The Chicago Bears led the NFL with 33 takeaways last season.
That's typically a statistic that is tough to repeat, but the 2026 Chicago Bears are already moving faster now than they were last season. Through the first three games of the 2026 NFL season, the Bears have generated six total turnovers, tied for the third-most.
In the 2025 season, the Bears had just five total takeaways after matchups against the Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions, and Dallas Cowboys.
How the Bears' defense is generating turnovers at a high rate again
Against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football, the Bears forced three takeaways. Defensive end Austin Booker forced a fumble with 1:15 left in the first quarter, knocking the football out of running back Tank Bigsby’s arm. Veteran safety Xavier Woods recovered.
Rookie safety Dillon Thieneman intercepted backup quarterback Andy Dalton with 6:21 left in the first half. The Eagles drove the length of the field on a 12-play, 95-yard drive before Thieneman’s takeaway kept Philadelphia off the board.
Former Eagles linebacker T.J. Edwards intercepted quarterback Jalen Hurts with 37 seconds left in the third quarter. Hurts tried to target his go-to receiver, DeVonta Smith, but the veteran linebacker dropped back into coverage and easily broke up the pass.
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson emphasized the importance of takeaways in his postgame press conference, calling them “huge” for the team. Johnson even highlighted how defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s unit has played “outstanding football” over the last two games, including the 9-3 loss to the Vikings.
After the game, Johnson handed Allen one of the two game balls. The veteran defensive coordinator completely shut down the Eagles’ offense in the second half, forcing three punts, an interception, and a turnover on downs.
It’s the takeaways, though, that can truly become a difference-maker for this Bears team. The Bears capitalized on two takeaways on Monday Night Football, scoring 10 points in a 27-7 win over the Eagles. In the 59-37 win over the Panthers, the Bears scored a touchdown after forcing a fumble in the fourth quarter.
The 2025 Bears were defined by the takeaways they created and lacked much of an identity beyond those game-changing plays. Obviously, the defense performed well last season, but other areas needed to impact the game. The 2026 version of Allen's defense has an opportunity not only to become one of the best teams at creating takeaways but also to finish as a more well-rounded unit.
Read more: Ryan Poles might be proving to Bears fans that he was right about defensive line
Allen's defense has found its rhythm over the past two weeks, and it must continue for the team to succeed in 2026.
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