INDIANAPOLIS – The Bears led the NFL with 33 takeaways and 23 interceptions in 2025, but there is one aspect of their defense they are determined to improve.
"For us to take the next step as a defense, we do need to pressure the quarterback in a more consistent clip," coach Ben Johnson said at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. "And so that is a point of emphasis for us."
“For us to take the next step as a defense, we do need to pressure the quarterback in a more consistent clip. And so that is a point of emphasis for us.” Bears HC Ben Johnson
The Bears will consider bolstering their pass rush this offseason in free agency and the draft. This season they'll also count on the continued development of several current players who were slowed by injuries in 2025.
"There are some guys out there [in free agency] that we feel like could help us out," Johnson said "We certainly feel good about some of the guys that we currently have in the building, that they will continue to ascend and take the coaching that DA (defensive coordinator Dennis Allen) and the defensive staff are providing for them.
"I do think this draft does have some guys that could possibly help us out in that regard. But that'll be something that we've got to look at. And it will be a point of emphasis when we come back in the springtime, just how do we increase our get-off to where we can put more pressure on the [quarterback]."
Montez Sweat led the Bears with 10.0 sacks in 2025, but injuries to Dayo Odeyingbo, Shemar Turner, Austin Booker and Dominique Robinson hurt the pass rush.
"I do think on our D-line there were some situations—mostly injury—that didn't allow that to really come together the way it was supposed to," said general manager Ryan Poles. "So, I look forward to that happening. But we're also going to have to continue to bring talent in to create competition so that our defense can take the next step."
After signing with the Bears last March, Odeyingbo registered 21 tackles and 1.0 sack in eight games before sustaining a season-ending torn Achilles Nov. 2 in Cincinnati.
"Dayo was a little bit unfortunate," Poles said. "He was the guy we brought in that we wanted to work inside and outside. I thought he was coming along in training camp. He had a knee injury at some point in the beginning, so we really didn't get to flex as much as we wanted to to try to improve our rush for the interior and exterior."
Turner, a rookie second-round pick, missed the first two games after hurting his ankle in training camp. He saw limited action in the next five contests and then was lost for the season when he tore his ACL Oct. 26 in Baltimore.
"Shemar is another one who has flex where we were trying to find out where he was going to be most productive," Poles said. "It was coming along at end, which was great, because he would have versatility inside and outside, which is what we want. So, it was a bummer, kind of a freak deal with him and his knee."
The Bears are optimistic that both Odeyingbo and Turner will return from their injuries to strengthen the pass rush in 2026.
"Both guys are on track, training hard," Poles said. "I'm hoping [they're cleared to practice] in the spring, but if anything, training camp will be the spot where they come back. There's a process to that of playing the game and getting comfortable and healthy that we'll go through. But I expect both of those guys to help us [this] year."
Injuries also slowed Booker and Robinson in 2025.
Booker, a second-year pro, led the NFL with 4.0 sacks last preseason. But he sustained a knee injury in a preseason game that sidelined him for the first seven regular-season contests. He ultimately closed the year with 3.5 sacks in the Bears' final four games. Robinson missed four games with an ankle injury and one contest with a concussion.
Poles won't know for certain until the Bears gain more clarity after gathering intel at the Combine, but at this point he feels that the edge position is deeper than the interior defensive line in the draft.
Asked what attributes he's seeking in defensive linemen in the draft, Poles said: "Motor, relentless, violence, explosive. And then I just want to continue to improve our defensive speed. We saw that a little bit [against] Green Bay and some of the games down the stretch. I want to improve our defensive speed overall. Those are some of the factors we're going to look at."
Johnson has no preference in terms of adding tackles or ends.
"We just need good football players all across the board," he said. "I don't mind so much if that's the interior rush, oh sure, we'll take that. If that's the guy that's on the edge fits the bill, sure, we'll take that as well … We just want to find some really good football players that love to play the game, that love to compete, that want to win football games, and we'll figure it out from there."
