Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson made it clear after the 2026 NFL draft that selecting Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman was a “no-brainer” for his team, but his words didn’t do justice to his fiery draft-night reaction to the pick.
The Bears had a long and anxious wait for their turn on the clock during the first round of last month’s NFL draft, but they had their patience rewarded when Thieneman — one of the top safeties in the class and an ideal scheme fit — fell to them at No. 25 overall.
Thieneman made a lot of sense for Allen’s defense as a versatile safety with the size (six feet, 208 pounds), speed and high intelligence to make an immediate NFL impact. He also projects to open his rookie season as the Bears’ starting strong safety, taking over for 2025 starter Jaquan Brisker after the team allowed him to walk during free agency.
When the moment to draft Thieneman arrived, though, Johnson could hardly contain his excitement, as revealed in the Bears’ behind-the-scenes 1920 Football Drive video.
“Ba-bam!” Johnson shouted, pounding his fist on the draft table and turning over to Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen to add: “Thieneman! Thieneman, DA!”
Ben Johnson: Dillon Thieneman is ‘Rare’ Safety Talent
After the draft, Johnson candidly admitted that safety is not often a position that he has to worry about much when building his game plans as an offensive-minded head coach. In Thieneman’s case, though, Johnson sees a “rare” talent who will command attention from offensive coordinators when they build game plans to combat the Bears’ defense.
“From being an offensive guy, it’s rare that you see a safety as a guy that you really worry about, and yet, it was pretty quickly that you could turn on his tape and realize that he is always around the football,” Johnson said April 25 after the conclusion of the 2026 NFL draft. “He’s got a knack for the football. He’s a greater tackler, and when he does it, he does it with violence, and so his style of play showed up.
“To us, it was a no-brainer when he was there. I really do think that he’s gonna be a guy, one of those rare safety types that coordinators are going to have to account for.”
Dennis Allen Wanted Thieneman ‘All Along’ for Bears
While Johnson had a fiery reaction to Thieneman’s selection, Allen might have been the happiest man in the room on draft night when they locked in the pick at No. 25 overall.
The Bears had put effort into remaking their safety room in Allen’s image ahead of the 2026 NFL draft, allowing both of their 2025 starters — including Pro Bowl free safety Kevin Byard III — to walk in free agency and signing Coby Bryant to a $40 million deal.
Even still, a starter-sized hole remained in their lineup heading into the opening round, one that Thieneman, with his versatility and playmaking ability, seemed to fit perfectly.
In the end, the Bears got their man despite their expectations that he would come off the board before they had a chance to take him at No. 25 overall, giving Allen a jolt.
“You were a guy we targeted all along,” Allen told Thieneman during their draft-night phone call on April 23, via 1920 Football Drive. “I didn’t think you were gonna get to us, but as I’m sitting there watching, I’ve got the pit stains going, man, because I’m excited about getting you here. Let’s get ready to go win some games, alright?”
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