Bears coach reveals the one thing that makes Dillon Thieneman stand out

The Chicago Bears utilized their No. 25 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to acquire defensive back Dillon Thieneman. The team needed a new safety after losing three veterans during free agency. Kevin Byard III, Jaquan Brisker and Jonathan Owens all signed contracts with different teams in March.

Thieneman entered the big league after a standout college career. After two seasons with the Purdue Boilermakers, the 6-foot, 201-pound safety transferred to the Oregon Ducks in 2025.

In his lone season in Oregon, he totaled 96 tackles, two interceptions, and five pass deflections across 15 games. He earned first-team All-American honors for his stellar performance.

Bears Coach Matt Giordano highlights standout trait in rookie Dillon Thieneman

Bears assistant defensive backs and safeties coach Matt Giordano reviewed Thieneman’s game film from last season. On Thursday, he told reporters at Halas Hall that based on his observations, one trait stood out most in the rookie.

“Oh man, there was a lot, but the one thing that stuck out to me, you could just tell this guy loves football and he plays the right way,” Giordano said. “Everything he does is 100 miles an hour. He’s physical, he’s trying to just do things.”

The assistant coach was also impressed by the 21-year-old safety’s speed in tracking the ball, covering ground and preventing big plays.

“Definitely when his play speed, you see him tracking the ball extremely well in college,” Giordano continued. “I mean, there’s a lot of deep balls he’s tracking and he’s either hitting the guy out of bounds or he’s trying to swat the ball out of bounds.

“So you could tell he covers a lot grass that way. His combine times and scores were outstanding and just a reflection of his play.”

At this year’s NFL Scouting Combine, Thieneman displayed tremendous speed by running the 40-yard dash in 4.35 seconds. The time ranked fourth among participating safeties.

Giordano, a nine-year NFL veteran, spent two seasons coaching defensive backs with the New Orleans Saints before joining Chicago in 2025. His coaching background will play a pivotal role in maximizing Thieneman’s elite skill set.

As the rookie adjusts to the professional level, Giordano believes Thieneman should keep learning “one day at a time.” He also needs to apply what he learns each day to improve, according to the Bears coach.

Thieneman’s fast, aggressive playing style matches the identity the Bears are trying to create. The pick reflects Chicago’s shift toward younger players as it aims to build a roster capable of winning another Super Bowl. 

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