​The Chicago Bears are set to launch a highly anticipated 2026 season, aiming to build on the strong finish of their 2025 campaign. Under head coach Ben Johnson, the team captured the NFC North title and earned a wild-card playoff win, signaling real progress. Yet the 2026 roster is evolving as the Bears balance the momentum from last year with a slate of offseason changes. Veterans departed, new veterans arrived, and a group of promising rookies stepped into the fray, creating a refreshed dynamic for this franchise. The work begins in training camp, where Johnson will push his players through demanding practices designed to ready them for what’s ahead. From now through camp, we’ll count down the 30 Most Important Bears for the 2026 season, revisiting the 2025 performance, forecasting 2026 expectations, and weighing the biggest question facing the club this year.
Next up at No. 16 is center Garrett Bradbury, acquired via trade for a fourth-round pick after the surprising retirement of Pro Bowler Drew Dalman. While Chicago has also drafted their future at center—second-rounder Logan Jones—Bradbury is expected to get the first crack as the starter while Jones develops in Year 1. Bradbury, 31, is entering his eighth NFL season and carries a cap hit of $4.7 million for 2026. He spent the first six years of his career with the Minnesota Vikings, earning a contract extension in 2023 before being released in March 2025. The New England Patriots wasted little time in adding the experienced center, and he played a pivotal role in second-year quarterback Drake Maye’s breakout season. In 2025, Bradbury appeared in all 17 regular-season games plus four postseason contests, anchoring the protection as New England advanced to the Super Bowl, where they fell to the Seattle Seahawks. Pro Football Focus credited him with allowing zero sacks on 642 pass-blocking snaps and not recording a single penalty that season.
Bradbury’s arrival fills a significant void created by Dalman’s retirement, addressing one of the most critical positions on offense. The Bears opted for a cost-conscious, prudent fix rather than swinging for a marquee veteran upgrade, hoping Bradbury can stabilize the middle and help Johnson’s offense reach its ceiling. His one-year contract length makes him a transitional piece—a bridge to the Jones era rather than a long-term answer—yet the immediate impact could be substantial. Center is a cornerstone position in Johnson’s scheme, and the Dalman influence from the prior season underscored how pivotal that role can be in both the run game and protections.
Logan Jones offers a longer-term solution, capable of maturing into the starter over the course of 2026 and beyond. Bradbury’s presence gives Jones the time he needs to develop while ensuring the Bears aren’t forced into a rushed transition that could destabilize the offense this season. If Bradbury can replicate the reliability he showed in New England—zero sacks and clean discipline in pass protection—he will be a steadying force for the line, enabling Chicago’s skill players to operate with more confidence. His familiarity with complex defenses and pro-level preparation is an asset that could pay dividends against a demanding 2026 schedule.
For Bradbury, the challenge will be to sustain performance at a high level amid the expectations that come with joining a team already on the rise. The job security of a one-year deal places extra pressure to demonstrate value, but it also affords the Bears flexibility to evaluate Jones without prematurely dismantling their present framework. If the veteran proves to be a reliable anchor, he can help the offense find balance between protection and the run game, easing the burden on young playmakers and allowing their development to proceed without compromising the unit’s stability.
Overall, the center position remains a focal point for the Bears in 2026, and Bradbury’s role is central to that equation. The success of this season may hinge on how well he harmonizes with the rest of the line, how quickly Jones acclimates to NFL tempo, and how effectively Johnson’s scheme leverages the protection and run blocks to generate a cohesive, explosive offense. Dalman’s absence is still felt in the room, but through Bradbury’s veteran savvy and a patient transition to Jones, the Bears hope to replicate the strengths of last year while raising the ceiling for the future. If Bradbury can meet or exceed expectations, he will have earned his keep in a critical year for Chicago, delivering immediate value while the franchise charts a course toward a more firmly established long-term interior line.