The Chicago Bears may have found their next hidden gem, and this time, it’s a disruptive force in the trenches. After waiting until the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft to address their defensive line needs, the team is buzzing about Georgia Tech defensive tackle Jordan Van Den Berg—and for good reason.

Let’s face it: the Bears’ pass rush and run defense were glaring weaknesses last season. Chicago managed just 35 sacks (22nd in the league) despite Montez Sweat’s solid 10-sack campaign, and they allowed the sixth-most rushing yards per game. It’s no secret that an edge rusher or defensive tackle was high on the shopping list.

But instead of reaching early, General Manager Ryan Poles played the long game. The Bears used their early picks on Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman, Iowa center Logan Jones, Stanford tight end Sam Roush, LSU receiver Zavion Thomas, Texas cornerback Malik Muhammad, and Arizona State linebacker Keyshaun Elliott. Then, in the sixth round, they finally snagged Van Den Berg—a move that insiders say could be one of the biggest steals of the draft.

Poles has a knack for finding late-round talent. Just last year, he plucked Rutgers running back Kyle Monangai in the seventh round, and Monangai went on to start for Chicago and finish second on the team with 783 rushing yards. Now, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Bears’ front office believes Van Den Berg could follow a similar trajectory.

“The Bears believe they’re getting a steal with sixth-round defensive tackle Jordan van den Berg,” Fowler reported. “Several of his testing numbers hit the highest mark on the Bears’ internal scouting scale. My sense is the Bears have plans for him beyond that of a typical sixth-round flier and believe he was one of the more gifted defensive tackles in the draft.”

Van Den Berg’s journey to the NFL has been anything but linear. He started at Iowa Western Community College in 2020, earning First-Team JC All-American honors before transferring to Penn State in 2021. After a redshirt year and limited playing time over three seasons, he made the move to Georgia Tech in 2024—and that’s when everything clicked. His explosive testing numbers and raw power caught the Bears’ eye, and now they’re betting on him to make an immediate impact.

For a team desperate to bolster its defensive front, Van Den Berg might just be the spark they need. Whether he’s collapsing the pocket or stuffing the run, Chicago is confident they’ve unearthed a diamond in the rough. And for Bears fans, that’s a reason to get excited.