Who is Dillon Theineman? Introducing the Bears' 2026 first-round draft pick

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The pick is in! And no, it didn't involve Kevin Costner-style draft pick gymnastics.

Contrary to what many people projected, the Chicago Bears selected defensive back/safety Dillon Theineman with the 25th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

While the Bears were going to have to select a couple of defensive players at some point in the draft, the front office opted to get part of those reinforcements out of the way at the first time of asking. That said, they would ultimately opt to use their second-round pick on a center (more on that another time).

With the first-round pick in, it's worth taking the time to build a profile of Theineman and analyse what kind of impact he will have on the Bears' defense, which could get significantly better over the next few months.

Who is Dillon Theineman?

Originally a product of Purdue, Theineman switched his allegiances to the Oregon Ducks shortly before the 2025 season began. He made 15 appearances for the Ducks during the 2025 season as the team progressed to the semifinal of the College Football Playoff (also known as the Peach Bowl).

During those 15 starts, Theineman recorded 96 combined tackles, a sack, and two interceptions. He also deflected five passes during the lone season he had at Oregon.

At the 2026 draft combine, Theineman recorded a 4.35-second time in the 40-yard dash, a vertical jump of 1.04 metres, and a broad jump of over three metres. His wingspan is almost two metres, while he weighs in at 91 kg.

What can he bring to the Bears' defense?

Theineman's speed and versatility make the defensive back a strong option for the blitz. He's also more than capable of assisting in route coverage, given his capability of playing the safety position and acting as a key part of any nickel defensive formation.

To a degree, one can categorize that as a triple threat. Whether he can sing, dance, and act is another question that is irrelevant for this article, but his ability to play multiple positions will serve as an important asset for a Bears defense that was plagued by injury during the opening half of the 2025 season. If the Bears' secondary gets plagued by injury, Theineman can slot into a safety or cornerback slot. If the defensive line needs reinforcements, defensive coordinator Dennis Allen can insert Theineman with ease.

Either way, Theineman's presence in the Bears' locker room should serve as a significant boost to the Bears' defensive depth.