{"id":815255,"date":"2026-03-16T11:18:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T11:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/815255\/"},"modified":"2026-03-16T11:18:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T11:18:00","slug":"2026-chicago-bears-defense-vs-2025-chicago-bears-defense-better-worse-or-whatever","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/815255\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 Chicago Bears Defense vs. 2025 Chicago Bears Defense: Better, Worse or Whatever?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

SOMETHING SMARTY-PANTS sports pundits tend to forget is that pro athletes are people too \u2014 people just like us, except with way more strength and speed, and way way more money.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll include myself amongst the smarty-pantses.<\/p>\n

Like it\u2019s easy for me to sit here and write, \u201cTaking his on- and off-court numbers into account, Patrick Williams is the biggest bust in Chicago Bulls history<\/a>,\u201d (he is), but something like that could hurt Patrick\u2019s feelings so after reading that, maybe he\u2019d start his own Substack page, where he\u2019d say, \u201cTaking his garbage <\/a>Game of Thrones<\/a> parody<\/a> into account, Alan Goldsher is the biggest bust in book publishing history.\u201d (Based on that book, I kind of can\u2019t argue. But it would still hurt.)<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also easy for me to sit here and say, \u201cIn aggregate, the Chicago Bears\u2019 2026 free agent signings sucked lollipops,\u201d but then I watch the new guys give love to the franchise in the Bears\u2019 contract signing Instagram, and I can\u2019t help but dig them.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Chicago Bears on Instagram: “New guys checking in \ud83d\udc4b”<\/p>\n

All that said, as it stands now \u2014 despite the new arrivals\u2019 respective levels of charm and enthusiasm \u2014 the 2026 Chicago Bears\u2019 defense will likely be a mirror(ish) image of the 2025 Chicago Bears\u2019 defense. And, newsflash, the 2025 Chicago Bears defense was less than good:<\/p>\n

Passing yards allowed: 4,067 (26th place)<\/p>\n

Rushing yards allowed: 2,287 (27th place)<\/p>\n

Points allowed: 415 (23rd place)<\/p>\n

Total defense (yards allowed): 6,150 (26th place)<\/p>\n

All of which is why last week\u2019s free agency whirlwind \u2014 in which the Bears lost more notable players than they signed \u2014 elicited a whole lot of mixed feelings. Like the team said b\u2019bye to a bunch of quality performers who also happened to be quality people:<\/p>\n

Jaquan Brisker (S): Pittsburgh Steelers (one year, $5.5 million)<\/p>\n

Kevin Byard (S): New England Patriots (one year, $9 million)<\/p>\n

Tremaine Edmunds (LB): New York Giants (three years, $36 million)<\/p>\n

C. J. Gardner-Johnson (S): Buffalo Bills (one year, $6 million)<\/p>\n

Jonathan Owens (S): Indianapolis Colts (one year, terms not reported)<\/p>\n

Nahshon Wright (CB): New York Jets (one year, $5.5 million)<\/p>\n

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\u2019t. So one might fairly think, Best of luck to Brisker et al, let\u2019s embrace the revamp and bear down, shall we?<\/p>\n

But I think we can all agree that the new arrivals upon whom GM Ryan Poles landed don\u2019t fall into the better category:<\/p>\n

Coby Bryant (S): Three years, $40 million<\/p>\n

Devin Bush (LB): Two years, $10 million<\/p>\n

Neville Gallimore (DT): Terms not reported as of writing<\/p>\n

Cam Lewis (CB) Two years, $6 million<\/p>\n

Sure, Bryant and Bush are quality replacements for Edmunds and Brisker, but are they better? Hmm\u2026<\/p>\n

Games: 17<\/p>\n

Tackles: 93 total<\/p>\n

Solo tackles: 52<\/p>\n

Interceptions: 1<\/p>\n

Passes defended: 8<\/p>\n

Tackles for loss: 1<\/p>\n

Sacks: 0<\/p>\n

Pressures: 11<\/p>\n

Receptions allowed: 31<\/p>\n

On paper, Brisker and Byard get the edge, but Bryant earned a 2025 Super Bowl ring with the Seahawks, so we\u2019ll call it a draw. And no matter how good QB Caleb Williams and his offense are expected be \u2014 and they\u2019re expected to be very, very good<\/a> \u2014 the barely rebooted defensive backfield doesn\u2019t make anybody feel super-awesome about a path to a Lombardi Trophy.<\/p>\n

Same deal with the linebackers room:<\/p>\n

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\u2019t looked at the tape, but methinks Bears EDGE Montez Sweat didn\u2019t get anywhere close to that level of attention.) So another draw.<\/p>\n

Listen, we can\u2019t deliver a final verdict on the Bears\u2019 D until the free agent cycle and NFL Draft dust settles:<\/p>\n

It\u2019s 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\u2019ll have plenty of opportunities, which he\u2019d damn well better not screw up.)<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also possible that last year\u2019s injured defensive rookies \u2014 CB Zah Frazier, DL Shemar Turner, and LB Ruben Hyppolute III \u2014 will be players.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also possible that partially injured free agent semi-bust DL Dayo Odeyingbo will unbust.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also possible that Chicago will find a way to afford one of the notable remaining free agents (paging Cam Jordan).<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also possible they\u2019ll swing a trade for stud EDGE Josh Sweat<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If some or all of that comes to fruition, D-coordinator Dennis Allen\u2019s unit will have a good shot at digging their way out of the 26-spot.<\/p>\n

But it\u2019s equally possible \u2014 probably more possible, actually \u2014 that the 2026 Chicago Bears defense will occupy the same unrarified air as 2025\u2019s big bowl of whatever.<\/p>\n