NFL Executives Say Bears Are Changing Defensive Strategy After Turnover Surge

The Chicago Bears didn’t stumble into their defensive identity last season. They leaned into it by aggressively creating turnovers.

But inside the league, there is a clear understanding of one thing. That level of turnover production -- an NFL-leading 33 -- is not something the Bears can count on repeating.

It's why Ryan Poles approached this offseason the way he did.

And according to Mike Sando of The Athletic, league executives see it the same way.

NFL Executives See the Bears’ Defensive Strategy Clearly

In Mike Sando’s survey of league executives evaluating NFC teams after free agency, one comment about the Bears stood above the rest.

“You cannot bank on that stuff,” an exec said of the turnovers. “They had to get better. They are banking on (corners) Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon being healthy. Coby Bryant is going to play in the post. Devin Bush is the athlete that they like. They will probably either (blitz) him or match him underneath. And then I’d be shocked if they do not continue to build the defensive front.”

It is the clearest snapshot of Chicago’s offseason approach.

Why Turnover Regression Matters for the Bears in 2026

Turnovers are one of the least predictable defensive stats. They swing from year to year more than almost anything else. And the Bears lost their top three turnover producers from 2025 this offseason.

Teams that lead the league rarely do it again, and the Chicago Bears know that.

Instead of expecting the same results, Ryan Poles has focused on building a defense that can consistently create pressure, win on early downs, and control games without relying on takeaways.

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That is a more sustainable approach, and it is why many NFL Draft analysts expect the Bears to invest in the defensive front in the first round.

How the Secondary Factors Into the Chicago Bears' Plan

Sando’s sources pointed directly to Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon as high-end starters, assuming both stay healthy.

When they are on the field together, Chicago has a true No. 1 corner in Johnson and a versatile playmaker in Gordon. That combination gives defensive coordinator Dennis Allen far more flexibility with coverage and pressure packages.

The bigger concern sits behind them.

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The departures of Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker left real questions at safety entering free agency. That is why Coby Bryant became a priority target.

“Good player. Wish we could have gotten him,” one executive told Sando.

Bryant steps in as an immediate starter and a key piece of the secondary. The spot next to him remains unsettled, though, and it would not be surprising if Ryan Poles addresses that position early in the draft, including at No. 25.

Where Devin Bush Fits the Bears' Defensive Identity

Devin Bush was not a splash signing, but league executives understand exactly why the Bears brought him in.

Based on Sando’s reporting, his role is already coming into focus. Chicago views him as a movable piece who can pressure the quarterback, operate in underneath coverage, and match up with today’s speed-based offenses.

Bush once entered the league as a blue-chip prospect expected to anchor a defense. Injuries derailed that trajectory in Pittsburgh, but his last two seasons in Cleveland showed a player who has rediscovered that form.

Bush totaled a career-high 123 tackles and three interceptions in 2025.

The Bears are banking on his best football still being ahead of him.

The Real Priority Still Has Not Changed for the Bears

The Chicago Bears are still expected to target a pass rusher early in the 2026 NFL Draft. It remains one of the few offseason priorities that has not been fully addressed.

Dayo Odeyingbo and Shemar Turner should return healthy and add competition. Both bring upside, but neither can be counted on as the answer opposite Montez Sweat.

Austin Booker could take a leap in Year 3, and right now, he is the most logical internal option to step into that role.

Still, the Bears are unlikely to leave it to chance. If a top edge rusher is on the board at No. 25, he will be in play. The same is true for an interior defensive lineman who can impact the pocket.

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That is where this comes full circle.

The most reliable way to create turnovers is by forcing the quarterback into mistakes. Pressure drives those opportunities.

If the Bears want to come close to last season’s takeaway total again, the pass rush has to be more consistent and more disruptive.

The Bears' Bottom Line

The Bears’ defense was one of the most exciting units in football last season. Takeaways fueled it, and no team generated more.

That production played a major role in Chicago’s breakout year.

But inside the building, there is no illusion about how difficult that is to repeat. Turnovers are volatile, and relying on them year after year is not sustainable.

If the Bears want to remain a playoff-caliber team, the defense has to evolve just like the offense did in 2025.

Ryan Poles has taken meaningful steps in that direction, but there is still more work to do.