LAKE FOREST, Ill., — A priority for the Chicago Bears on the defensive side of the ball this offseason was finding players who could fit Dennis Allen's scheme, allowing the entire unit to take a step forward with the right talent at each position.
The Bears made the safety position a clear priority, signing veteran Coby Bryant in free agency to a three-year, $40M deal during the opening hours of free agency. Nearly six weeks later, the front office would spend the 25th overall selection on Dillon Thieneman (Oregon) to bolster the safety room.
Two of the newest faces in Chicago's revamped secondary, the Bears expect big results from Bryant and Thieneman. Heading into the 2026 season, one of the major storylines will be how Chicago's new safety duo performs.
For a defense that loves versatility, Thieneman and Bryant have the potential to complement each other flawlessly. While the base coverage on defense will be Cover 2, adding two versatile options in Thieneman and Bryant provides opportunities to alternate into single high looks after the snap.
Part of the process for both players this offseason will be honing in on details and fundamentals, two factors that the Bears believe will have a major impact on the team in 2026.
"I think it's really important just go into the details," said Thieneman. "Like you'll learn a whole new scheme, so start from the very bottom, just teaching everything a little bit, little by little. And then just keep building from there. So I think they're doing a really good job."
Honing in on the details will also include Bryant and Thieneman learning to communicate with each other and the rest of the defense. In a scheme that requires the safety position to be in consistent communication with the first and second level, the Bears are banking on both players being transcendent enough to elevate the defense, making the job of cornerbacks and linebackers much easier.
"Once you get on the field, start making calls, start like asking questions, working with him [Coby Bryant], and then we'll kind of get on the same page, and it's almost like once you get to a certain level, you almost like don't have to talk because you're thinking about the same thing," said Thieneman.
Beyond just Bryant's ability to play all over the field, the Bears also view Thieneman's experience in college as a major plus when assessing how he can help the defense.
"He can play down, he can play the post," said Ben Johnson. "Oregon played him as more the Tampa middle-read player quite a bit, which showcased his playmaking ability. He has a nose for the football. But to your point, I think the thing that you see is when the ball's in the air, he's got fantastic acceleration to get to that catch point. And then when he gets there, he arrives with some violent intentions."
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