Devin Bush gives Dennis Allen a pass rushing chess piece the Bears never consistently had with Tremaine Edmunds
Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen runs a blitz-friendly scheme utilizing his defensive backs and linebackers as extra pass rushers. It’s an area where new linebacker Devin Bush can really show off his abilities.
Of all the new additions the Chicago Bears made to the roster this offseason, linebacker Devin Bush is easily the most overlooked of the bunch that more people need to be talking about going into training camp and the 2026 season.
Bush signed a three-year, $30 million deal with the Bears in free agency after breaking out the last two seasons with the Cleveland Browns. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz’s scheme deployed Bush’s strengths perfectly, both in coverage and against the run. With defensive coordinator Dennis Allen in Chicago, Bush can further be unlocked as a pass rusher as well.
Allen’s scheme is blitz-friendly using the linebackers and defensive backs as extra pass rushers. Tremaine Edmunds, for example, led the LB room last season with 80 pass rush snaps in 13 games. Over a 17-game season, that would have been over 100 pass rush snaps. The problem was that Edmunds was far too inconsistent in that area totaling only one sack and just 10 pressures.
Chicago Bears LB Devin Bush can be a more effective pass rusher for Dennis Allen in 2026
During the 2025 season, Bush had 46 pass rush snaps, the most he’s ever had in one season in his seven year career. He turned those opportunities into eight pressures, two QB hits, and two sacks.
His speed is evident on the tape, including this sack below on Las Vegas Raiders former quarterback Geno Smith. The best part is that it was a delayed blitz that was still able to hit home because of Bush’s speed.
Much has been made about how Allen can use Bush’s speed in coverage as the replacement for Edmunds. Bush can match up better in man coverage and attack a lot more against the run compared to Edmunds in this scheme. The difference Bush can bring rushing the passer is an area that’s being highly overlooked.
Last season, Bush had a 9.3 win percentage rushing the passer compared to Edmunds’ 2.7 win percentage. The way Allen can use Bush is similar to the way he used Demario Davis in 2023 and 2024. Those two seasons, Davis totaled 13.0 sacks, 19 QB hits, and 40 pressures while still racking up 230 tackles and 10 pass deflections as a well-rounded LB.
Bush is capable of producing similar numbers in this scheme and his speed will be a real asset attacking the quarterback on blitzes. Edmunds had nearly double the number of pass rush snaps Bush had last season and taking over his former role will give Bush more of those opportunities. And he’s speed should allow him to capitalize more efficiently.
That doesn’t even factor in Bush’s real strengths as a coverage defender. Allen is going to maximize this guy in the perfect way just like he did when he brought in Davis and turned him into an All-Pro caliber player.