Grady Jarrett enters his second chapter with the Chicago Bears carrying a blunt kind of pressure: he has to show that last season was the exception, not the rule.
His first year in Chicago went sideways fast. Injuries and modest production defined the 2025 season, and a player who had long been a dependable interior pass rusher and defensive presence for the Atlanta Falcons never really found his footing.
From Chicago’s side, it looked like a signing that didn’t deliver. From Atlanta’s side, the decision to move on suddenly looked sharp, especially after the Falcons put together one of the league’s best pass-rushing groups the very next season and finished top-three in total sacks.
That leaves the Bears in a tricky spot now. They have enough financial flexibility in Jarrett’s deal that a 2026 cut does not make much sense, which means the team can keep him rostered and hope for a rebound.
But that patience comes with a short fuse. If this season follows the same path as the last one, Jarrett’s time in Chicago is likely to end with a roster move.
The expectation level around the Bears makes the situation even more intense. Chicago is supposed to be one of the NFC’s top contenders, and that puts pressure on every part of the roster, especially the defensive interior. If Jarrett doesn’t come out strong, the coaching staff could start looking at reducing his snap count.
That possibility matters because it would not just be about preserving him. A reduced role would also signal where this relationship is headed, setting up a possible cut in the 2027 offseason and closing the book on his run with the Bears.
So the season ahead is really about one thing: proving 2025 was a one-off. Training camp is where that process starts, and a strong opening stretch is essential if Jarrett wants to quiet the doubts. If he can get back to being the player Chicago believed it was signing, the Bears’ defense has a much higher ceiling than expected.
For defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, camp will be about figuring out how much creativity and aggression he can unleash on the inside, and Jarrett will go a long way toward answering that question.
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Ranking The 4 Bears Under The Most Training Camp Pressure
Training camp usually clarifies a roster, but for the Bears it is also about sorting out who can handle a bigger burden as the 2026 season comes into view. Kalif Raymond is in the mix at receiver, Grady Jarrett is trying to steady a defensive role after a rough year, Austin Booker is being counted on for a larger edge-rushing presence, and Cole Kmet is looking to hold his place at tight end with more competition arriving behind him.
The pressure is different for each of them, but the theme is the same: this coaching staff is no longer treating any of those spots as settled. Raymond has a path to snaps, Jarrett needs to look more like a reliable interior force, Booker has to show he can turn promise into production, and Kmet is entering camp with the kind of depth chart reality that can change quickly if he does not separate himself early. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Rookie Dillon Thieneman May Be Ahead Of Schedule Already
The Bears used the No. 25 pick on Dillon Thieneman to add flexibility and depth to a defensive backfield that needed both, and early signs suggest the rookie is already pushing for a meaningful role. During mandatory minicamp, Thieneman earned first-team reps while working through Dennis Allens defense, a notable step for a player who arrived with the kind of versatility Chicago values in the secondary.
What makes this development more interesting is how quickly Thieneman seems to be absorbing everything around him. The Bears see him as a defensive back who can move around the formation, and his early placement with the starters hints at a bigger plan taking shape before training camp even opens. If he keeps trending this way, Chicago may not have to wait long to find out just how much responsibility the rookie can handle. [Read more 🡒]