The Chicago Bears selected Georgia Tech defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg with the 213th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Van den Berg, who hails from Johannesburg, South Africa, is an explosive athlete who is a great fit for Dennis Allen’s defense. Last season at Georgia Tech, he totaled 44 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and three sacks as a first-team All-ACC selection. Van den Berg, who spent three years at Penn State before transferring to Georgia Tech for his final two seasons, totaled 90 total tackles, 5.5 sacks, one forced fumble and 56 total quarterback pressures.
Here’s a quick rundown on van den Berg:
The Basics
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 310 pounds
Age: 24
From: Johannesburg, South Africa
Breakdown
Jordan van den Berg began to hit his stride at Georgia Tech in 2024 after three quiet years as a backup at Penn State. Elite testing numbers at his pro day will send scouts back to the tape for further evaluation. He possesses disruptive first-step quickness and heavy hands to beat blocks. He carries average mass and below-average length. He needs to prove he can take on NFL blockers at the point of attack. The career production looks a little light on paper, but van den Berg appears to possess translatable traits that could entice a team with a one-gapping defensive front to draft him on Day 3. — Lance Zierlein
Dane Brugler’s Scouting Report
Jordan van den Berg, who has four brothers, was born and raised in South Africa by his parents (Michael van den Berg and Lisa Hendry). His grandfather (Francois) was a competitive bodybuilder in South Africa, and his grandmother (Joan Rocci) holds several South African swimming records. When Jordan was 10, his family relocated to the Atlanta area. He’d grown up playing rugby in South Africa and hoped to continue playing in the United States. However, his new friends played football, so he made the switch (and also played baseball and basketball). He attended Providence Christian Academy, a private school in Lilburn, Ga., where he became an all-state linebacker as a senior, posting 157 tackles, and set the school record for career tackles.
A no-star recruit, he didn’t have any Division I offers and walked on at Iowa Western Community College in 2020. He added 40 pounds during his first junior college year and moved from linebacker to the defensive line. Despite a left knee injury, he received double-digit FBS offers and signed with Penn State, where he played three seasons as a backup. He transferred to Georgia Tech for his final two seasons and earned All-ACC honors both years.
A “Freaks List” alum, van den Berg is a broad, well-built athlete who has thickness through his arms, legs and core. He bursts off the snap with aggressive hands to push the pocket, although he shows some lower-body stiffness when attempting to move laterally around blocks. He took a positive step forward from his 2024 tape in his ability to recognize and shed blocks against the run. His motor is relentless, and his coaches said he was one of the team’s best leaders because of the example he set. He also brings outstanding personal and football character (he used his NIL money to become a small-business owner and buy a laundromat in the Atlanta area).
They Said It
“He’s a pretty explosive twitchy kid. (Defensive Coordinator) Coach (Dennis) Allen, our biggest goal going into this week was to get faster, more explosive on defense. I think this kid fits want to do. An up field penetrator. He ran well, obviously to your point. He tested well, some of the short area stuff and you see this kid get on edges a lot. And so that’s the biggest thing that jumped off to us on tape.” — National Scout Brendan Rehor
RAS card
Grade: B
It took quite a bit of time, but the Bears finally added on the defensive line and got a player who can contribute in the right situations, but he will certainly be a development project for the coaching staff. Jordan Van den Berg flew under the radar due to limited exposure, but broke out in a big way in his two seasons with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, where he had his best season in 2025, where he earned First-team All-ACC honors. — Mike Pendleton
Highlights
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Breakdown and analysis of new Bears rookie Jordan van den Berg
Reporting by Alyssa Barbieri, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
