Chicago Bears’ Grady Jarrett drops lofty expectations on rising star’s shoulders

After 10 years with the Atlanta Falcons, defensive tackle Grady Jarrett is preparing to start his second lease on NFL life with the Chicago Bears. Not only will the Bears be counting on him for his work on the field, but for what Jarrett brings as a veteran leader.

For all the hype Chicago has gotten over the offseason, they’re a fairly young team. Ben Johnson is a first-year head coach while quarterback Caleb Williams is entering his second year. Looking at the defensive side of the ball, fellow defensive tackle Gervon Dexter is only 23-years-old and is entering his third season with the Bears.

He is currently poised to start next to Jarrett, meaning the veteran will be a key mentor. While they haven’t played an officially down yet, the veteran already sees greatness in Dexter’s immediate future, via the Bears’ X, formerly Twitter account.

“I think he has a really high ceiling. Run game, being effective in the pass rush and growing as a leader too,” Jarrett said. “When I first signed with the team and started working out down in Miami, G put that together. He invited me. I thought that was a big gesture, to be able to hang with them, spend some time working on some craft.”

“It just shows his willingness to take that next step,” he continued. “You can see the work that he’s putting in. The weight room, away from the facility, he here early, he’s spending extra time with coach. Year three is critical time as when you can take that big leap. You played some football, you get more comfortable and now you know how to apply things and really take that big step.”

“I’m really excited to see what happens for him,” Jarrett concluded. “I think our styles compliment each other very well. I can’t wait to continue to go hunt with the guy.”

.@GradyJarrett on @GervonDexter: “I think he has a really high ceiling” pic.twitter.com/WDlOomM8kz

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) May 21, 2025

Chicago Bears’ Gervon Dexter primed for breakout

Jarrett’s third year in the NFL saw him start all 16 games. He recorded 55 tackles, 13 quarterback hits and four sacks, all career-highs at the time. Dexter is carving his own path, however, the year three expectations that Jarrett speaks of are no joke. While the defensive tackle had a strong 2024, the Bears will be expecting even more in 2025.

Still, Dexter put himself on the map in his most recent season. He set new career-highs with 51 tackles, 19 quarterback hits and five sacks. Dexter even recovered two fumbles. The defensive tackle led the team in quarterback hits and second in sacks. Furthermore, Dexter’s 70.3 grade from Pro Football Focus ranked 28/219 defensive lineman.

All that being said, there are still clear areas of improvement to target in Dexter’s game. Predominantly run defense, where his 61.1 grade ranked a measly 56th. Furthermore, the Bears are a whole ranked 25th in run defense in 2024, allowing 102 yards per game. At this stage of his career, stopping the run is Jarrett’s specialty. Being able to learn from him should only bolster Dexter’s prowess in that department.

Signed to a $43.5 million contract, Jarrett is coming to Chicago with plenty of expectations on his own shoulders. But after 10 years in the league, the defensive tackle is ready for any challenge that comes his way. That includes helping Dexter continue to find his ceiling.