Dillon Thieneman’s admission about Bears fans

Dillon Thieneman played his regular-season debut during the Chicago Bears’ first win on Sunday. He received ample opportunities from Ben Johnson against the Carolina Panthers, allowing him to showcase his talents. The rookie safety experienced the atmosphere of an NFL game for the first time. He also shared his reaction to seeing his team’s fans at Bank of America Stadium.

Thieneman played a solid game and left a good impression on Johnson and his coaching staff. He recorded eight tackles, including six solo efforts in the 59-37 win. The No. 25 overall pick of this year’s draft added one pass deflection and one quarterback pressure. He stepped up in Coby Bryant’s absence, who is set to miss four to six months after undergoing knee surgery.

Dillon Thieneman, Chicago Bears — Chicago Bears defensive back Dillon Thieneman (31) speaks during Rookie Minicamp at Halas Hall.

Dillon Thieneman reacts to seeing Bears fans at Panthers’ home stadium

Thieneman saw firsthand how much Chicago fans support their team. They traveled to Sunday’s venue to cheer on the Bears, making the players feel like they’re at Soldier Field. He also talked about seeing them when the team left their hotel.

“It’s so awesome (as) the Bears were traveling,” Thieneman said. “We’d rip off a huge play and they’d be cheering and it just don’t feel like an away kind of crowd. That was awesome.”

I asked #Bears rookie Dillon Thieneman about the amount of Bears fans in Charlotte for the game: pic.twitter.com/HHxGSz0Dd1

— Zack Pearson (@Zack_Pearson) September 14, 2026

He also talked about seeing them when the team left their hotel.

“It threw me off a little bit,” Thieneman said. “I didn’t think there would be that many people there for that.”

The 22-year-old will have more chances to shine in the Bears’ upcoming games. They will have a three-game homestand starting in Week 2 on Sunday versus the Minnesota Vikings. The team will then face the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Jets. Fans will likely pack the home venue to will the team to more victories and start the campaign stronger. A pair of away games follow, with a matchup with the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons.