The Chicago Bears were believed to be among several NFL teams exploring a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders for Maxx Crosby before his stunning trade to the Baltimore Ravens. Chicago will now have to turn in a different direction to find defensive line help.
While there aren’t many players like Crosby in the NFL, Chicago will have other options in free agency. One of those options will be New Orleans Saints defensive lineman Cam Jordan, who is set to enter free agency for the first time in his career. Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen served as Jordan’s head coach and defensive coordinator for nearly all of Jordan’s time with the Saints, so Chicago has quickly been identified as a potential landing spot for the veteran defender.
While Jordan and Allen have a long history, their story in New Orleans didn’t end on the same page, so it’s no guarantee that the defensive lineman will be eager to reunite with the coordinator.
Dennis Allen could make Cam Jordan avoid the Bears, instead of attracting him
Jordan made six of his eight Pro Bowls when Allen was his defensive coordinator, and made another one when Allen was his head coach. The two experienced a lot of success together in New Orleans, so it’s understandable why it would seem like a reunion makes a ton of sense. It may not be that simple, though, considering how things went the last time they were together.
In 2024, before Allen was fired as head coach of the Saints, he decided to limit Jordan’s role, citing effectiveness. This resulted in the Saints legend having a down season, with many fans arguing that it was time for him to hang up the cleats. However, he responded in 2025 with one of his best seasons, recording 10.5 sacks, while only playing 54% of New Orleans’ defensive snaps.
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Jordan proved to Allen, and any other critics, that he’s productive at 36 years old, 15 years into his career. The Bears could certainly use that production, it’s just a matter of if the two want to be together again. This past season, when Chicago faced off against the Saints, the veteran defender made it clear that he didn’t hold any malice or negative feelings for his former coach. Free agency could reveal if that’s truly the case for both parties, and if they’re willing to reunite.