Leading the NFL in takeaways covered up a lot of sins for the Chicago Bears' defense last season, and that can't be counted on to be repeated this season. On that note, an offseason effort was made to get younger, faster, and more athletic on that side of the ball. Incumbent players not having to learn Dennis Allen's scheme from the ground up should generally be helpful, too.
As professed by Allen and head coach Ben Johnson since the draft, the Bears are counting on a good bit of internal improvement for the defense heading toward the 2026 season. Comments from the two coaches focused on how the pass rush can improve by coaching up incumbent players, but the broader concept of internal improvement can apply to multiple situations.
While the Bears' run defense was highlighted for its struggles last season, finishing 27th, the pass defense was only marginally better, at 22nd. They also allowed the eighth-highest completion rate in the league, and 32 touchdown passes (fifth-most in the league.
The turnover of the starting safety duo this offseason should help the secondary. On the cornerback depth chart, the most notable moves were the loss of Nahshon Wright in free agency and the addition of fourth-round pick Malik Muhammad.
Otherwise, the most notable faces remain the same among the Bears' cornerbacks.
Two huge x-factors for Bears' defense in 2026 are hiding out in the open
In 2024, Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon were both top-15 graded cornerbacks by Pro Football Focus, with top-20 coverage grades at the position. Both earned run defense grades were above 76.0.
Last season, Johnson and Gordon combined to play 10 games. Johnson was able to suit up late in the season after missing significant time with a groin injury, but he was clearly operating in a diminished state. When it comes down to it, he wouldn't have been playing as much (or possibly at all) if better options were available.
Multiple lower-body injuries limited Gordon to just three games, and he was done for the season in early December. In his stead, the Bears struggled to field a viable slot corner.
Jacob Infante of Windy City Gridiron and Pro Football Network sees the two veteran cornerbacks as the biggest "additions" for the Bears' defense in 2026.
"I think the biggest additions the #Bears defense have in 2026 will be the return of a healthy Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon."
"The slot was a major weakness with Kyler out, and the perimeter coverage was wildly inconsistent. Jaylon has never been nearly as volatile as what they had outside in 2025."
"If those two stay healthy, it’ll be a major boost to Chicago’s defense. I have my pass-rush concerns, but it’ll become a lot less worrisome with a healthy secondary."
After tearing an adductor muscle off his pelvic bone in July, that Johnson even played last season was something. Gordon just couldn't shake a run of leg injuries, like a game of "Operation' (hamstring, calf/groin, then groin again).
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It's an obvious concept, but it has also fallen below the radar up to this point. If the Bears' best two cornerbacks can be healthy this season, and they can really only be healthier than they were last year, the secondary and defense as a whole should be noticeably better.
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