The Chicago Bears are heading to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, this week to participate in the NFL draft, and head coach Ben Johnson and the decision-makers in the team’s camp have done their homework on the 2026 class.
The Bears are set to make seven of the draft’s 257 picks, starting with the No. 25 overall selection in the first round on Thursday. But, of course, Johnson could pull off trade deals during the draft that shake their selections up.
Now, the NFL has made an announcement about the Bears, and it involves who will be on the stage introducing the newest members of the Chicago franchise to the NFL world. That presenter is none other than the legendary Jimbo Covert.
NFL Announces Chicago Bears Legend to Introduce Team’s Picks
The NFL has announced the legends and active players representing all 32 NFL teams currently set to make selections in the second and third round of this year’s NFL draft. For the Bears, it’s Covert, the legendary Hall of Fame offensive tackle who was the focal point of the team’s offensive line from 1983 to 1990.
Covert was a 1983 first-round draft pick, sixth overall, out of Pittsburgh, so presenting at this event just makes too much sense. He was also part of the Bears’ 1985 Super Bowl XX championship team.
One of his famed quotes, according to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s official website, is, “I don’t think I’m proven. You are only as good as your last game. I try to think of myself as steady, but there is always room for improvement. If you can’t see room for improvement, it’s time to get out.”
The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s site also calls him one of the finest offensive tackles of his era, with a “toughness, leadership and technical mastery” that “helped define one of the most formidable offensive units of its era.”
“His impact extended far beyond the stat sheet,” the Hall adds, “establishing a culture of discipline and excellence that came to define the gritty, powerful Chicago Bears of the 1980s.
Looking at the 2026 NFL Draft Choices for the Chicago Bears and Their Needs
Heading into the draft, the Chicago Bears’ biggest needs involve their edge, offensive tackle, safety and the interior defensive line.
In a mock from ESPN’s Jordan Reid out on Monday, April 20, Reid has the Bears taking an edge, T.J. Parker out of Clemson, with their No. 25 selection.
“After an underwhelming season with five sacks (three coming in the regular-season finale), Parker was able to revive his draft stock with a strong pre-draft process,” he notes in the piece. “His game centers around pure strength, as Parker is a power rusher who can overwhelm blockers at the point of attack.”
Reid adds that the team needs “pass-rush help, and Parker would be a complementary No. 2 rusher opposite Montez Sweat.”
There’s no doubt that the Chicago Bears could go with an edge with their No. 25 pick. But, this draft class is rich, so they could also go with someone like Akheem Mesidor from Miami or Malachi Lawrence from UCF. It comes down to the best edge available by pick No. 25.
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