Dennis Allen has to fix Chicago Bears pass rush with better coaching, or he’ll be on the hot seat

The Chicago Bears' 2026 season hinges on a bold claim: their pass rush failure in 2025 wasn't due to talent, but coaching. Host Loren Cox dissects this assertion with skepticism, questioning how a veteran defensive coordinator like Dennis Allen—whose career spans over a decade in high-level NFL roles—could have missed teaching fundamentals to elite veterans like Montez Sweat, Grady Jarrett, and Dayo Odengbo. The Bears’ offseason strategy reinforces this narrative: no major free agent signings, no early draft picks on the defensive line, and a deliberate refusal to bring in proven players like Cam Jordan, despite Allen’s long history with him. Instead, they’re betting on coaching refinement—specifically, shifting focus from complex schemes to foundational technique. Cox warns that if this approach fails, Allen will be on the hot seat, not because of player talent, but because the team’s own narrative will have been proven false. Meanwhile, the Bears did sign veteran wide receiver Scotty Miller, but his role is likely limited to depth and competition, not a transformative addition. The episode underscores a high-stakes gamble: if coaching doesn’t unlock performance, the entire foundation of the Bears’ strategy collapses. The core tension lies in the Bears’ refusal to address talent gaps, placing all responsibility on Dennis Allen’s ability to re-teach veterans who’ve already played at the NFL level for years.