Bears Sign Veteran Defensive Tackle Neville Gallimore

The signing shows the team's focus on addressing the interior defensive line in free agency.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Chicago Bears have signed veteran defensive tackle Neville Gallimore to a two-year, $12 million contract. Gallimore was previously with the Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams, and Indianapolis Colts. The Bears were expected to target an interior defensive lineman in free agency, as the position was a bigger need than edge rusher for the team.

Why it matters

The Bears' signing of Gallimore indicates they believe the interior defensive line was a more pressing need than edge rusher this offseason. While the team was linked to top edge rushers, they opted to shore up the middle of their defensive line with a veteran addition.

The details

Gallimore, a 2020 third-round pick, is coming off a 3.5 sack season with the Colts in 2025. He graded well as a pass rusher but struggled against the run. The Bears are likely viewing him as a rotational interior pass rusher, though the $6 million per year price tag seems high for a DT3 at best.

  • The Bears signed Gallimore during the 2026 NFL free agency period.

The players

Neville Gallimore

A veteran defensive tackle who has spent time with the Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams, and Indianapolis Colts.

Ryan Poles

The general manager of the Chicago Bears, who hinted at the NFL Scouting Combine that the team would target an interior defensive lineman in free agency.

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What they’re saying

“From what we know now – and not until we leave here to gather information from medical and interviews to have complete clarity on the draft – but as it sits right now, I feel like the EDGE is deeper than the interior.”

— Ryan Poles, General Manager, Chicago Bears (A to Z Sports)

What’s next

The Bears could still look to sign an edge rusher in free agency, but all signs point toward them focusing on the draft to address that need after shoring up the interior defensive line with the Gallimore signing.

The takeaway

The Bears' decision to sign Gallimore as their first free agent move shows the team believes the interior defensive line was a bigger priority than edge rusher this offseason. This signing likely indicates the Bears will target an edge rusher in the 2026 NFL Draft.