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91 Days until Chicago Bears Season Kicks Off: Eddie Goldman Profile

By Bill Zimmerman

Dec 27, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Chicago Bears nose tackle Eddie Goldman (91) gets help off the field after an apparent injury during the second half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Chicago Bears defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26-21. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA; Chicago Bears nose tackle Eddie Goldman (91) gets help off the field after an apparent injury during the second half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Chicago Bears defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26-21. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Bear Goggles On Countdown to Kickoff series is now underway. With 91 days to go until the Bears season kicks off, we will highlight the Bears player wearing number 91, nose tackle Eddie Goldman.

Dec 4, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears nose tackle Eddie Goldman (91) sacks San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) during the first half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 4, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears nose tackle Eddie Goldman (91) sacks San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) during the first half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports /

2016 Review

In what is going to be a major theme for these profiles as we progress towards the Chicago Bears vs Atlanta Falcons- health was a factor for Eddie Goldman in 2016. Goldman was coming off a tremendous rookie campaign where he tallied 4.5 sacks and was very disruptive in the middle. Goldman lost weight and was ready to make an even bigger contribution in 2016, but after he suffered a high ankle sprain against the Philadelphia Eagles, Goldman missed two months and never quite got healthy the rest of the season and was eventually put on IR.

Despite struggling with injuries, Goldman did manage to record 2.5 sacks and 12 tackles, a greater per game impact than he had his rookie season. Goldman’s season almost perfectly mimicked the team’s season- flashes of talent, couldn’t overcome injuries, and his season was generally a disappointment because of it.

2017 Outlook

This season is a big one for Goldman. Goldman is entering the third season of his rookie deal and needs to stay on the field and show that he’s ready to become a dominate interior presence that it appeared he would be after his rookie season.

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Goldman enters the offseason program healthy and he feels good and ready to contribute. But for Goldman to become the player everyone thinks he can be, he must stay on the field. After Goldman’s first season, the Bears were concerned with his stamina and he worked hard in the offseason and slimmed down so he could stay on the field. But coming in to this season, he now has to prove he’s healthy and can stay healthy.

The third season in the NFL is often a breakout season for defensive linemen and Goldman hopes to continue that trend, but right now this is a pivotal season. Goldman looks like he could be a disappointment that, for whatever reason, never was able to put it together. But he also looks like a top-notch defensive line prospect who’s on the verge of breaking out.

Future with Bears

Goldman’s future with the Bears is up in the air. Obviously, Ryan Pace and the coaching staff see Goldman as a building block piece that could be a part of a dominant defense for the next 8 to 10 years. Unfortunately, Goldman needs to stay on the field. If Goldman continues to struggle with that issue, whether it be stamina or health, the Bears may have a tough decision to make after the 2018 season.

For now, the Bears will hope (and expect) that Goldman stays on the field and makes a major contribution and becomes the dominant disruptor the Bears feel he can be, not just for this season, but for several.

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