The Chicago Bears are a month away from their true reveal. But before they take the field for their season opener against the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 8, they’ll leave enough to leave the casual Bears fan satisfied when they host the Miami Dolphins on Sunday afternoon.
There are a few storylines that will dominate Sunday’s game with the Dolphins. Ben Johnson’s unofficial debut as head coach will be one of them and there are several roster spots up for grabs in the next three weeks. But while Sunday’s game is a dress rehearsal, it could mean more to a local standout who just joined the team.
#Bears sign former @NUFBFamily tight end Thomas Gordon @KPRC2
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) August 6, 2025
Bears Sign Former Northwestern Tight End Thomas Gordon
According to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, the Bears are signing former Northwestern tight end Thomas Gordon, just days before their preseason opener. The Houston native played six seasons with the Wildcats and became known for his blocking ability, which earned a 60.5 grade from Pro Football Focus in 2023.
While those grades dipped to a 47.3 run blocking grade and a 28.5 pass blocking grade, he also got involved as a receiver, catching 54 passes for 529 yards and two touchdowns during his six seasons. Although PFF wasn’t a fan of his performance, his playing time increased to a career-high 548 snaps last season and he became a leader on the team.
It’s an interesting position by the Bears, who has made the tight end position one of their biggest storylines of camp. First-round pick Colston Loveland has pushed Cole Kmet to the second team during practice, but Johnson often uses one tight-end sets, which could eliminate Kmet’s playing time even as a player in the second year of a four-year, $50 million contract extension.
Gordon’s addition is a new story, but it’s unlikely to force his way onto the Bears roster even if Kmet is surprisingly traded before the season. Either way, it’s another new player for Chicago fans to get to know as they take part in the first unofficial game of the Johnson era on Sunday.