Defensive end Yannick Ngakoue said joining the Bears was a “‘great fit” Friday, one day after agreeing to a one-year, $10.5 million deal.
Ngakoue did not practice with the Bears on Friday but spoke after the training camp session at Halas Hall ended.
Two years ago, he played for Bears defensive line coach Travis Smith as a member of the Raiders. Smith worked with former Bears assistant Rod Marinelli, who head coach Matt Eberflus considers a mentor.
“Those guys are like students of the game,” Ngakoue said of Marinelli. “It’s a privilege to be coached by those guys.”
The Baers are his sixth team in five different seasons. He played for the Jaguars from 2016-19 and both the Vikings and Ravens in 2020. He spent 2021 with the Raiders and last season with the Colts, where he had 9 1⁄2 sacks.
The Bears were desperate for pass-rushing help. They were last in the league last season in both blitzes and pressures when they did not blitz. Safety Jaquan Brisker led the 2022 Bears in sacks.