Ryan Poles sounds off on Bears' duo of Dillon Thieneman, Coby Bryant

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Ryan Poles sounds off on Bears' duo of Dillon Thieneman, Coby Bryant

Ryan Poles sounds off on Bears' duo of Dillon Thieneman, Coby Bryant

Mike Pendleton, Bears Wire · Bears Wire

Mon, Apr 27, 2026 ·

2 min read

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The Chicago Bears addressed a big position of need when they selected Dillon Thieneman out of Oregon, giving them a rookie who can come in and start right away as they look to rebuild their safety position.

After losing several key members of their safety room, including starters Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard , the Bears are hoping to replace them with free agent signing Coby Bryant and Thieneman as their new-look starters.

Coming into the offseason, general manager Ryan Poles and the Bears coaching staff made it clear that they wanted to get more speed, better coverage, and tackling talent on the defensive side of the football. After the selection of Thieneman, Poles discussed he feels the two new safeties will fit and work together in Chicago's secondary.

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 23: Dillon Thieneman of Oregon celebrates after being selected twenty-fifth overall pick by the Chicago Bears during Round One of the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium on April 23, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Images)

Apr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive back Dillon Thieneman is selected by the Chicago Bears as the number 25 pick during the 2026 NFL Draft at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
(Kirby Lee, Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)

Apr 23, 2026; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive back Dillon Thieneman poses on the red carpet before the 2026 NFL Draft at Point State Park. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
(Kirby Lee, Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 23: Dillon Thieneman of Oregon arrives prior to the 2026 NFL Draft on April 23, 2026 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
(Jason Miller, Getty Images)

MADISON, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 05: Dillon Thieneman #31 of the Purdue Boilermakers fumbles a punt in the first quarter against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on October 05, 2024 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
(John Fisher, Getty Images)

EVANSTON, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 13: Dillon Thieneman #31 of the Oregon Ducks in action against the Northwestern Wildcats during the first half at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium on September 13, 2025 in Evanston, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
(Michael Reaves, Getty Images)

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - NOVEMBER 29: Dillon Thieneman #31 of the Oregon Ducks reacts after beating the Washington Huskies at Husky Stadium on November 29, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
(Steph Chambers, Getty Images)

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 01: Terrance Carter Jr. #7 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders makes a catch defended by Dillon Thieneman #31 of the Oregon Ducks in the second quarter during the 2025 College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on January 01, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
(Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images)

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 26: Dillon Thieneman of the Oregon Ducks speaks to the media during the 2026 NFL Draft Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on February 26, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
(Michael Hickey, Getty Images)

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 27: Dillon Thieneman of the Oregon Ducks participates in a drill during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
(Stacy Revere, Getty Images)

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - FEBRUARY 27: Dillon Thieneman of the Oregon Ducks participates in the 40-yard dash during the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2026 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
(Stacy Revere, Getty Images)

EUGENE, OREGON - MARCH 17: Dillon Thieneman #31 of the Oregon Ducks looks on during Oregon Ducks Pro Day at Moshofsky Center on March 17, 2026 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
(Soobum Im, Getty Images)

Purdue Boilermakers defensive back Dillon Thieneman (31) and Purdue Boilermakers defensive back Antonio Stevens (11) tackle Northwestern Wildcats quarterback Jack Lausch (12) Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, during the NCAA football game at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind.
(Alex Martin/Journal and Courier, Alex Martin/Journal and Courier / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Nov 2, 2024; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Northwestern Wildcats running back Joseph Himon II (6) is tackled by Purdue Boilermakers defensive back Dillon Thieneman (31) during the second half at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
(Marc Lebryk, Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images)

Nov 29, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Oregon Ducks defensive back Dillon Thieneman (31) intercepts a pass against the Washington Huskies during the second half at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images
(Steven Bisig, Steven Bisig-Imagn Images)

Oregon defensive back Dillon Thieneman carries the ball as the Oregon Ducks practice on Jan. 5, 2025, at the Moshofsky Center in Eugene, Oregon, ahead of the Peach Bowl.
(Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard, Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

Oregon defensive back Dillon Thieneman, right, brings down Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton as the Oregon Ducks take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 1, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.
(Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard, Ben Lonergan/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

"I think you match up better," Poles said. "You eliminate, every time, especially our pro staff, when we do an advance on our opponent, we're looking for targets. We're looking for guys that we can find mismatches on and expose. So, when you have speed and you have a lot of guys that can cover in different spots, your ability to hang in there, cover longer while you're bringing pressure, things like that, enhances the entire defense."

Poles and the Bears coaching staff made it clear this offseason that they wanted to get more speed, better coverage, and tackling talent on the defensive side of the football. Coming into the 2026 NFL Draft, Thieneman was praised for his clean tackling technique, good coverage skills, and then saw his name rise up draft boards with his 4.35 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. The coaches knew what they needed to have on their roster, and the front office went and achieved that for the secondary.

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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears GM Ryan Poles sounds off on duo of Dillon Thieneman, Coby Bryant

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Ryan Poles sounds off on Bears' duo of Dillon Thieneman, Coby Bryant

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