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Former Ducks S Dillon Thieneman expected to thrive with Bears in 2026
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- Former Ducks S Dillon Thieneman expected to thrive with Bears in 2026
Former Ducks S Dillon Thieneman expected to thrive with Bears in 2026
The Chicago Bears were one of the NFL's biggest surprise teams in 2025, as they rebounded from a 5-12 campaign in 2024 to make the playoffs, achieving an 11-6 record including reaching the NFC Divisional Round after defeating the Green Bay Packers.
It was nothing short of a smashing success, as newly-hired head coach Ben Johnson developed young quarterback Caleb Williams into a star, bringing a high-powered offense along with him. However, the defense was spotty at times — especially the secondary. Chicago allowed the 25th-most passing yards per game in 2025, proving leaky in a number of contents that the Bears had to win in shootout fashion.
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Heading into 2026, the goal of the Bears front office was to turn that group around. In addition to overhauling the secondary via free agency, Chicago also found themselves in position to select Oregon Ducks safety Dillon Thieneman with the 25th pick in the first round. They jumped at the opportunity, making the former Duck a Bear.
After showing off his talent in rookie minicamp and OTAs, The Athletic tabbed Thieneman as the Bears' most intriguing newcomer heading into training camp.
"Through months of the pre-draft process, the Bears played out scenarios for whom they might land with the 25th pick in Round 1, but mostly felt like it was a long shot that Thieneman would fall to them," The Athletic's Dan Wiederer. "When he did, general manager Ryan Poles pounced. What the Bears saw on Thieneman's college tape came to life during the spring at Halas Hall. Speed. Instincts. Versatility. Aggressiveness. Passion. Thieneman is a long-term building block for the defense and his pairing with another newcomer, Coby Bryant, offers a dangerous edge to the back end of the secondary."
With the Ducks in 2025, Thieneman recorded 92 tackles, five passes defensed, two interceptions and a sack. Though he didn't eclipse 100 tackles like he did during his first two seasons with the Purdue Boilermakers , he showcased himself as one of the more versatile players in the country. Defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi deployed Thieneman all over the defense, ranging from near the line of scrimmage in run support to on the back line.
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In Chicago, it's looking like he'll be deployed in a similar fashion.
Coming from Purdue to Oregon, big things were expected of Thieneman — and he more than lived up to the hype. Now, heading from Oregon to the pros with the Bears, high expectations are once again placed upon him. Considering what he's shown during his career, Thieneman is going to answer the bell and become a key piece of the Chicago defense in Year 1.
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Former Ducks S Dillon Thieneman expected to thrive with Bears in 2026
