The Chicago Bears' linebacker position is in such a fascinating place that no fan knows how they might look in the 2026 season.
Last year, the unit pretty much saw everyone get hurt, so there was a wave of players who got to make starts and play. Out of that came many good players who can give the Bears some much-needed depth.
In the offseason, the Bears got rid of Tremaine Edmunds and replaced him with Devin Bush, while making sure to bring back D'Marco Jackson. Another Bears linebacker is getting overlooked and could be a contributor on the defense in 2026.
Don't forget about Noah Sewell and what he can do for this Bears defense
Last season, Sewell had a career year, starting nine of the 13 games he appeared in, racking up 59 tackles, three tackles for loss, and one forced fumble. He did suffer an Achilles injury in the Week 17 loss to the San Francisco 49ers that cost him the rest of the season.
Even coming off the injury, Sewell feels like he is starting to hit his stride as a defender. He played the run well last season, earning a 70.5 run defense grade from Pro Football Focus. Sewell was also used as a blitzer in passing situations, as he got three pressures.
Where Sewell struggled in 2025 was dropping back into coverage for passes. He got a PFF pass coverage grade of 29.3 after allowing a passer rating of 133.5, the fourth-highest in the league.
The Bears might have to use Sewell in different situations, but he is too good and instinctive a tackler to just leave on the bench. He should be able to get more involved in the rotation in 2026 with T.J. Edwards, Bush, and Jackson there as well.
Sewell can also play a major role on special teams, where he has done well in the two seasons before last year. His role could be bigger on special teams, and he has a chance to be even better than he has been.
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This is going to be an interesting 2026 season at linebacker to see who can emerge and stay consistent from their good play last year. Jackson might have a lot of attention, but no one should sleep on the kind of impact that Sewell can have on this defense.
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