Grady Jarrett knows exactly what his assignment is in Year 2 with Bears

In 2025 free agency, the Chicago Bears made a couple of big investments in their defensive line. Neither looks very good one season in, though, due to a mix of injury and underachievement in both cases. The greatest evidence of how much Grady Jarrett and Dayo Odeyingbo fell short is how much of a need the defensive line once again was for the Bears this offseason.

After Jarrett was cut by the Atlanta Falcons in March of 2025, the Bears quickly signed him to a three-year, $43.5 million contract that put him above the proverbial "fold" on lists of the league's highest-paid defensive tackles.

With 1.5 sacks and 39 total tackles last season, along with a Pro Football Focus run defense grade that was outside the top-100 at his position, the Bears did not get anywhere close to what they were hoping for from Jarrett. Frankly, the Falcons look very smart for cutting him after they'd seen some decline in his play.

Now, moving toward his age-33 season, it's worth wondering how much Jarrett truly has left in the tank. He did miss three games early last season due to a knee injury, and it's fair to wonder if he was ever close to fully healthy after that.

Still, the Bears need more from Jarrett this season and he knows it.

Grady Jarrett knows his assignment for 2026

Jarrett spoke to reporters after Thursday's OTA practice. He was asked how much the knee injury hampered him last year, and what he could do in terms of more proactive maintenance to make sure he's at his best on Sundays.

The quick move to sign with the Bears apparently left Jarrett unable to slow down a little, and the missed games due to the injury kind of forced him to do so.

Jarrett talked about that lesson regarding managing his body, which, to be fair, is one most football players have to learn and re-learn as their careers progress.

"I just gotta be smart, listen to my body more", Jarrett said. "It ain't a lack of putting in work, I can tell you that. So maybe it's pulling back here, doing this, or just doing some things different. Obviously, I'm (a) 33-year old now.."

Then Jarrett delivered a punch line that Bears fans, along with his teammates, the coaching staff, and the front office, are glad to hear.

"It's exciting to be feeling a lot better this year. I know that I owe Chicago a better year, and I'm excited to go do that."

Better health should go a long way to helping Jarrett play better this season. He also played 68 percent of the defensive snaps in the games he played last season, which seems to be a little more than ideal. The additions of Neville Gallimore in free agency and Jordan van den Berg in the draft should help keep him fresher and foster better play.

However it comes together, Jarrett knows he needs a strong rebound campaign in 2026 if he wants to see out the final year of his Bears contract.

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