The buzz over the Chicago Bears entering the 2025 season is palpable. With a new roster, new coaching staff, and a new quarterback infusing new energy into the offense, there’s plenty to feel good about. But if the Bears are going to truly live up to preseason expectations, there’s one group that absolutely must step up to the challenge: the defensive line. So then, naturally, comes the big question—can Chicago’s D-line take over in 2025?
Let’s break it down.
A Solid Offseason Foundation
The Bears didn’t sit idle in the offseason. General manager Ryan Poles made a point to let everyone know that defense isn’t irrelevant in Chicago, even in a more pass-happy world. And if you want to create a dreaded defense, you have to start up front. The Bears added some considerable strength and speed to the front, adding veteran depth along with upside prospects.
You’ve likely heard about Gervon Dexter’s growth, and rightfully so. The 2023 second-round pick was viewed as raw upon his arrival, but word from camp indicates that he’s making a dramatic turn. Pair that with the arrival of a multi-tool pass-rusher in Austin Booker, along with the stabilizing presence of players like DeMarcus Walker, and all of a sudden, the Bears’ defensive front begins to sound like a group you don’t necessarily want to match up against.
Montez Sweat: The Centerpiece of the Pass Rush
We can’t forget that the Bears made a mid-season trade for Montez Sweat in 2024, and that acquisition could prove to be among the greatest in modern team history. Sweat isn’t merely good—simply disruptive. He provided immediate pressure from the outside, tallying 9.5 sacks in half a season played in a Bears uniform. You can already feel that buzz from fans, media, and even popular sports betting platforms. Sports betting odds have started to reflect the belief that Sweat could be in for a breakout season in terms of sacks and forced fumbles. If you’re the kind of fan who checks player prop bets, his name is probably one to watch.
Youth Leadership with Grit
One thing you can’t help but notice is all the youth along the front. Zacch Pickens, the third-rounder from 2023, is becoming increasingly a steady presence in the middle. He’s no showman, but does clog up running lanes and eats up double teams like it’s his livelihood—because, yeah, it pretty much is. Throw in that Dexter’s stock is increasing, and you’ve got a couple of big-bodied defensive linemen who can get their hands dirty while Sweat and Booker pick up the pieces up front.
And as for Booker, he could potentially be the most unpredictable of them all. Drafted in the 5th round in 2024, he arrived in professional football full of potential with a motor that was incredibly high. If he can harness that energy in terms of a constant level of technique, it could catch a lot of people off guard this year.
New Coaching Energy, Defensive Mindset Remains
The Bears have a new staff in Halas Hall with a new voice, and you can already feel it. Defensive coordinator Eric Washington, no stranger to building dominant defensive lines, was explicit in his vision: Chicago’s returning to basics. The Bears intend to win with defense. That means up-front toughness, pass-rush aggression, and run defense discipline.
Washington has prioritized rotation and flexibility. That’s key. The modern-day NFL demands defensive linemen that can remain fresh to interchange around the line as needed. It should enable the Bears to have their playmakers more consistently available, as well as cut down on the sort of late collapses that we witnessed all too regularly in seasons past.
Controlling the Line of Scrimmage
Here’s the reality—if you want to win in the NFC North, you’ve got to win at the line of scrimmage. That’s simply reality. The Lions still have a good offensive line despite coaching turnover. The Packers’ O-line ain’t no joke, either. If the Bears are going to sweep the division as some predict, then the D-line needs to be the difference.
Stopping the run is going to be step one. The Bears struggled with this in 2023 and early 2024, often letting games slip away because they couldn’t get a stop on 3rd-and-short. With bigger bodies and more rotation depth this year, they’re in a better position to hold their ground and not get bullied.
And then there’s a pass rush. To make quarterbacks such as Jared Goff, Jordan Love, and J.J. McCarthy uncomfortable, however, the Bears must bring the heat—and from both sides. An even-stocked pass rush creates quick throws, leads to turnovers, and allows the secondary to have a better chance to make plays.
Establishing a Chicago Bears Identity Once More
There’s a specialness in viewing a dominant defense from the Bears. It’s part of its DNA. From the ’85 Bears to the Peanut Tillman-era units in the early 2000s, there’s a collective memory among fans in Chicago of knowing it when a defense was to be feared by opponents all over the league. That edge, though, has been absent in recent years.
2025 might be the year that defense begins to turn heads. With Sweat in charge, up-and-coming talent coming along in a hurry, and a coaching staff that can make all the right moves, the D-line looks to thrive. It’s not happening overnight, and bumps will arise, but if this crew can stay healthy and come together, they have everything they need to reside in the top-10.
Final Thoughts: So, Are They Ready?
Chicago’s defensive line has enough firepower, youth, and experience to wreak real havoc in 2025. They have a blue-chip pass rusher in Montez Sweat, up-and-comers like Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens, and some hidden gems in reserve that can develop into something great.
But controlling the line of scrimmage week in and week out requires more than ability—it requires attitude, hard work, and a level of consistency. If this team can remain hungry and keep that chip on their shoulder, they’ll not only be good. They’ll be formidable.
So yes, Chicago’s O-line may not yet be fully there. But they’re knocking on the door. And by the time playoffs arrive—don’t expect to be surprised if they’re breaking it down.
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