Before some of the Chicago Bears' 2026 Draft Class can think about playing on offense or defense, they must learn all the new rules on special teams during their rookie year.
For Chicago Bears rookies Sam Roush, Zavion Thomas and Keyshaun Elliott, there are players at each one of their respective positions who are above them on the depth chart.
Cole Kmet and Colston Loveland have the first two tight end spots solidified. Thomas is way down the receiver depth chart, and Kalif Raymond has the advantage over the rookie at the kick returner position. At linebacker, T.J. Edwards, Devin Bush and D'Marco Jackson have those top three spots.
With starters clearly cemented above each player, that means special teams coordinator Richard Hightower will get to know the Bears' rookies well during their rookie year.
“I look at Keyshawn that way," Richard Hightower told reporters last Thursday. "I look at Sam Roush that way. I look at Zavion that way. And as your football team gets better, the guys that you draft, unless they come in and just jump over top of a veteran, they’re going to have to play special teams, so I like the mindset, I like the mentality of those rookies so far. It’s early, I could tell you that. They’re dealing with a lot. They’re in a new city, they’ve got new faces, they’re learning new terminology, some of them are still in the hotel. But what I can tell you about this group is everything that we were told in the process about these guys, that is clearly evident. No. 1, they’re our type of guys. No. 2, they love football. No. 3, they can’t live without football. And they’re extremely competitive and they have a burning desire to achieve greatness, and that’s all you want out of rookies."
Hightower shared the key for those young players is to watch the veterans in front of them, and that includes how the experienced players go through special teams drills, which will make members of the 2026 Draft Class better pros in the long run.
Something that will also take an adjustment period for the rookies is the dynamic kickoff, which has the kicker kick from their own 34-yard line while the coverage team lines up at the opposing 40-yard line and "cannot move until the ball is touched or hits the ground."
"Yeah, not just Zavion, you know, it's all of the guys," Hightower told reporters. "(Hayden) Large, Sam Roush, Keyshaun Elliott — none of these guys coming out of college have ever done the dynamic kickoff. And punt is actually different for them as well. The rules are different. They can release at the line, whereas you can't do that. So they're learning four new phases. The first thing to do with them is to teach them the rules, so they have a chance to go out there and have advantage. And we've been doing that in meetings and they've been attentive thus far. They've done a good job."
Hightower mentioned that the dynamic kickoff has "changed the game" and altered the way offenses call plays, so there is an emphasis for the players to learn how this kickoff operates.
The rookies will have plenty to learn as they enter Offseason training activities and special teams is just another element to add to the long list. Before Roush, Thomas and Elliott can envision playing meaningful snaps on offense and defense, they will have to master their specific roles on the third phase.
