In an effort to rebuild and replace their starting safeties, the Chicago Bears signed Super Bowl champion Coby Bryant away from the Seattle Seahawks and used their first-round pick to select Dillon Thieneman in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Both Bryant and Thieneman will look to step in and replace the losses of veterans Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker, who departed in free agency. Now, defensive coordinator Dennis Allen is tasked with getting Bryant and Thieneman set as the leaders of the back end of the secondary.
Chicago was praised by several draft analysts for their selection of Thieneman, crediting his speed and versatility at the safety position as a great fit in Allen’s defense, naming his a great complement to the veteran Bryant. Although they’re both new faces on defense, Bryant has taken it upon himself to mentor his rookie teammate and says sometimes he’s had to slow down Thieneman during the team’s practices and workouts.
“The biggest thing is just taking care of his body and being coachable, which he is,” Bryant said last week at minicamp. “Very, very smart, intelligent. Obviously the tape speaks for itself too, but it’s going to be a long year for him just coming from the Combine. Taking it one week at a time and any questions, I’m always there for him. Me being a Year 5 guy and he’s a rookie so he wants to go full speed and everything, so in the individual drills we have to tell him to slow down because I’m not running that fast. I’m 27, he’s 21. The speed, he’s very coachable, he’s exciting to watch, he makes plays every day. He’s special.”
Bryant’s words seem to echo what many analysts have said about what the Bears would be getting when they drafted Thieneman, who should take on a sizable role of responsibility in his rookie season. If Bryant and other teammates can help reel in the rookie from getting too far ahead of himself and manage the longevity of an NFL season, then Chicago could have quite the tandem in the secondary.
Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Coby Bryant’s impression of ‘special’ Bears rookie Dillon Thieneman
Reporting by Mike Pendleton, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Mike Pendleton, Bears Wire | USA TODAY Network
