Two-time Pro Bowl linebacker makes his 2026 intentions clear and should be firmly on Dennis Allen and the Bears’ radar
Will Dennis Allen look to bring another former New Orleans Saints defender to Chicago?
The Chicago Bears have a clear priority this offseason that needs to be centered around overhauling the defensive side of the ball going into the 2026 season.
The offense is set to have stability going into the second season under head coach Ben Johnson’s scheme and right now will have all 11 starters back on that side of the ball, many of which were hand-picked by Johnson himself. The same can’t be said for the defense under Dennis Allen.
That unit will have a lot of turnover in the next few months with Allen finally getting the chance to bring his guys in. Just looking at the in-season additions Allen made in DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson and LB D’Marco Jackson, while also showing interest in CB Alontae Taylor, it’s clear Allen is still close with some of his former New Orleans Saints defenders. Well, another prominent former Saints defender could be available for Allen to bring to Chicago.
Demario Davis is open to testing free agency after eight years with the Saints
While appearing on the Up & Adams Show with Kay Adams, Saints linebacker Demario Davis made it known that he’s open to hitting the free agent market this offseason after playing out the final year of his contract with New Orleans.
“I’m coming back to the NFL,” Davis said. “And I’m excited about that, I am super excited about that. I keep training all of the way through the Super Bowl so my body feels great. I’m just excited. I’m excited for the offseason and then I’ll get into my offseason training regimen and prepare to do it all over again. How that plays itself out, we shall see.”
The two-time Pro Bowl selection didn’t fully close the door on a return with the Saints but it certainly sounds like he wants to test out the waters and see if there’s another team that makes sense for him going into his 15th season. And the Bears should absolutely be interested.
Under Allen’s scheme, Davis was named as a first-team All-Pro selection in 2019 and reached back-to-back Pro Bowls from 2022-2023. In six full seasons with Allen as his defensive coordinator or head coach, Davis totaled 811 tackles, 31.0 sacks, and 45 pass deflections.
“It’s awesome,” Allen said of Davis after notching his first Pro Bowl in 2022. “I think it’s kind of a long time coming. He’s been a great part of what we’ve been able to do here over the last four or five years, been a great addition to our organization. Works extremely hard, great in the community, really the type of player that we’re looking for so I’m glad to see that he gets recognized for that.”
Bears could have a real need at the LB position and adding another veteran always helps
The Bears have some big decisions coming down the pipeline with multiple high-priced players on both sides of the ball. Two of those players include the team’s two starting linebackers in Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards.
Edmunds is an obvious cut candidate and moving on this offseason would save Chicago $15 million in cap space. As for Edwards, he’s set to miss the majority of the offseason recovering from a fractured fibula suffered in the playoffs. If the Bears decide to move on from Edmunds, this team will need a veteran leader in the middle of the defense and Davis fits that bill. And being a veteran leader for a young team is something on his mind going into free agency.
“You really need that general in the middle that and some of these [teams] have young players and some of these defenses just need a player that can help these young guys take that next step,” Davis added. “They have to have a veteran that helps them take that next step. I think that’s what I’m noticing on a lot of these defenses, they don’t have that. That’s what is motivating for me, that’s where I think I bring the most value. Not only being what I am in the middle, but helping those younger guys take that next step.”
That kind of leadership ability is something the Bears are looking for to add to this roster and something this coaching staff prioritizes when looking to make an addition.
Multiple teams will be lining up to acquire Davis if he hits the market and the Bears should at least inquire to see if he’d be a better fit, scheme-wise and financially, over what’s currently on the roster.
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