In a bold and potentially season-defining move, the Chicago Bears have reportedly reached a deal with veteran pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney, a late free-agent signing that could plug one of the team’s biggest roster holes just in time for training camp.
While the Bears made headlines earlier this offseason by hiring Ben Johnson as their new head coach and revamping the offensive line with the additions of Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, questions still lingered about the defensive front, especially the pass rush. Despite a strong 2023 campaign from Montez Sweat, the Bears’ defense lacked depth and versatility off the edge—a glaring issue in a division now featuring high-powered offenses led by Jordan Love, Jared Goff, and Kirk Cousins (now with the Falcons, but replaced by first-round pick J.J. McCarthy in Minnesota).
Enter Jadeveon Clowney, the former No. 1 overall pick and three-time Pro Bowler, who in recent seasons has reinvented himself as a reliable, physical edge presence. After a quietly productive 2023 season with the Baltimore Ravens—where he notched 9.5 sacks, 43 total pressures, and played a pivotal role in one of the league’s top defenses—Clowney surprisingly remained unsigned deep into the offseason.
Sources close to the situation say Clowney was holding out for the right fit, ideally a contender with a coaching staff that understands how to use him. The Bears, with Johnson’s offensive innovation and a defensive identity rooted in physical play, apparently made a convincing case. His reunion with defensive coordinator Eric Washington, who spent years coaching dominant defensive lines in Carolina and Buffalo, is expected to provide a seamless integration.
Clowney’s signing comes at a crucial time. Training camp is set to open on July 23rd, and the Bears enter it looking to build on a promising draft class that includes quarterback Caleb Williams and wide receiver Rome Odunze. While those additions sparked optimism on offense, the defense still needed a stabilizing presence on the edge opposite Sweat—someone who could stop the run and collapse the pocket without relying on raw speed alone.
With 30 QB hits and 15 sacks over the last two seasons, Clowney isn’t the explosive edge threat he was coming out of South Carolina, but he’s become smarter, tougher, and more versatile. His ability to line up across multiple fronts makes him an ideal fit for a team that may rotate heavily to stay fresh deep into the season.
And the timing couldn’t be better. The Bears face a brutal early schedule that includes matchups against the Texans, 49ers, and Lions—all teams with elite offensive lines and mobile quarterbacks. Clowney’s presence won’t just help the pass rush; he brings playoff experience, leadership, and an edge that could help tip close games in Chicago’s favor.
The NFC North is as competitive as ever, and while the Bears are still viewed as a team building toward something greater, signings like this send a message: They’re not waiting for the future—they’re pushing for results now.
If Clowney can stay healthy and perform anywhere close to his 2023 level, this might go down as the smartest late signing of the offseason. And for GM Ryan Poles, it’s another signal that the Bears are no longer just rebuilding—they’re recalibrating for contention.
