Dillon Thieneman Drafted No. 25 Overall By Chicago Bears In 2026 NFL Draft

Justin Rimpi
Oregon defensive back Dillon Thieneman carries the ball.

Oregon Ducks Safety Dillon Thieneman was drafted No. 25 overall by the Chicago Bears in the 2026 NFL Draft. The star safety is the No. 2 player at his position behind Ohio State’s Caleb Downs. The Oregon star was a Second-Team All-American this past season and is known as a ballhawk. Having a nose for the ball will help his skill set seamlessly transfer to the next level. Will this end up being a good pick?

Thieneman’s Fit In Chicago

To put it simply, the Chicago Bears had a miserable defense in 2025. Thieneman will look to rectify that problem the moment he arrives in Chicago. Chicago’s defense was 29th in the league in yards allowed per game and 21st against the pass. Chicago is a team with championship aspirations, and must improve its defense for that to come to fruition.

Was This the Right Pick?

Thieneman was not expected to be here for the Bears this deep into the round. Many mock drafts had him No. 18 overall to the Minnesota Vikings. Minnesota turned to Caleb Banks instead. Be that as it may, Thieneman was a shrewd pick by the upstart Bears.

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Justin has been a sportswriter for nearly a decade. He has previously written for 247 Sports and Sports Illustrated.