If there’s one thing the Chicago Bears can’t afford to ignore this offseason, it’s the need for another game-wrecker off the edge to pair with Montez Sweat. The defense took a step forward in 2025, but the pass rush still left a lot to be desired - just 35 sacks on the year, which put them in the bottom tier of the league. That’s not going to cut it if the Bears want to be serious contenders in 2026.
So naturally, fans and analysts alike are turning their attention to two names that could change the face of Chicago’s front seven: Trey Hendrickson and Maxx Crosby. And when Bears Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher was asked about the possibility of bringing Crosby to the Windy City, he didn’t hold back.
“I wish they would,” Urlacher said during a recent appearance on CHGO. “They have the pieces to get him, I think.
They have the cap space if they want to get him. I’m such a huge fan of his.
That dude plays the game the way you’re supposed to. He plays a million miles an hour every snap, doesn’t take plays off, and he makes huge plays.”
Urlacher knows a thing or two about defensive excellence, and his endorsement of Crosby says a lot. Because Crosby isn’t just good - he’s relentless. He’s the type of edge rusher who sets the tone from the first snap and doesn’t let up until the clock hits zero.
Let’s talk about the resume. Over seven seasons in the league, Crosby has racked up 69.5 sacks.
That’s not just consistency - that’s production at an elite level. He’s posted double-digit sacks in four of those seasons, and he’s earned five Pro Bowl nods along with two second-team All-Pro selections.
That’s the kind of impact player the Bears haven’t had coming off the edge in a long time.
Right now, the Bears have Montez Sweat locked in on one side - a difference-maker in his own right - but the depth behind him is still a work in progress. Rookie Austin Booker showed flashes last season, but he’s still viewed more as a rotational piece than a full-time starter. And Dayo Odeyingbo’s first year in Chicago didn’t inspire much confidence.
Sure, the Bears could look to the draft. This year’s class is deep at edge rusher, and there could be as many as 10 players at the position taken in the first half of the draft.
But let’s be honest - prospects come with risk. Maxx Crosby, on the other hand, is a proven commodity.
He’s a plug-and-play superstar who could instantly elevate the Bears’ defense from solid to scary.
The buzz around a potential Crosby trade is only getting louder, and for good reason. He fits the mold of what Chicago’s trying to build - tough, relentless, and disruptive. If the Bears want to take the next step, adding a player like Crosby might be the bold move that gets them there.