Bears are paying $48 million to learn what Colts already knew
The Indianapolis Colts had to revamp their edge rush group a bit this offseason. The hope was that Laiatu Latu would make a significant jump in year two. He was pretty good in Week 1, but it's a long season. Indy also drafted JT Tuimoloau.
General manager Chris Ballard did decide to pass on re-signing steady Dayo Odeyingbo in free agency this past offseason, and that might have been a mistake. Odeyingbo might have been an excellent fit in new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo's system, but Colts fans will never get to know.
The edge rusher, who had a career-high eight sacks in 2023, signed with the Chicago Bears instead. The deal was for three years and a maximum of $48 million. Chicago has been a rather bad team for a long time, but it does have Caleb Williams, a promising quarterback, and a new coaching staff.
The Indianapolis Colts loss of Dayo Odeyingbo might be the Chicago Bears huge gain
Odeyingbo appears to be a great fit with Chicago, too. In Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings, the edge rusher had one sack, two quarterback hits, a pass defended, and a tackle for loss. The Bears lost the game, but Odeyingbo played his part well.
The issue for Indianapolis and Odeyingbo is that while Indy didn't necessarily misuse the player, they certainly didn't consistently put him in positions where he would have his greatest impact. He was seen as more of a depth piece, though he stayed healthy and rather consistently productive.
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Oddly, he did start 14 games in 2024 after starting a combined five games in his first three seasons, and he only had three sacks. The system was failing him; however, instead of the player failing the scheme. The Bears are probably going to be lucky to have him.
The Indianapolis Colts simply didn't want to pay Dayo Odeyingbo what the Chicago Bears were willing to offer. The decision was probably a logical one last year, but not this one. Under Anarumo, Odeyingbo could have seen his sack numbers explode.
The Colts also had the money to re-sign the edge rusher, but spent the cash in other ways, such as signing Daniel Jones. So far, that move has turned out to be a brilliant one. In the end, maybe Dayo Odeyingbo and Indianapolis will both be winners.
Bears $53 Million Investment Had One of Worst Week 1 Performances in the NFL
Monday night in Chicago was supposed to be the beginning of a new era for the Bears, particularly on offense, with their revamped offensive line taking center stage. Instead, their 27–24 loss to the Vikings felt all too familiar.
Jonah Jackson, brought in as a key part of that rebuilt interior, struggled badly in his debut. Penalties, blown protections and missed assignments made his first impression a rough one, and for quarterback Caleb Williams, it meant spending much of his 2025 debut running for his life.
The Bears were in control for most of the night, building a 17–6 lead before Minnesota stormed back in the fourth quarter. It wasn’t just one breakdown that flipped the game; it was a pile of self-inflicted mistakes.
Twelve penalties for 127 yards made sustaining drives nearly impossible, and too often it was the offensive line putting Chicago behind schedule. Jackson was flagged early and often, setting the tone for an offense that never looked settled.
Jonah Jackson’s Bears Debut vs. Minnesota Vikings Week 1 Was About as Bad as it Gets
Chicago Bears PFF Pass Block Grades week 1:
1. Darnell Wright 86.02. Joe Thuney 70.92. Drew Dalman 58.73. Braxton Jones 56.45. Jonah Jackson 22.6
— Daniel Coltun (@danielcoltun) September 9, 2025
For Jackson, the night unraveled almost immediately. Two false starts in the first half derailed promising drives and left Chicago’s offense playing uphill.
“We said going into Week 1 that the team that would make the least number of mistakes would win the game,” Bears head coach Ben Johnson said after the loss. “Unfortunately, we were on the wrong side of that. We made too many there late in the game, myself included. There were a number of things that I could have done better, a number of things that a number of guys could have done better. When you look down at the stat sheet and you see 12 penalties, that’s got to get cleaned up in a hurry.”
Per PFF, Jackson played a total of 46 pass block snaps and 20 run block snaps. He allowed five hurries and was flagged twice, netting a 31.0 overall grade and an absolutely wretched 22.6 pass block grade, the latter of which was the second-worst amongst all guards who played more than two pass-block snaps.
Considering the fact the Bears just extended him, it was a disappointing debut to say the least.
Why Jonah Jackson Matters to Caleb Williams and the Bears’ Future
GettyChicago Bears right guard Jonah Jackson struggled mightily in his 2025 debut against the Minnesota Vikings.
Chicago invested heavily in its offensive line this offseason to help give Williams stability in his second year and avoid a repeat of last season’s protection issues, when the team allowed a league-high 68 sacks. Paired with Joe Thuney and Drew Dalman, the goal is for Jackson to help anchor the middle.
After trading for Jackson this offseason, the Bears did something rather odd considering he hadn’t yet played a snap for them: they inked him to a $53 million extension with just under $30 million guaranteed.
The Bears don’t need perfection from their guards, but they can’t survive with constant first-and-15 situations, or with their quarterback forced to freelance on every series.
The Bears drafted Williams to be the face of the franchise, but even the most dynamic quarterbacks need protection to succeed. Jackson doesn’t have to be a star—he just has to do his job without making a ton of errors. If he can settle in, this group still has the potential to grow into what the front office envisioned. If not, the Bears and their fans could be in for more games like they had against the Vikings.
