After the Chicago Bears’ 2024 season came to an end, it was clear the team needed to make some significant upgrades.
The organization followed through with those upgrades, starting with hiring Ben Johnson as the team's head coach. From there, the coaching staff has undergone some much-needed additions along with the overall roster through free agency and the draft.
For the players to reach their full potential, a lot of responsibility will fall on this new coaching staff. Although every single one of these new coaches will face plenty of pressure this upcoming season, there is one assistant who will feel more than his peers: defensive line coach Jeremy Garrett.
Why Garrett is under the most pressure
Last season, the Bears finished with 40 total sacks – tied for 16th in the NFL. Montez Sweat had a down season but still led the team with 5.5 sacks. Gervon Dexter Sr. was just behind with five sacks, and then T.J. Edwards had the third-most with four.
It's not ideal to have an off-the-ball linebacker finish with the third-most sacks, so the defensive line must show significant improvement under Garrett's guidance. Prior to joining the Bears, Garrett was the defensive line coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2024. Defensive end Travon Walker led the team with 10.5 sacks and Josh Hines-Allen was second with eight sacks. Even though the Jaguars only finished with 34 total sacks, the defensive linemen accounted for 29 of them.
If Garrett can help elevate Sweat and Dayo Odeyingbo to finish with similar numbers to Walker and Hines-Allen, that will be the type of production the Bears need from their starting defensive ends.
Every single one of these Bears coaches will feel pressure this upcoming season. However, Garrett has the unit with the most to prove when compared to the other position groups.
Odeyingbo signed a three-year, $48 million contract after coming off of his fourth season in Indianapolis that ended with just three sacks. He had a career high eight sacks in 2023.
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Sweat must prove he can bounce back from a down year. Dexter started last season with four sacks in the first five weeks, but had just one in his previous 10 games played. Andrew Billings is coming off a season-ending torn pectoral muscle. Grady Jarrett, who just turned 32, is now on a team after spending his first 10 seasons in Atlanta. And rookie Shemar Turner will have to find his footing in his first NFL season.
All those players also need to learn Allen's scheme, which will include a lot of moving pieces and ask the members of the D-line to play from different alignments and stances. Garrett's job won't be easy, but if he can maximize the potential of his unit, the defensive line has an opportunity to elevate the entire Bears defense.