5 takeaways from the Bears impressive victory over the Seahawks

The Chicago Bears special teams unit might be special again

While the Bears will always be known for defense, they also have a pretty great history in the all-important third phase of football, special teams. Devin Hester is the player that immediately comes to mind when discussing this topic, as he is the most dynamic return specialist in league history. However, the team also has a strong history of limiting the opponent’s field position through strong kick coverage units and has often placed a premium on players who are skilled in the third phase.

Their decision to sign Richard Hightower for the special teams coach vacancy this offseason flew well under the radar, but it could be one of their better moves in hindsight. He spent the previous four years in San Francisco, where he helped the 49ers’ special teams unit become one of the best in the league.

The Bears have high hopes for Velus Jones Jr. on the offensive side of the ball, but it might take him some time to develop into the player they hope he will become. However, he has a chance to be a game changer right out of the gate in the return game and already flashed potential with an electric 48-yard return against the Seahawks. Jones has everything teams covet from their return specialists and is only 24 years old (which is only significant because of how insignificant it is) to boot.

Speaking of booting, the Chicago Bears rookie punter Trenton Gill, whom the team selected in the seventh round, has already shown that he can be a potential field position weapon for Chicago, as he routinely pinned the Chiefs and Seahawks deep in their territory.

Finally, the team already possessed a solid group of special teamers, and a few new additions to the room have already made impressive plays in the kick coverage game this preseason. Elijah Hicks, another seventh-round selection, recovered a muffed punt for a touchdown against the Seahawks, and undrafted free agent Jack Sanborn has been heavily active on special teams in both contests.