With Ben Johnson coming to the Chicago Bears, everyone has been focused on the team’s offense. However, if the Bears are going to truly be NFC North contenders in 2025, then the defense must show massive improvements as well.
To help fortify the unit, Chicago hired Dennis Allen as their new defensive coordinator. Formerly head coach of the New Orleans Saints, Allen has held a number of defensive coaching positions since joining the NFL in 2022. With Johnson entering his first year as an NFL head coach, he will be leaning on Allen heavily in helping build the Bears' defensive foundation.
One thing Chicago’s defense will be preaching in 2025 is versatility. Players like Shemar Turner, Dayo Odeyingbo and Gervon Dexter Jr. can theoretically play on the interior or exterior of the defensive line. General manager Ryan Poles didn’t give any exact percentages of how often the Bears will shift their line. However, Poles knows Allen will have a plan in place to ensure Chicago has some extra firepower coming from their defensive front, via "Kap & J.Hood" of ESPN1000.
“That versatility is going to be important,” Poles said. “DA is going to work through that, moving those guys around. Having that option open to us is always going to be important as we go through the season. That’s one I’ll lean on DA and [Jeremy Garnett] and Bill Johnson to put in place to move those guys around. I know it’s a part of what we’re going to do, I don’t know how much at this time. As we go through this offseason and training camp, that plan will start to show itself.”
Chicago Bears' new-look defensive line
While there have been plenty of changes made to the defense, Montez Sweat remains a constant. He is the unquestioned leader on Chicago’s defensive line, leading the team in sacks in 2024. However, that meant just 5.5 total. The Bears are hoping to truly unleash Sweat and have him become one of the best edge-rushers in the league. Poles has already seen Sweat put in the work to match those lofty expectations.
“I don’t think there is anyone in this building working as hard as Montez Sweat right now,” Poles said. “He’s pushing weights, he’s getting strong, he’s getting in shape. He’s locked in like I’ve never seen him before.”
Poles went on to stress the importance of newcomers Odeyingbo and Grady Jarrett, who were signed to $48 million and $43 million contracts, respectively. Odeyingbo is expected to line up across from Sweat as he is coming off back-to-back 17 quarterback hit campaigns with the Indianapolis Colts. Jarrett will shore up Chicago’s defense in the middle of the line. Collectively, Jarrett and Odeyingbo should make the lives of opposing offensive linemen harder, giving Sweat an easier path to the quarterback.
Then there’s Turner, the first defensive player the Bears selected in the 2025 NFL Draft. He is listed as defensive tackle, but he played all five defensive line positions at Texas A&M. Gervon Dexter racked up five sacks from defensive tackle in 2024. Perhaps the Bears think that moving him to the outside would get him even more opportunities in the opponent’s backfield.
Overall, the Bears have options now. As the 2024 season went on, the defense looked lifeless at times. Allen is now expected to harness that newfound energy and unleash it onto the NFC North. If it all goes to plan, Chicago will have a much-improved defensive unit. But versatility is one thing, and actual results are another.
