The following is an excerpt from Warren Sharp's 2025 Football Preview book. In addition to Warren's deep, detailed write-up on all 32 NFL teams, each chapter features page after page of full-color charts, stats, and heatmaps as well as defensive previews from Raymond Summerlin. Click here for a full FREE chapter from the 2025 Football Preview.
While offenses dominate NFL discussion, the other side of the ball plays a large role.
With the 2025 NFL season fast approaching, let's look at the defense of the Chicago Bears and preview how it might perform this season.
2025 Chicago Bears Defense
The Bears struggled against the run in 2024, allowing 4.9 yards per carry on running back runs (31st).
They ranked 26th in yards before contact allowed on those carries (1.6), 39th in yards after contact allowed (3.3), and 29th in rushing touchdowns allowed to running backs (18).
Grady Jarrett was the main addition here after the Falcons cut him in March.
Jarrett has two Pro Bowls on his resume, but he is not the same player he once was.
Gervon Dexter is the top returner after playing 617 snaps across 15 games last season.
Both players should fit well with new DC Dennis Allen.
Andrew Billings should also remain a big part of the rotation, and Chicago added Shemar Turner in the second round.
While this is an okay group, run defense could remain a concern.
The Bears ranked eighth in pressure rate last season (36.8%) but finished 16th with 40 sacks.
Montez Sweat led the team with just 5.5 sacks, but his 14.4% pressure rate suggests he should have had more production.
Dayo Odeyingbo was added in free agency to play that role opposite Sweat.
Odeyingbo did not have a ton of production over his rookie contract with the Colts, logging 16.5 sacks over 61 career games.
His 10% pressure rate last season was the best of his career, and his 8 sacks in 2023 are his highest total thus far.
Linebacker is set after T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds combined for 2,111 snaps last season, but Edwards was not at his best.
After logging 19 run stuffs and getting a tackle on 20% of his run defense snaps in his first season with the Bears, Edwards had 13 stuffs and a 14.1% tackle rate in 2024.
It is fair to expect a bounce back season for a player still in the prime of his career.
The Bears allowed 7.9 yards per pass attempt in 2024 (30th), but they finished third overall in EPA allowed per pass because they allowed just 17 passing touchdowns, the fewest in the league.
The switch to new DC Allen should mean some changes to what Chicago’s corners are asked to do.
From 2020-2024, the Saints played man coverage at the fifth-highest rate in the league.
Of course, that was still only 32.4% of opponent pass plays, but that is considerably higher than the 15.7% rate from the Bears last season.
Despite getting invited to the Pro Bowl, Jaylon Johnson took a step back last season.
A 2023 second-round pick, Tyrique Stevenson also slumped as a sophomore, finishing 114th among qualified cornerbacks in yards allowed per coverage snap.
Slot corner Kyler Gordon was heading into a contract year, but he was rewarded with a three-year, $40 million extension in April.
The Bears appear set at safety for 2025.
Kevin Byard is back after a solid season in which he played well against the run and ranked 39th in yards allowed per coverage snap among qualified safeties.
Jaquan Brisker is reportedly healthy after missing most of the season due to a concussion, though that obviously raises some long-term concerns about his availability.
This analysis continues in the 2025 Football Preview
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Warren Sharp's book shares insights into the players, coaches, teams, and philosophies with one goal: to prepare you for the 2025 NFL season with the smartest information delivered in the fastest, most direct way possible for optimal reviewing and retention.
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