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When the Chicago Bears signed Grady Jarrett to a three-year, $43.5 million contract, they added a trusted veteran who will plug up holes in the middle of the defensive line. While Jarrett will focus on the defense, it was the Bears’ offense that attracted him to Chicago in free agency.
Jarrett has spent his entire 10-year NFL career with the Atlanta Falcons. But after his release, the defensive tackle had to consider all of his options. Playing for a rising quarterback in Caleb Williams was something that certainly appealed to Jarrett.
It wasn’t long after that release that Jarrett had come to terms with the Bears. Now expected to take on a leadership role on defense, Jarrett is amped up to see the type of leader Williams is on offense, via Marquee Sports Network.
“You want to go somewhere where they have a good quarterback. To have a quarterback who’s the number one pick, is only going to get better. To have an offensive-minded coach that’s going to be able to spend time with him, be able to train him up.”
“He’s obviously had success,” Jarrett continued. “Caleb’s ceiling is super high. I’ve watched from afar, admired from afar since he’s been in college. I’m excited to play with him.
“You want to go somewhere they got a good quarterback.”
Grady Jarrett is excited about Caleb Williams
pic.twitter.com/7keGHgKuDK
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) March 13, 2025
Grady Jarrett joins NFL world in watching Caleb Williams prosper
While they were playing in two separate divisions, Jarrett was able to pinpoint exactly what makes Williams special. On the flip side, he’ll now get a close-up look at where the quarterback failed as a rookie.
For starters, he was a sacked a league-high 68 times. Chicago has already aggressively attacked the issue, bringing in Jonah Jackson, Drew Dalman and Joe Thuney. Still, the most obvious thing is usually the biggest issue. Keeping Williams upright in the pocket will be crucial for him to develop in year two.
At the same time, the quarterback must learn not to hold onto the ball too long. While he can’t be blamed for every sack, sometimes his indecisiveness gave opposing defenses a bit extra time to get to the quarterback.
Now, Williams will have an actual offensive gameplan in place. Johnson will look to build his offense around Williams’ strengths and put him in a position to succeed. He’ll need to prove he can get over any early-career speed bumps, but at least Jarrett is confident that Williams will overcome.
What Jarrett offers Chicago Bears
Jarrett won’t have the opportunity to actually share the field with Williams, barring some elaborate trick play. But when he is on the field, Jarrett will be tasked with becoming a new leader on the defensive side of the ball.
Over his 10 years in Atlanta, Jarrett racked up 496 tackles, 126 quarterback hits, and 36.5 sacks. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 2019 and 2020. However, Jarrett is coming off of a 2024 performance that saw him muster 53 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 12 quarterback hits. He earned a 62.1 grade from Pro Football Focus, ranking 71/219 defensive linemen.
So as he comes to Chicago, Jarrett will be looking to prove himself. There will be plenty of washed allegations simply based on his age. But Jarrett has proven he can still break the line and get into the backfield. Playing next to a riser in third-year DT Gervon Dexter, he’ll be asked to shore up the defensive line and simply be a force in the middle.
Furthermore, Jarrett will be a leader. Alongside just winning football games, Johnson wants to create a new culture on the Chicago Bears. A veteran like Jarrett’s voice will carry a lot of weight whenever the Bears need a boost.
More must-reads:
- Tua Tagovailoa addresses relationship with Tyreek Hill after controversial comments
- Steelers' T.J. Watt addresses viral social post during contract negotiations
- The 'Single-season sack leaders by NFL team' quiz
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Tua Tagovailoa addresses relationship with Tyreek Hill after controversial comments
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Nationals OF makes Catch of the Year candidate to rob home run
Washington Nationals outfielder Jacob Young delivered a Catch of the Year candidate with a spectacular grab he made on Wednesday. Young’s Nationals lost 5-0 to the Cincinnati Reds at Nationals Park in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, and the score could have been worse if not for Young. Will Benson was batting for Cincinnati with a runner on third base and two outs in the top of the eighth inning with his team leading 3-0. He belted a first pitch 96 mph fastball to deep center, but Young climbed the wall in center field to rob Benson of a 2-run home run. Here is a slow-motion version of the catch that shows Young climbing the wall to make the catch. What a catch by Young. Although Benson gave that pitch quite a ride, the metrics suggest it would have been a home run in only five MLB ballparks, so a flyout was an anticipated outcome. You just wouldn’t expect that ball to become an out in the manner that it did. Holy cow.
Penn State QB Drew Allar gets candid about team's struggles against top opponents
It is no secret that Penn State has struggled to win big games under head coach James Franklin. While the Nittany Lions have finished with double-digit wins in six of the past nine seasons, including a 13-3 season in 2024 that culminated with a loss to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff semifinals, they have struggled to beat quality opponents. Quarterback Drew Allar, who enters the 2025 season with the fifth-shortest odds (+1600) to win the Heisman Trophy, per FanDuel, was honest about Penn State's lack of success during his appearance at Big Ten Media Days on Wednesday. "We definitely need to get over the hump," Allar said, per ESPN's Jake Trotter. "There's no question about it." Penn State is only 4-20 against top-10 opponents under Franklin, although the three losses last season were all by one score. Allar is 23-6 as a starter, but threw a costly interception against Notre Dame that ultimately led to the game-winning field goal from the Fighting Irish. With experience on its side and lofty expectations entering the season as the No. 1-ranked team in ESPN's offseason poll, Allar pointed to better execution as a key to Penn State's success. "We definitely need to find different ways to come out with different results in those games," Allar said. "We haven't really been blown out of the water by any team. ... it's just about execution. ... finding those areas to make one or two more plays throughout those games. ... That's going to be our focus." One key for Penn State is the return of its two leading rushers from last season, Kaytron Allen (1,108 yards) and Nicholas Singleton (1,099 yards), who combined for 20 TDs. That experience, along with Allar's improved accuracy (66.5%) and career-high 3,327 passing yards from 2024, gives the Nittany Lions a lot of upside going into 2025. Allar did have an uptick in interceptions (eight) and was sacked 19 times last season, which are two concerning areas, especially against top-ranked opponents. That must improve for Penn State to reverse course and finally win meaningful games. For now, the focus is on its lack of success in those games under Franklin. If Penn State can execute and not beat itself, perhaps one of those games will eventually go its way. Until then, it will face the same questions as it looks to put its past struggles in big games behind it.
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