One of the least surprising picks of the 2026 NFL Draft was the Chicago Bears taking a center, but they got Iowa Hawkeyes' Logan Jones in the second round, which excited everyone.
Jones had an excellent college career in Iowa, winning the Rimington Trophy as the best center in the nation last year, among many accolades. The newest Bear spoke about how his former college head coach, Kirk Ferentz, and the rest of the staff helped him in preparing to be an NFL player.
"Yeah, Coach Ferentz and Coach Barnett, they prioritize offensive line play," Jones said via Bears On SI. "You know, Coach Ferentz he used to coach offensive line for a long time and really thinks it's important. You look at the guys that have come through there and I was fortunate to play there, right? I just think the way they go about their business. It's like an NFL organization, and Coach Ferentz coached in the NFL, too, so that's where he got it from. Just very professional in your approach to everything you do, the way you practice. It was never as much about the on the field stuff, but the off the field stuff and how you handle your business and your approach."
Bears are getting a pro ready center in Logan Jones
Buzz around Jones during the offseason grew after a career in which he was selected as an All-Big Ten member multiple times and, of course, won the Rimington Trophy. It was his 4.9-second 40-yard dash run at the NFL Combine that really put him in the driver's seat as the top center in the draft.
Iowa has been notorious for producing great offensive linemen, even though it's better known as a running team. Among those that came from the Hawkeyes, though, Jones has the potential to become the best of them all.
Many believe that Garrett Bradbury will be the starting center for the 2026 season, since he's only got one more year on his contract and the team traded for him in the offseason after Drew Dalman's surprising retirement. Jones might be good enough, though, to challenge Bradbury early and could overtake him for the job.
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It might be a closer battle in training camp than some Bears fans expect, but Jones is an elite talent who might be ready for the spotlight thanks to what Iowa did to help him for this moment.
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