Grady Jarrett pieced together a disappointing first season with the Chicago Bears. Shortly after being released by the Atlanta Falcons, the Bears pounced on the opportunity to sign Jarrett to a multi-year deal to help fortify the interior of Chicago’s defensive line. In theory, it was a good idea to bring in a wily vet who looked to still have gas in the tank. But things did not shake out the way that the Bears (or their fans) would have wanted in Year 1 of a three-year deal.
However, I’m not ready to give up on the 32-year-old two-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman.
Grady Jarrett’s 2025 Snapshot
There is no sugarcoating my disappointment in the season that was for defensive tackle Grady Jarrett. He played in 14 of the team’s 17 regular-season games and in both of the team’s postseason contests, but wasn’t a factor as a pass rusher or as a run defender. Early-season injuries kept Jarrett from playing at a high level. However, even when injuries seemed to be in the rearview mirror, Jarrett never looked like himself — and the Bears’ defense suffered because of it.
The Jarrett signing left me with mixed emotions when it went down. He wasn’t at the top of my offseason wish list. And I’m traditionally wary of the Bears signing players to multi-year deals into their mid-30s. However, Jarrett had a strong résumé in terms of on-the-field production and a sterling reputation in the locker room. Hence, I was willing to give it a chance. Unfortunately, his on-the-field production didn’t reach the levels that were expected going into 2025, especially since his leadership showed up at Halas Hall almost immediately after his signing.
Grady Jarrett celebrates after a sack against the Lions at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn ImagesBy the Numbers
Games played: 14 Defensive snaps: 610 (68 percent) Sacks: 1.5 Total tackles: 39 (14 solo) Tackles-for-loss: 1 Quarterback hits: 8 PFF Overall Grade: 56.7 (76th of 134 interior defenders)Grady Jarrett’s Contract Status
(Contract details and figures are courtesy of Over The Cap)
Grady Jarrett is set to enter the second year of a three-year contract he signed in March 2025. The three-year pact is worth up to $42.75 million and included $27.25 million in guarantees at signing. This back-loaded deal comes with an $18.925 million cap number in 2026 that chews up 6.1 percent of the team’s cap. That represents a sizeable jump after Jarrett’s $7 million cap number in 2025 made up just 2.5 percent of the cap.
GRADY JARRETT WAS THE BEARS’ HIGHEST-GRADED DEFENDER IN PLAYOFF WIN VS. PACKERS
Cutting Jarrett to create cap space isn’t really an option for the 2026 Bears. A post-June 1 cut would create $1.925 million worth of cap space, but it wouldn’t be available to use until after June 1. Plus, it would come with a dead money hit of $17 million. But if Grady Jarrett doesn’t turn it around in 2026, it is worth knowing that a cut in 2027 would create $13.5 million in cap space while leaving the team with a $4 million dead cap hit. In other words, the 2026 campaign could be a last hurrah of sorts for Jarrett.
Turning the Page
Grady Jarrett’s disappointing 2025 is one of the main reasons the Bears are in search of defensive line help going into this offseason. Unless Jarrett sticks the landing on an unforeseen turnaround, his best deployment in 2026 will be as a rotational interior defender who gets unleased in obvious pass-rushing situations. At this stage of his career, that might be the best way to get the most out of a player who still has something left in the tank but isn’t the player he was when he was at the peak of his powers.
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As we look ahead to 2026, I am holding out hope that Grady Jarrett can have the type of bounce-back season that makes us forget about a disappointing 2025 campaign. For what it’s worth, Jarrett’s two highest-graded games came in Week 18 against the Lions (79.6) and in the Bears’ playoff win against the Packers (79.2) in the NFC Wild Card round. Perhaps some of that late-season magic can carry over into this upcoming season. If it doesn’t, then it might be Jarrett’s last one in a Bears uniform.
Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn ImagesOTHER 2025 CHICAGO BEARS SNAPSHOTS
Quarterback Caleb Williams Tight End Colston Loveland Safety Kevin Byard III Defensive end Austin Booker Wide receiver Luther Burden III Running back D’Andre Swift Running back Kyle Monangai Left guard Joe Thuney Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds Linebacker D’Marco Jackson Kicker Cairo Santos Receiver DJ Moore Tight end Cole Kmet Punter Tory Taylor Cornerback Kyler Gordon Cornerback Jaylon Johnson Cornerback Tyrique Stevenson Wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus Safety Jaquan Brisker Offensive lineman Ozzy Trapilo Defensive back CJ Gardner-Johnson Right tackle Darnell Wright Edge rusher Montez Sweat Linebacker T.J. Edwards Defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr. Offensive lineman Braxton Jones Cornerback Nahshon Wright © Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesHence then, the article about grady jarrett is a rebound candidate in 2026 was published today ( ) and is available on Bleacher Nation ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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