Welcome to the 2026 Chicago Bears Season Preview on Bears By 7, a player-by-player look at the team's roster and their chances.

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Dillon Thieneman arrives at Halas Hall as one of the most productive defensive backs in college football the past three falls. He was a freshman All-America and Big Ten freshman of the year at Purdue in 2023 with six interceptions and 106 tackles. After leading the Boilermakers in tackles in 2024, Thieneman was ranked the top safety in the transfer portal and chose Oregon over Ohio State. He earned first-team All-Big and All-American honors during his only season in Eugene.

Thieneman was a starter all three seasons and saved his best for the biggest moments including a game-winning interception against Penn State in double overtime last fall. He ran a showstopping 4.35/40 at the combine, a time that was faster than Justin Jefferson, AJ Brown and Stefon Diggs.

On the night Thieneman was drafted, Ryan Poles compared him to Colston Loveland on the basis of work ethic, character and passion for football.