The appointment of first-time head coach Ben Johnson brought immediate success for the Chicago Bears, who won their first NFC North title since 2018 and showed fans the potential of second-year quarterback Caleb Williams, who was highly touted coming out of college.
After a disappointing overtime loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional round, Johnson is looking to reinforce his roster for another run in a tough NFC division. A glaring need is the defensive line, which produced inconsistent pressure and struggled massively against the run.
In search of a solution, defensive coordinator Dennis Allen could consider reuniting with a familiar pass rusher by bringing in veteran Cameron Jordan, who is expected to be a free agent for the first time in his career.
Eight-time Pro-Bowl DE Cameron Jordan, who has spent his 15-year career in New Orleans and had 10.5 sacks last season, will not have a new deal in place with New Orleans by next week and now will hit free agency for the first time in his NFL career, per sources. Jordan will play… pic.twitter.com/r5Q9sfk3am
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 5, 2026
Veteran Jordan could mentor Bears’ young defensive core
Jordan will be entering his 16th season, but age has not slowed him down. In 2025, the eight-time Pro Bowler recorded 10.5 sacks, 32 solo tackles and 15 tackles for losses, playing in all 17 games, continuing to be as productive a pass rusher as he is at setting the edge in the run game.
Before his firing as head coach of the Saints in 2024, Jordan was the anchor of Allen’s defenses and could be a veteran piece brought in to mentor the Bears’ young core while also improving the defensive line overall.
Jordan also represents a cost-effective option for the team.
Throughout the offseason, the Bears have been heavily linked to pass rusher Maxx Crosby if the Las Vegas Raiders choose to move him. Highly touted as one of the league's premier pass rushers, a Crosby trade would likely demand multiple first-round picks and players on top of taking on the rest of his $106.5 million contract.
Meanwhile, the Bears have cleared a bunch of cap room this week, with Drew Dalman retiring and DJ Moore traded. We'd mentioned earlier that they've shown some interest in Tyler Linderbaum and Maxx Crosby. Stay tuned.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 5, 2026
While the move would immediately improve the defensive line, the gutting of assets seems like a tough decision for a young head coach like Johnson to make, who is still building the team in his vision.
The signing of Jordan would give the Bears a proven veteran presence and immediate boost to their pass-rush as they aim to make another deep playoff run next season.