Latest news with #GradyJarrett
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bears' Grady Jarrett: 'I just gotta go out there and be my best self'
Chicago Bears defensive tackle Grady Jarrett spoke to the press on Tuesday at Halas Hall before he starts his first season. Jarrett spoke on his expectations for himself, how he will support the team, how he has been communicating with Caleb Williams, and how he has been working with the coaching staff.
Associated Press
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Bears defense opens training camp by picking on QB Caleb Williams and the offense
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams fired his first pass of training camp in Wednesday's scrimmage directly to Tremaine Edmunds and the veteran middle linebacker took the interception up the field. This was how coach Ben Johnson's era unfolded on Day 1 of practices. For the other side of the football it was much different as the Bears defense under coordinator Dennis Allen seemed to pick up where they left off in their offseason work, even without injured cornerback Jaylon Johnson. 'I thought today, for the first day out there, was pretty good,' Allen said. 'I thought the retention from what we did in spring to what we saw out there today, I was pleased with what I saw there. And yet we still have a long way to go. We're going to keep working every day, continue to battle, and continue to improve and get this defense better.' Allen has installed a defense along the lines of those he had in New Orleans as head coach and coordinator, with an emphasis on attacking and playing more man-to-man coverage. One key to restoring a defense that dropped last season to 27th in yards allowed will be getting their run defense back to the level they had in 2023 when they led the league. From that end, the addition of defensive tackle Grady Jarrett seems critical. 'His vocal leadership's been awesome,' linebacker T.J. Edwards said. 'He's a guy who's been doing that since OTAs, been here every day locked in and ready to go. 'An older guy (32), but you can see it when he's out there. He's got so much juice in him and he's just ready to go.' After 10 years with Atlanta and seeing Allen's defenses against the Falcons twice a season, Jarrett anticipated the attacking emphasis they're using. 'The grittiness, the attention to detail, the knowledge of knowing what everybody should be doing from front to back and how it all works together and communicating to us, as a defense, what his expectations are on a daily basis have all been something that I've been appreciating,' Jarrett said. 'It definitely is going to make us all better and he is definitely somebody who's as hungry as ever just to go out there and compete and play football and he has some players that's ready to go out there and hunt for him.' Johnson, a Pro Bowl cornerback the past two seasons, normally would be replaced by Terell Smith. However, Smith suffered a soft-tissue injury during OTAs and is still out. Instead, he was replaced by veteran roster pickup Nahshon Wright to start camp. The Bears also added speedy cornerback Zah Frazier in the draft, and their secondary could be one of the team's strongest position groups once they adjust to playing less zone. Allen says it doesn't hurt having a 6-foot-5 linebacker manning the middle regardless of coverage emphasis, as Edmunds showed in Wednesday's practice. 'I'm anticipating him being an exceptional playmaker for us,' Allen said. 'He's got size. He's got range. He's got speed, a lot of the things we're going to look for in terms of — look, it's hard to throw over him. He's got length in the middle of the field.' It could be Allen who supplies the extra edge the defense needs to bounce back. He had the defense doing exhausting up-downs in individual work on Wednesday, a drill normally associated with lower levels of football. 'It took me back to like seventh, eighth grade a little bit,' Edwards admitted. It was an extra bit of unanticipated 'fun' for the defense on a 95-degree day. 'It's all part of building the culture of what type of defense we're going to be,' Allen said. 'You have to pay the toll. You have to pay the price. It's a privilege to be on this defense. 'We've been doing that on every defense that I've been associated with since 2009. And it's a way to mentally train players to be tough and push through adversity. Training camp is going to be difficult, and we have to be able to overcome when we're tired.' ___ AP NFL:
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bears hit for ‘awful value' signing in free agency
The post Bears hit for 'awful value' signing in free agency appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Chicago Bears made several notable moves in the 2025 NFL free agency period, including signing longtime Atlanta Falcons star Grady Jarrett. While signing Jarrett made headlines, it was an 'awful value' signing, according to ESPN's Seth Walder. Advertisement The Bears gave Jarrett a three-year, $43.5 million contract shortly after his release from the Falcons. The deal keeps him under contract through his age-34 season, making it a poor decision, according to Walder. 'On the flip side, the Jarrett deal was awful value,' Walder wrote. 'They gave him a three-year contract averaging $14.25 million with $28.4 million fully guaranteed, per Roster Management System. That includes a full guarantee on his 2026 base salary when Jarrett, who has been steadily declining, will be 33. Jarrett's pass rush win rate at defensive tackle has dropped every season from 2019 (22%) to 2024 (9%), and he suffered a torn ACL in 2023.' Bears fans were initially split on the signing, with some appreciating the value Jarrett added to the team's defensive front, while others disliked his contract. Chicago ranked as one of the bottom-10 run defenses in 2024, emphasizing its need to add defensive size in the offseason. Once known as an elite interior pass-rusher, Jarrett has just four total sacks in the last two seasons. He played just eight games in 2023 due to a torn ACL, but returned for all 17 games in 2024. Advertisement Bears hope Grady Jarrett improves defense in 2025 Dale Zanine-Imagn Images The Bears took a notable offensive focus in the 2025 offseason, driven by their clear intent to build around Caleb Williams. From their hiring of Ben Johnson as head coach to selecting Colston Loveland and Luther Burden II early in the 2025 NFL Draft, most of the team's moves were clearly with Williams in mind. However, the Bears also made several key defensive adjustments, particularly in free agency. In addition to Jarrett, Chicago also signed Dayo Odeyingbo and Nick McCloud. They later added rookies Shemar Turner, Ruben Hyppolite II and Zah Frazier in the draft. Advertisement The Bears went just 5-12 in 2024, but are one of the top up-and-coming teams to monitor for the second consecutive season. Opinions on the Jarrett signing may vary, but their offseason otherwise went according to plan, giving them reasonably high expectations for the 2025 season. Related: 2 sneaky Chicago Bears trade candidates entering 2025 training camp
New York Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Jaylon Johnson, Montez Sweat, Grady Jarrett lead experienced Chicago Bears defense into camp
When the Chicago Bears hit the field for training camp this week, a lot of the names on defense and special teams will be the same. That should be a good thing. Despite the struggles in the second half of the season, the Bears still finished 12th in the league in defensive EPA (expected points added) per snap in 2024, according to TruMedia. They return nearly every starter, and added two-time Pro Bowl player Grady Jarrett at defensive tackle, ascending defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo and second-rounder Shemar Turner. Advertisement Safety Jaquan Brisker returns. Defensive end Montez Sweat wants to forget about last season. There's a lot to like about the defensive roster, and then you add a veteran defensive play caller in Dennis Allen, and this group should be loud and active during summer practices. What Allen, head coach Ben Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles will want to see is which young players can step up. Here's Part II of our look at the Bears' roster: defense and special teams. Montez Sweat — Asked about attending OTAs, Sweat said in May, 'Coming off a disappointing year, I thought it was important to be here.' He knows 2024 wasn't up to his standards. He wasn't healthy, either. How much can that motivation help get Sweat back to his '23 production? Dayo Odeyingbo — A lot hinges on Odeyingbo. He secured a substantial contract and had no one to compete with as Sweat's complement. He has got the size and the wiring to be successful. Dominique Robinson — Having been active for only six games last season, and entering Year 4 with two career sacks, Robinson should be a 'bubble' player. However, he had an impressive spring. Keep an eye on him for the No. 3 role. Austin Booker — Last preseason, he had 2 1/2 sacks and four QB hits. That didn't translate to a standout rookie year (1 1/2 sacks), but he's in line for the good ol' Year 2 bump. Daniel Hardy — The preseason league leader in sacks (3 1/2), Hardy blocked a punt and forced a fumble on special teams in 2024. Jamree Kromah — The James Madison product had two QB hits last preseason. Jereme Robinson — He had 5 1/2 sacks last year at Kansas and will be among those vying for practice-squad spots. Xavier Carlton — Fans are going to notice Carlton at Halas Hall. Why? He's nearly 6 foot 6 with 34 5/8-inch arms. Now we'll see what that means on the field. Grady Jarrett — Fans might hear Jarrett more often than they see the 6-1 Pro Bowl player. He's going to have a massive impact in the locker room and make everything easier for his linemates. And it wouldn't be a surprise to see him mix it up during practices. Gervon Dexter — It might be easy to forget that Dexter led the team in QB hits last season. Put him in a new scheme with better players around him, and what's his ceiling? Advertisement Shemar Turner — There's no doubting Turner loves the game. He should be a fun player to watch, given his personality and versatility. Andrew Billings — The veteran should have less pressure to perform this season because of the added depth, but he's still a stalwart. Chris Williams — He has the 24th-highest cap hit, which might not be reflected in his snap counts, but Williams had a career year and can be a valuable rotational player. Zacch Pickens — Could the third-rounder be the odd man out? Injuries have hampered him, and a bunch of players are in front of him on the depth chart. It's a crucial summer for Pickens. Jonathan Ford — In his first game as a Bear, Ford had a pair of tackles for loss. He is the largest (6-5, 346 pounds) player on the Bears. Tremaine Edmunds — Few Bears elicited more disappointment from fans last season than Edmunds. It's a new scheme, a better line in front of him, and he's still only 27. T.J. Edwards — He had quite the spring: a new contract, another Piccolo Award. He, too, can benefit from what Allen's defense does for linebackers. Ruben Hyppolite II — His speed helped get him drafted. His maturity and professionalism are already winning over the coaches. Noah Sewell — If he can avoid a training camp injury, don't be shocked if Sewell wins the strongside linebacker spot. He had a solid spring. Amen Ogbongbemiga — Special teams stalwart returns to lead Richard Hightower's coverage units. Carl Jones — Will vie once again for preseason leader in tackles (18 last summer). Power Echols — Dane Brugler's 32nd-ranked linebacker, Echols has the second-best name among the linebackers. Swayze Bozeman — Best name in the linebackers room. Jaylon Johnson — He's now a two-time Pro Bowl player, but Johnson still will surely note which corners rank ahead of him on summer lists, and he is still seeking a playoff win. Now he gets to follow the opponent's top receiver, too. Kyler Gordon — 'Spider-Man' received a well-deserved contract extension. Next up? A Pro Bowl. Staying on the field for a full season will help. Advertisement Tyrique Stevenson — There's a significant variance for Stevenson, who will want to do everything he can not to be defined by last season. He has the makings of a corner who can thrive under Allen and defensive backs coach Al Harris. Can he be consistent? Josh Blackwell — A valuable player on special teams and as the backup nickel, Blackwell has proven to be one of Poles' best finds. Terell Smith — Can Smith stay healthy? It's been the one knock on his career because when he's on the field, he impresses his coaches. Zah Frazier — A 6-3 cornerback will attract some eyeballs at training camp. We didn't get to see Frazier in the spring, and soon we'll see if he's providing a glimpse into the future at the position. Nick McCloud — Fun fact: McCloud led the NFL in 2023 with three fumble recoveries on special teams. Shaun Wade — A Ravens fifth-rounder, Wade hasn't played in a game since 2023. Nahshon Wright — A Cowboys third-rounder in 2021, Wright played in one game last season. At 6-4, the size is intriguing. Ameer Speed — A Patriots sixth-rounder, Speed played in two games for the Bears last season. Jeremiah Walker — He's the team's most recent signee, having joined the Bears in May. Jaquan Brisker — One of the major storylines of camp will be Brisker's return. He's motivated and is going to be loud. He wants to prove himself to everyone. That could work out well for the secondary — if he stays healthy. Kevin Byard — The NFL stopped tracking 'ironmen' stats, but Byard would be on the list. The only 'game' he's missed in his career was due to having two byes after getting traded in 2023. Jonathan Owens — An undrafted player from Missouri Western State, who appeared in 14 games his first three seasons, could have easily been churned out of the league. Instead, he's rattled off three consecutive 17-game seasons and is a core special-teams player. Advertisement Elijah Hicks — The 2022 seventh-round pick has a lot of game experience, but he will have to fend off the undrafted rookies. Tarvarius Moore — You might have lost the bet if you took the under on games played for Moore in 2024. He played in 11 and brings plenty of special-teams experience. Major Burns — The best name in the secondary, Burns might have the best shot of an undrafted rookie to make the team. Tysheem Johnson — Or Johnson is best equipped to make the 53 with his versatility after a productive career at Oregon. Alex Cook — Cook was Gordon's college teammate. Cook didn't play in a game last season. Cairo Santos — It's not easy to kick at Soldier Field. Santos knows how to handle it. He missed only one extra point last season. Maybe he can't hit a 60-yarder, but Santos is 19 for 22 from 50-plus since 2022. Tory Taylor — He set franchise records as a rookie and should only continue to be a weapon. Scott Daly — The Downers Grove native stepped in nicely as the long snapper last season, replacing the previous longest-tenured player (Patrick Scales). Jonathan Kim — Could we have a kicking competition this summer, or will Kim be the Bears' emergency option throughout the season? Luke Elkin — How fun would a long snapping battle be? More likely, Elkin allows the Bears to let both kickers get their reps in. (Top photo of Montez Sweat, left, and Jaylon Johnson: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)
USA Today
13-07-2025
- Business
- USA Today
30 Most Important Bears of 2025: Grady Jarrett (No. 17)
The Chicago Bears are gearing up for an exciting 2025 NFL season, which features some new faces within the organization poised to get the franchise back to its winning ways. That starts with the hiring of Ben Johnson as head coach, as well as overhauling the interior offensive line, adding pieces on defense and a potenital impactful rookie draft class. Every day from now right up through training camp, we're counting down our 30 Most Important Bears for the 2025 season. We'll recap their 2024 season, look ahead to 2025 and tackle the biggest question facing them this year. Next up at No. 17 is defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, who will serve a key role along the defensive interior and as a leader. Background Position: Defensive tackle Age: 32 Experience: 11th season 2025 cap hit: $7 million 2024 recap Grady Jarrett played his first 10 seasons with the Atlanta Falcons after being selected in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL draft. During his career, Jarrett has been a model of consistency, production, hard work and leadership. He's also overcome his share of adversity, including suffering a season-ending knee injury that cut his 2023 season way short. Jarrett made his return to the gridiron in 2024, and he once again showed why he's a vital member of that Falcons defensive line, even if he wasn't as dominant as he was before his ACL injury. Last season, Jarrett started in all 17 games and totaled 53 tackles, including nine tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and 12 QB hits. Jarrett was a surprising roster cut just ahead of free agency, and he was well-respected and beloved by coaches and teammates. But ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported the Falcons offered a new deal to Jarrett to keep him in Atlanta, but Jarrett opted to test the free agent market. The Falcons ultimately saved $16 million in salary cap space. 2025 outlook Shortly after Jarrett was released by the Falcons, the Bears wasted no time signing him to a three-year, $43.5 million deal to anchor the interior defensive line. Jarrett comes to Chicago with a wealth of knowledge and experience that will make him a vital mentor for young players, including Gervon Dexter Sr., as well as his proven track record as a run defender and interior pass rusher. Jarrett was the first addition for new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, who witnessed Jarrett up close during his time with the New Orleans Saints and played the Falcons twice a year. Jarrett is expected to start along the interior, alongside Dexter, to anchor a defensive line that will be key to the defense's success. While Dexter had a down year in 2024, coming off a torn ACL, another year of rest and rehab on that knee should have the soon-to-be 32-year old veteran primed to contribute in a big way in 2025. Big question: What will be Jarrett's impact on defense? The Bears committed significant resources to an aging veteran defensive tackle who's less than two years removed from a torn ACL, so they're banking on an impact -- both production-wise and from a leadership standpoint. Jarrett is a former All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler that figures to be a valuable contributor in Dennis Allen's aggressive defense. Jarrett developed into one of the game's best interior defenders, and Chicago needs that along their defensive line. He's expected to start along the interior with third-year pro Gervon Dexter Sr. with Andrew Billings rotating in. While Jarrett has proven himself as a dominant run defender and interior pass rusher -- something the Bears hope translates -- his value as a leader is just as important. The Bears have some young players along the defensive line, including Dexter, Dayo Odeyingbo, Austin Booker and rookie Shemar Turner, and Jarrett will be key to their continued development. 30 Most Important Bears of 2025 Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
