Chicago Bears fans still can't believe the team somehow was able to select safety Dillon Thieneman in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Thieneman was a projected top-15 pick but fell to 25, as the Bears now view him as a Day 1 starter to work alongside free agent signing Coby Bryant in the starting lineup. There will be a learning curve for the rookie in defensive coordinator Dennis Allen's scheme. Bears assistant defensive backs and safeties coach Matt Giordano responded to a media question about Thieneman having that learning curve, but reminded reporters that he's not the only one who will deal with it.
"There's always learning, right? " Giordano said via Bears reporter Josh Buckhalter. "And that's the beauty about this game. So, he's gotta learn how to play in the box and play as a post player in the league. Rookies, and it doesn't matter if it's your first year to 10th year, you're always learning. He just needs to continue to learn one day at a time, learn the lessons each day, and just apply and move forward."
Dillon Thieneman has a lot to learn, but shows on tape he's ready for it
Last season with the Oregon Ducks, Thieneman racked up 92 tackles, five pass deflections, two interceptions, and one sack. He was an easy choice for first-team All-American in 2025.
Sure, there will be a learning curve, but when fans watch Thieneman's tape, he's clearly got all the skills to get the job done. He can drop back into coverage to break up passes and pick off the quarterback while also playing in the box to stop the run and pressure him as well.
Those were some of the things that Giordano saw on tape too that had him and the rest of the Bears' coaching staff excited to have him on the team.
"There's a lot, but the one thing that's stuck out to me is you can tell this guy loves football, and he plays the right way,' said Giordano. "Everything that he does is at 100 miles an hour. He's physical, he's trying to do things the right way."
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Thieneman's versatility will make him a weapon on this defense for a long time. The combination of him and Bryant made this a dream scenario for the Bears and their fan base.
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