Looking to build upon a promising first year of the Ben Johnson era, the Chicago Bears have selected safety Dillon Theineman from the University of Oregon with the 25th pick in this year’s NFL draft.
According to ESPN, Thieneman made 15 starts for the Oregon Ducks last year, recording 92 tackles and two interceptions on his way to receiving first-team All-American honors and helping the Ducks reach the semi-finals of the college football playoffs.
Thieneman transferred to Oregon in 2025, having begun his collegiate career with Purdue University, where he was named conference Freshman of the year in his first season with the Boilermakers.
Coming into the draft, safety had been highlighted as a key position of need for the Bears after losing veterans Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker in free agency.
Thienemen will pair with the other newly acquired safety, Coby Bryant, whom the Bears picked up from the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks earlier this offseason.
Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen is known to use schemes that highlight athletic, ball-hawking safeties, seeing the two new players as the backbone of a secondary, along with Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordan, that hopes to anchor an improved Bears defense.
The organization is coming off a series of highly successful drafts under general manager Ryan Poles that have seen them bring in a core of young talent, including Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze, Colston Loveland, and Darnell Wright, among others. The organization will be hoping Thieneman can hit the ground running in a similar fashion, with the safety expected to start right away in his first professional season.
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As noted on the NFL’s official website, the Bears also possess two second-round picks, a third-round pick, and several Day 3 assets, which are scheduled to be selected on Friday, April 24, and Saturday, April 25.
The team’s front office has had anything but a quiet offseason, working through several free agent acquisitions and departures, including the surprise early retirement of center Drew Dalman, all while managing the noise surrounding stadium plans and the future of where the Bears will call home next.
Per The Bears Wire, voluntary organized team activities (OTA’s) for the Bears will begin around Wednesday, May 27, with official training camp expected to begin in late July as the organization ramps up ahead of the new season.
