With the Chicago Bears’ season coming to an end in the Divisional Round at the hands of the Los Angeles Rams, the attention now shifts to the offseason - and more specifically, to the decisions that head coach Ben Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles will have to make in free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft. One of the biggest question marks heading into the offseason? The linebacker room - and whether D’Marco Jackson should be part of the future plans.
Let’s start with the reality: the Bears are staring down a long list of decisions, with 22 unrestricted free agents hitting the market. Among them is Jackson, a three-year linebacker who, just a few months ago, wasn’t even expected to be part of the rotation - let alone a potential starter.
Jackson arrived in Chicago quietly, claimed off waivers from the Saints at the end of the preseason. At the time, he was viewed as a depth piece and a special teams contributor, which had been his primary role in New Orleans. But as the season wore on and injuries mounted, the Bears were forced to dig deeper into their depth chart - and Jackson made the most of his opportunity.
His first career start came in Week 12 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he didn’t just hold his own - he made a statement. Jackson racked up 15 combined tackles, including a tackle for loss, while playing 72 defensive snaps.
That’s not just a solid debut - that’s a breakout performance. He also held up well in coverage, allowing just 20 yards on four receptions (four targets) and posting a passer rating against of 87.5.
For a guy who wasn’t supposed to be in the starting lineup, that’s impressive.
Jackson kept the momentum going, starting the next three games before returning to a reserve role to close out the regular season. But when the playoffs rolled around, and T.J. Edwards went down again, Jackson was called upon once more - and again, he delivered.
In the Wild Card round, he logged five combined tackles and another tackle for loss over 56 snaps. Then came the Divisional Round matchup with the Rams, where Jackson started and produced seven combined tackles and a pass deflection. He gave up just 27 yards on three completions (five targets) in coverage - a strong showing in a high-pressure playoff environment.
The advanced metrics back it up. According to Pro Football Focus, Jackson was the Bears’ fourth-highest graded defender in the postseason with an overall mark of 76.1.
His coverage grade? A stellar 80.3 - the best among Chicago defenders.
Now, his run defense (58.5) and tackling (53.5) grades left room for improvement, but the coverage ability stood out in a big way, especially in a league where linebackers are constantly being tested in space.
PFF grades aren’t gospel, but when they match what you’re seeing on the field - a linebacker flying around, making sound reads, and holding his own in coverage - it’s a good sign you’re onto something.
And here’s the thing: with Edwards recovering from a fractured fibula, Tremaine Edmunds potentially on the chopping block, and rookie Ruben Hyppolite underwhelming in his first year, there’s a real opportunity for Jackson to earn a starting role in 2026. The Bears’ linebacker group is in flux, and Jackson has already proven he can step in and contribute when called upon.
Whether another team sees that potential and tries to scoop him up remains to be seen. But from the Bears’ perspective, this is the kind of player you want to keep in-house - especially if the price tag stays reasonable. Jackson fits what defensive coordinator Dennis Allen wants to do schematically, and more importantly, he’s shown he can execute when it matters.
So while the Bears have plenty of roster decisions to make this offseason, re-signing D’Marco Jackson should be high on the list. He’s gone from waiver-wire pickup to playoff contributor in a matter of months - and if his trajectory continues, he could be a key piece of Chicago’s defense in 2026 and beyond.