The Chicago Bears’ defense this season wasn’t exactly a brick wall-but it knew how to make plays when it counted. Dennis Allen’s group leaned more on timely takeaways than suffocating consistency, and while that approach can be a tightrope walk, it kept the Bears in games more often than not.
Injuries were a recurring theme for this unit, but they also opened the door for some unexpected contributors to step up. One of the biggest surprises? Linebacker D’Marco Jackson, who made the most of his chance when the depth chart got tested.
Let’s rewind to late August. As rosters across the league were being trimmed and shuffled, the Bears made a couple of quiet waiver claims to bolster their defensive depth. Those moves didn’t generate headlines at the time, but one of them-Jackson-turned out to be a sneaky-good pickup.
Coming into the season, the Bears had two veteran linebackers locked into starting roles and looking to reassert themselves. T.J.
Edwards was coming off a strong year but couldn’t dodge the injury bug, missing seven games during the regular season and then suffering a fractured fibula in the Wild Card win over Green Bay. Tremaine Edmunds, meanwhile, bounced back under Allen’s system, leading the team in tackles and flashing more of the playmaking ability that made him a coveted free agent.
But he missed four games himself and carries a hefty cap hit heading into the final year of his deal in 2026.
That’s where Jackson enters the picture.
With both starters sidelined at various points, Jackson was thrust into a much bigger role-and he didn’t flinch. He started all four games that Edmunds missed, playing every defensive snap in three of them.
Over that stretch, he racked up 30 tackles, two tackles for loss, two pass breakups, and a sack. He also got the nod in the Bears’ Divisional Round loss to the Rams, filling in for the injured Edwards.
Jackson didn’t just survive out there-he stood out. Whether it was in coverage or against the run, he showed the kind of instincts and physicality that coaches love. And for Allen, who had previously worked with Jackson in New Orleans, it was a reunion that paid dividends.
The advanced metrics back up what Bears fans saw on the field. According to Pro Football Focus, Jackson finished the year with a 76.4 overall grade-the highest among Chicago’s pending free agents.
He logged 370 total snaps, not a massive sample size, but enough to post 18 defensive stops and an eye-catching 81.7 coverage grade. That mark ranked third among qualifying linebackers, trailing only Fred Warner and Zack Baun.
That’s elite company.
Now, with Edwards expected to be healthy for Week 1 next season and Edmunds’ future in question due to his cap number, the Bears have a decision to make. Jackson’s emergence gives them some flexibility. He’s not just a depth piece anymore-he’s played his way into the conversation as a legitimate rotational or even starting option moving forward.
For a defense that’s still trying to find its identity under Allen, having a player like Jackson break through is a big deal. He didn’t come in with much fanfare, but he’s earned a long look heading into 2026.