Ben Johnson was asked about Dayo Odeyingbo’s sack total in Indianapolis and why it wasn’t higher. The new Bears edge rusher wasn’t sitting far from Johnson during this formal press conference in full view of the media.

He wasn’t overly demonstrative, but it seemed clear Odeyingbo didn’t love the question. He had just three sacks in 2024 but eight the year prior. He also had 17 quarterback hits in each of those seasons. He was regular affecting the quarterback, even if the stat under discussion didn’t show it.

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Odeyingbo didn’t have to worry. Johnson had his back.

“If you watch the tape, you understand how disruptive he can be,” Johnson said in a Thursday press conference. “And again, (he worked) both inside and outside. I also believe – he’s 25, he’s played a few years in the league.  Honestly – and this goes into our collaboration and working well in terms of front office and coaching staff – we believe that there’s even more room to grow, for him to continue to get better.”

His quarterback hit total ranked in the top 10 among edge rushers, per analytics site Pro Football Focus. He pressured the quarterback on 12.1% percent of his pass-rush snaps, a number that was higher than his eight-sack season.

To Johnson’s other point, Odeyingbo is viewed as an ascending player, which is why he cost more than an aging veteran. Well, that and the fact that he’s 6-foot-6 and 283 pounds, 35 ¼” arms and a wingspan more than seven feet long. That fits the type of end Dennis Allen likes to employ.

Plus traits and drive and youth made Odeyingbo someone the Bears felt comfortable betting on, to the tune of up to $48 million over three seasons with $28.5 million guaranteed. The Bears can also get out of the contract easily after 2026.

Odeyingbo believes he can make that a steal as time progress.

“I still believe I’m just at the beginning,” Odeyingbo said. “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 (to the NFL) injured and having to grow through that. I think it’s made me a better player. I think I’ve improved consistently every year that I’ve played. I plan to continue to do that.

“I feel like you should never stop improving as a player, stop getting better as a player – when you do, it’s time to hang it up. I’m just at the beginning of my career and I have a lot of great things ahead.”

While Odeyingbo has played across the defensive line but will spend most time on the edge opposite Montez Sweat. The veteran needs a partner to take away chips and double teams, which were a regular occurrence in 2024. The new end believes he can take pressure off of Sweat and keep defenses honest alongside tackles Grady Jarrett and Gervon Dexter Sr.

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