Bears' Special Teams Under the Microscope: Can Tory Taylor Flip the Field in 2026?
After a season that gave Chicago Bears fans plenty to cheer about, the focus now shifts to what’s next - and what needs fixing - as the team gears up for a deeper run in 2026. The defense had its holes, particularly in the pass rush and secondary, but there’s another phase of the game quietly demanding attention: special teams.
It’s easy to overlook special teams until it becomes the difference between winning and losing. Just ask the Seahawks and Patriots, who leaned heavily on field position in a low-scoring Super Bowl showdown.
Seattle punter Michael Dickson turned in a performance that reminded everyone just how valuable a great punter can be - seven punts, a booming 47.9-yard average, and three downed inside the Patriots’ 10-yard line. That kind of precision punting didn’t just flip the field - it helped the Seahawks control the game’s tempo until their offense finally broke through in a 29-13 win.
That should catch the attention of Bears fans, because Chicago’s own punter, Tory Taylor, is heading into 2026 with some questions to answer - and maybe a little heat under his seat.
A Mixed Bag for Chicago’s Special Teams
According to final rankings from last season, the Bears’ special teams unit landed squarely in the middle of the pack at 15th overall. That’s not terrible - but it’s also not the kind of performance that gives you an edge in close games.
Across kickoff coverage, return units, and field goal efficiency, the Bears were solid but unspectacular. Where they really struggled, though, was in net punting yardage, where they finished 24th in the league.
That’s where Taylor comes in.
Drafted in the fourth round in 2024 out of Iowa - a school where punting is practically a religion - Taylor arrived in Chicago with high expectations. His college coach’s “Punting Is Winning” mantra wasn’t just a slogan; it was a way of life.
The Bears hoped Taylor would bring that same energy and field-position savvy to the NFL. But two seasons in, the results have been uneven.
Rookie Year: High Volume, Mixed Results
Taylor’s rookie season saw him called on far more than he (or anyone in Chicago) would have liked - 82 punts in total. He averaged a respectable 47.7 yards per kick, with a net average of 41.5 yards. His touchback percentage was low at 4.9%, and he managed to pin opponents inside their own 20-yard line on 41.5% of his punts - a bright spot in an otherwise frustrating year.
That kind of inside-the-20 efficiency is what teams covet. It gives defenses a longer field to work with and increases the chances of a turnover or a three-and-out. But the challenge is maintaining that consistency, especially when your workload decreases.
Sophomore Slump?
With Ben Johnson’s offense taking a step forward in Taylor’s second season, his services were needed less - 60 punts, down 22 from the year before. But while his gross average ticked up slightly to 47.8 yards, the finer details told a different story.
Taylor’s touchbacks nearly doubled, from four to seven, which pushed his touchback rate to 11.7%. That’s a significant jump and a red flag for a punter whose job is to control field position. Even more concerning: only 35% of his punts landed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line - a noticeable drop from his rookie year.
Now, it’s worth noting that even a proven punter like Michael Dickson has posted double-digit touchback rates, including 12.1% in 2023 and 11.8% in 2024. So Taylor’s numbers aren’t catastrophic. But given the context of Chicago’s defensive struggles, they’re not ideal either.
Why Field Position Matters More Than Ever
In Dennis Allen’s first year as defensive coordinator, the Bears gave up 6.8 net yards per pass attempt - fifth-worst in the league. They ranked 29th in total defense and allowed 24.4 points per game, good for 23rd overall. Those numbers could’ve looked even worse if not for an opportunistic secondary that led the league in interceptions (23) and turnover rate (18.3%).
The takeaway? This defense lives and dies on turnovers. And turnovers are a lot easier to come by when the opponent is backed up near their own goal line - which brings us right back to punting.
If Taylor can clean up the touchbacks and regain his rookie form when it comes to pinning teams deep, it could take pressure off the defense and help mask some of its lingering issues. If not, the Bears may be forced to reconsider their investment in a punter they spent a Day 3 pick on just two years ago.
A Make-or-Break Year?
There’s no panic in Chicago - yet. But 2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal season for Tory Taylor.
He has the leg. He has the college pedigree.
Now, he needs to bring it all together and become the field-position weapon the Bears hoped for when they drafted him.
Because in a league where games are often decided by inches and seconds, a great punt at the right time can be just as valuable as a touchdown.