t make anybody feel super-awesome about a path to a Lombardi Trophy.

Same deal with the linebackers room:

Edmunds out-statted Bush, but some of that can be attributed to the fact that Bush had a scootch more roaming room in Cleveland, as opponents quintuple-teamed EDGE beast Myles Garrett. (I haven’t looked at the tape, but methinks Bears EDGE Montez Sweat didn’t get anywhere close to that level of attention.) So another draw.

Listen, we can’t deliver a final verdict on the Bears’ D until the free agent cycle and NFL Draft dust settles:

It’s possible that come Draft weekend, GM Ryan Poles will find a gem or two. (The Bears have four selections in the first 89 picks, so he’ll have plenty of opportunities, which he’d damn well better not screw up.)

It’s also possible that last year’s injured defensive rookies — CB Zah Frazier, DL Shemar Turner, and LB Ruben Hyppolute III — will be players.

It’s also possible that partially injured free agent semi-bust DL Dayo Odeyingbo will unbust.

It’s also possible that Chicago will find a way to afford one of the notable remaining free agents (paging Cam Jordan).

It’s also possible they’ll swing a trade for stud EDGE Josh Sweat.

If some or all of that comes to fruition, D-coordinator Dennis Allen’s unit will have a good shot at digging their way out of the 26-spot.

But it’s equally possible — probably more possible, actually — that the 2026 Chicago Bears defense will occupy the same unrarified air as 2025’s big bowl of whatever.