Odeyingbo on playing with Montez Sweat, Dennis Allen’s defensive scheme

Ariana Pensy - Correspondent - 8 hours ago

CHICAGO - Defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo spent his entire NFL career with the Indianapolis Colts. So, this offseason was his first experience with free agency.

Luckily for him, the Chicago Bears had him on their radar and decided to give him a three-year, $48 million contract with $32 million guaranteed.

“There’s really nowhere else I’d rather be than here and I’m excited for the opportunity … I’m comfortable playing anywhere on the d-line. If you watch me play, I’ve played everywhere on the d-line from a zero (technique) to a nine (technique) and I’ve been able to be productive at all those positions,” Odeyingbo said. “So, I think that’s something that is part of my game that I like to exploit, I like to use, is to be able to move up and down the defensive line. So, to have the opportunity here is exciting and something I want to continue to grow at and get better at.”

At 25 years old, Odeyingbo is still in the prime of his career and has a lot of room for improvement. His performance the past two years with the Colts was consistent as he recorded 17 quarterback hits both seasons as well as two forced fumbles in 2023 and 2024. Furthermore, Odeyingbo has 11 sacks over the past two seasons.

However, he believes that he will be able to learn a lot from the coaching and players he will be surrounded by with the Bears.

“I still believe I’m just at the beginning. I have a lot of football ahead of me and I’m just starting to hit my stride. I’ve gone through a lot of learning throughout my years, coming in injured and having to grow through that and I think it’s made me a better player. I think I’ve improved consistently every year that I’ve played and I plan to continue to do that,” Odeyingo said. “For me, I feel like you should never stop improving as a player, getting better as a player and when you do, it’s time to hang it up. So, for me, I’m just at the beginning of my career and I have a lot of great things ahead.”

One player Odeyingbo has looked up to throughout his NFL career is Chicago’s edge rusher, Montez Sweat. Sweat played his first full season with the Bears last season and recorded 5.5 sacks and two forced fumbles as well as 12 quarterback hits and nine tackles for loss.

Playing alongside Sweat is incredibly exciting for Odeyingbo as well as learning from the other defensive linemen the Bears currently have.

“I’ve watched him since he was in college. He’s an explosive athlete, strong dude. He’s dominant on the d-line and it’s exciting to be able to play across from him and learn from him,” Odeyingbo said. “To be able to learn from him in-person, be a teammate, grow from him and help him grow is going to be exciting and then along with the other guys on the d-line, Grady (Jarrett), Gervon (Dexter), a bunch of guys on the d-line. I’m excited to get to work with them, grind with them and learn from them.”

Chicago’s defensive coordinator, Dennis Allen, has been one of the best defensive minds in the NFL for years. Before Odeyingbo was even in the NFL, he watched Allen’s defense and wanted to play in that system.

Now, he is also achieving that personal goal and should have an opportunity to improve his sack numbers in Allen’s defensive scheme.

“I’ve been able to watch his defenses in New Orleans for the (last) decade or so and they’re exciting to watch. They get after the quarterback. They play great defense and it’s something I always wanted to be a part of,” Odeyingbo said. “So, to have that opportunity here and to see him here and have the opportunity to learn from him and learn from (defensive line coach), Coach (Jeremy Garrett), it’s special and it’s exciting and I see a super bright future for myself and for (the) defense as a whole.”