Chicago Bears must answer crucial defensive question before it’s too late

Throughout the offseason, the Chicago Bears have gotten plenty of flack for the interior of their defensive line. However, head coach Ben Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles believe their current unit stacks up against any opponent.

Throughout the 2026 season, Chicago’s defensive tackles will be analyzed under a microscope. Which is why the Bears’ belief in what they have at the position will be the biggest question the franchise has to answer in 2026, argues Ted Nguyen of the Athletic.

“The Bears didn’t invest many resources in one of the worst defensive tackle groups in 2025. They added veteran defensive tackles Neville Gallimore and Kentavius Street in free agency and drafted Jordan Van Den Berg in the sixth round,” Nguyen wrote. “Van Den Berg has been a pleasant surprise, and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen called Street the most productive defensive tackle in camp. They felt good enough about their rotation to trade away Gervon Dexter.”

“The Bears ranked 27th last season in defensive rushing success and 29th in opponents’ yards before contact,” he continued. “To avoid coin-flip shootouts, their run defense has to be better, but from the outside looking in, it doesn’t look like they’ve done enough.”

Analyzing interior of Chicago Bears defensive line 

Based on contract, seniority and experience, Grady Jarrett is poised to be one of Chicago’s starters. His debut with the Bears saw him 39 tackles, 1.5 sacks and three pass break ups. The franchise will be counting on him to take a further step forward as a leader of their new-look line.

Who starts next to him is still up for debate, although defensive coordinator Dennis Allen has been speaking highly of free agent signing Kentavius Street. He has spent the past two+ seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, putting up 50 tackles, four quarterback hits and four sacks over 25 games.

Joining him is fellow free agent signee Neville Gallimore. He appeared in 17 games with the Indianapolis Colts in 2025, registering 38 tackles, six quarterback hits and 3.5 sacks. Both defensive tackles convinced the Bears Gervon Dexter’s services were no longer needed.

As did rookies Jordan van den Berg and Jayden Loving. The coaching staff is putting a lot of faith in both players. But that confidence could be viewed as a positive towards their quick development.

It won’t take long before the Bears realize if their trust will pan out. But their new-look line will need to step up for Chicago to be true contenders.

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