Bears’ under-the-radar signing could replace $44 million starter

The Chicago Bears‘ defense was definitely a major source of contention last season, and it also faces some pretty serious questions heading into 2026.

The Bears still lack a definitive pass rush outside of Montez Sweat, their cornerback room is a mess and the interior of their defensive line could pose significant problems, especially given how much of a disappointment Grady Jarrett was in 2025.

Gervon Dexter is probably safe as a starter at defensive tackle, but Jarrett’s job could be in jeopardy.

Jarrett signed a three-year, $43.5 million contract with Chicago in March 2025, a deal that was heavily scrutinized at the time given that he appeared to be a declining player. Those fears were proven true in Jarrett’s debut campaign with the Bears, as he logged 39 tackles and 1.5 sacks while managing 44.5 run defense grade at Pro Football Focus.

The Bears didn’t add any significant pieces in the trenches this offseason, but they did bring in one name who could push Jarrett for his role: Neville Gallimore.

Neville Gallimore could earn big playing time for Chicago Bears

Chicago inked Gallimore on a two-year, $10 million pact in free agency, so clearly, the Bears think he could make a real impact in 2026.

Gallimore spent the 2025 campaign with the Indianapolis Colts, registering 38 tackles and 3.5 sacks. His numbers were very similar to Jarrett’s overall, and it’s not like the 29-year-old has ever been the stoutest run defender in the world.

However, because Jarrett labored so much last season, a world does exist in which Gallimore could steal some of his snaps.

Gallimore is now on his fourth NFL team, also having spent time with the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams. He has been a pretty steady contributor throughout his career, and while he has never been spectacular, he has at least been a reliable rotational piece.

It’s fairly evident that Jarrett is no longer the same player, but outside of his bloated salary, there is no reason to assume that he is guaranteed to see 68 percent of the Bears’ defensive snaps yet again. That number could dip, and Gallimore could be the one to capitalize.

Of course, we’ll have to see how Gallimore performs in training camp.

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