Grady Jarrett sets the tone for training camp in a big way while showcasing the kind of mentality the Bears were hoping for by signing him
As the Chicago Bears get back in the building and get geared up for the start of training camp on Wednesday, hitting the ground running is going to be critical for this team under new head coach Ben Johnson."I'm looking forward to seeing what leaders come out of the locker room and really lead the […]
As the Chicago Bears get back in the building and get geared up for the start of training camp on Wednesday, hitting the ground running is going to be critical for this team under new head coach Ben Johnson.
"I'm looking forward to seeing what leaders come out of the locker room and really lead the charge here for us going into the fall," Johnson explained.
One player is already trying to bash the door down and set the tone for the rest of the locker room. That player is new veteran defensive tackle Grady Jarrett who understands what the expectation needs to look like going into his 11th career camp.
"The key is not ramping up. The key is going balls to the wall everyday," Jarrett told reporters on Tuesday. "I think that's what has really helped me in my longevity is just going hard day in and day out. This is the time where you really callous your body, get it right to sustain a long season and be healthy. . .
"We should make this the hardest time of the season. This is the time to get hard, really challenge yourself. Whether it's physically, mentally, emotionally. You really push yourself to see how far you can go. When that game time does come, you know what you have in the tank, in the trunk, to reach back and get the job done."
That's the mentality the Bears were looking for
When the Bears quickly signed Jarrett to a three-year deal after being released by the Atlanta Falcons, it was seen as a very puzzling decision at the time to rush into.
But, the Bears front office and coaching staff clearly knew what they were getting in this guy, and that's someone who was going to push the entire locker room.
Training camp is the first time we're really going to see that in action. Once pads come on, Jarrett isn't going to be anybody's friend out there on the field, he's going to push himself and those around him to be the best they can be.
"Especially with Grady and those guys [on the defensive line], it's going to be contagious amongst the group," general manager Ryan Poles said in April. "We're probably going to have some real tough training camp days with some fights. I think that's good, though. It just raises the level of intensity for our entire football team."
The main group that will see the benefit of Jarrett's aggressiveness in practice (outside of the other defensive players playing beside him) will be the offensive line being forced to go up against him. The same thing goes for quarterback Caleb Williams.
"Sometimes you gotta talk a little mess to him," Jarrett said of Williams. "Challenge him and give him difficulties so the time games come, nothing is going to phase him. It's love, but it's going to be big brother love. You want the best for him but we gotta put a tough defense out there for him to face."
Simply put, the training wheels are off once practice starts on Wednesday and the pads eventually come on. The same message extends to the other teams coming to town for joint practice, preseason, and into the regular season.
"Anybody can get it," Jarrett added. "We ready and we're going to be coming. I'm not afraid to say it, it is what it is. I'm super excited to be able to be here now and go attack this thing."
That's the kind of energy you want to see out of all 91 players on the roster. Jarrett is setting a strong example early on and proving why the Bears were smart to pursue him so aggressively. I can easily see him wearing the "C" on his chest in 2025.
