Jalen Reeves-Maybin

Career StatsC-

Year	Team	GP	Tkl	Sacks	INT
Career		117	223	1.5	—
2025		3	2	0.0	0
2024		10	14	0.0	0
2023		17

Season	Team	GP	Tkl	Sacks	INT	PD	Grade
2024		10	14	0.0	0	—	F F Bottom 5%
2023		17	20	1.0	0	—	F F Bottom 5%
2022		17	15	0.0	0	—	F F Bottom 5%
2021		15	82	0.0	0	—	C- C- Below average
2020		16	10	0.0	0	—	F F Bottom 5%
2019		16	37	0.0	0	—	F F Bottom 5%
2018		9	13	0.0	0	—	F F Bottom 5%
2017		14	30	0.5	0	—	F F Bottom 5%

Grades reflect the player's performance in each season. Header grade shows the current season.

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Jalen Reeves-Maybin drew a C+ on the Contract Value Index — a calibrated read on Chicago's cap allocation at linebacker. At $795K AAV, this is a functionally free addition to the Bears' roster; you're paying replacement-level money for an established veteran in year nine, which means there's virtually no downside risk on the contract itself. His 2025 season stats of 2 tackles across 3 games align squarely with his C- performance grade and the media narrative positioning him as depth rather than a rotational starter—he's logging minimal snaps and delivering minimal production, exactly what you'd expect from a low-volume insurance linebacker. At 31, Reeves-Maybin is operating as a pure depth piece with leadership value; the NFLPA presidency and veteran presence matter more to this signing than any on-field impact projection. The Bears' recent linebacker movement—adding Jon Rhattigan while signing secondary depth—suggests Chicago is comfortable with Reeves-Maybin in a special teams and emergency-snap role, not as a building block. For a franchise sitting at 11-6 and targeting playoff contention, this contract represents exactly what it should: a nominal cap commitment buying you a reliable veteran without overextending yourself, which explains why sentiment on this deal remains measured and positive rather than exciting.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the C band — a quick read on where Jalen's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Jalen Reeves-Maybin grades a C- performance mark, with his Pro Bowl-caliber stretches anchoring the read. At 31 years old and nine seasons into his career, he occupies the established veteran tier as a depth linebacker whose on-field impact has contracted significantly in 2025—recording just 2 tackles across 3 games reflects the limited snap allocation and rotational role the Bears have designated for him. His strongest credential remains special teams, where the media consensus identifies him as a reliable core contributor, though that production doesn't materialize in traditional defensive statistics. The core weakness here is straightforward: minimal counting stats and a lack of meaningful playing time at his primary position suggest he's transitioned into a backup-and-situational capacity, a natural endpoint for a linebacker entering his early thirties. His value proposition, as reflected in the media framing and recent roster moves signaling Chicago's continued linebacker depth additions, positions him squarely as insurance rather than a defensive pillar—a respect-based veteran presence anchoring the special teams unit and providing emergency linebacker depth for a playoff roster, but with no realistic expectation of elevated production.

How Jalen Compares at the Position

Jalen Reeves-Maybin ranks 180th of 338 graded linebackers by performance. That slots Jalen between KJ Britt (C-) just ahead and Nolan Smith Jr. (C-) just behind.

Fan Sentiment

Around Chicago, the narrative on Jalen Reeves-Maybin reads as a B- sentiment grade — measured by recent headlines and fan reactions. The media framing of his Bears signing has been straightforward and respectful but decidedly uninspired: he's positioned as serviceable depth and a proven special teams contributor rather than a catalyst for the defense, which aligns with his career arc as an established veteran in year nine. The disconnect between public perception and his on-field showing is notable — while his performance grade sits at C-, the sentiment remains slightly more favorable, largely because his NFLPA presidency has elevated his standing in the locker room narrative and shifted fan discussion away from pure production metrics toward leadership credibility and veteran stabilization. His 2025 season stats of 2 tackles across 3 games reflect minimal playing time, yet the fanbase seems unbothered by the statistical scarcity, viewing him instead as insurance linebacker depth rather than someone expected to log significant snaps. With the Bears sitting at 11-6 and positioned as a playoff contender heading into the regular season, Reeves-Maybin's role appears locked in as a rotational piece and special teams anchor — the kind of low-profile, low-risk addition that generates measured approval rather than excitement, and that measured tone is exactly where the public conversation sits today.