Bears’ Biggest Offseason Priority? Rebuilding the Pass Rush-From the Ground Up
Ben Johnson’s first year at the helm in Chicago brought a breath of fresh air-and results to match. The Bears returned to the NFC Divisional round, a significant step forward for a franchise that’s been searching for stability and direction.
But as the dust settles, there’s no illusion inside Halas Hall: progress doesn’t guarantee permanence. If the Bears want to build off their 2025 success, they’ve got to address one glaring issue that held them back all season-an underwhelming, inconsistent pass rush.
Let’s call it what it was: Chicago didn’t generate nearly enough pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Despite a splashy offseason that saw them invest heavily in the defensive line, the returns were underwhelming.
Defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo, a key free-agent signing, managed just one sack in eight games before a season-ending injury. Grady Jarrett, brought in to anchor the interior, added only two sacks.
Between the two, the Bears committed serious cap space-and got minimal disruption in return.
The numbers tell the story. The Bears finished the season with 35 sacks-five fewer than they posted the year before.
That’s despite Montez Sweat nearly doubling his sack total from 5.5 to 10. When your top edge rusher steps up, but your team’s overall sack total drops, it’s a clear sign the rest of the unit didn’t hold up its end of the bargain.
Austin Booker showed flashes-bumping his sack total from 1.5 to 4.5-but he’s better suited for a rotational role at this point in his development. He was likely pushed into a bigger role than he was ready for, and while the growth is encouraging, it highlights the thin depth chart behind Sweat.
Odeyingbo’s injury derailed plans, and Jarrett, now in the twilight of his career, doesn’t bring the same explosiveness he once did. The rest of the group? Largely anonymous in the pass-rush department.
What’s clear is that the Bears don’t just need one type of pass rusher-they need help across the board. Whether it’s a disruptive interior presence or a true edge threat to pair with Sweat, Chicago has to get serious about building a front that can consistently collapse pockets and force quarterbacks off their spots.
Now, here’s the challenge: elite edge rushers rarely hit the open market. That’s why the Bears had to trade for Sweat in the first place.
If they want another game-changer, they may need to go that route again. But the more likely and sustainable approach?
The draft.
With a premium pick in hand, Chicago is in position to target a top-tier edge rusher early. It’s not just about upgrading talent-it’s about getting younger, more athletic, and more cost-effective at a premium position. If the right player is there when they’re on the clock, pulling the trigger could be a franchise-altering move.
Of course, it doesn’t have to be draft or bust. A smart combination of a veteran signing-perhaps someone with more juice left than Jarrett-and a high-upside rookie could give the Bears the kind of depth and flexibility they lacked this past season.
Suddenly, Sweat isn’t doing it all himself. Booker can grow into his role.
And the defensive front starts to look like a strength instead of a liability.
The Bears took a big step forward in 2025. But if they want to be more than a one-year story, they have to fix the pass rush.
That means committing to the process-through free agency, through the draft, and through player development. The foundation is there.
Now it’s time to build the wall.