Let’s just call it what it is: Gervon Dexter Sr. is sitting on a powder keg headed into the 2025 NFL season, and if you’ve been paying attention, this breakout has been brewing for a while. No fluff, no "he has potential" talk — this dude is about to light up the league, and it’s not just wishful thinking from Bears fans desperate for someone to finally anchor their D-line. The numbers, the context, and the scheme shift all point to one thing: Dexter is going off in 2025.
Forget the Rookie Year — Look at the Leap
Dexter’s rookie season? A typical "welcome to the league" slap in the face. He had 20 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 16 games. Nothing to write home about, but not shocking either — DTs often need that first season to adjust. Fast forward to 2024, and the man looked like a different animal: 51 total tackles (23 solo), 5 sacks, 18 QB hits, 4 tackles for loss, and 2 fumble recoveries over 15 games, per NFL.com.
That’s not just growth. That’s a jump. And for the stat heads out there, his Pro Football Focus grade came in at a solid 70.3, with a 66.7 pass rush grade. Translation: he’s not just filling space — he’s creating problems. Especially early in the year.
Dominant Before the D-Line Fell Apart
Weeks 1–5 in 2024? Dexter was cooking. He had 4 sacks and 11 pressures in that stretch, tied for second among all interior linemen in sacks and ninth in pressures. He was on pace to make Pro Bowl voters sweat. Then came the gut punch: Andrew Billings, the vet who kept things stable up front, tore his pec in Week 9. Dexter suddenly had to do everything — and yeah, his production took a hit.
But here’s the thing: that early stretch is the real indicator. With Billings eating up double teams and doing vet things, Dexter was unleashed. And now? Billings is healthy, Grady freakin’ Jarrett is in the mix, and the Bears added rookie Shemar Turner for depth. That means Dexter doesn’t have to do it all. He just has to be himself — which is bad news for quarterbacks.
Dennis Allen: The Mad Scientist Behind the Breakout
Now let’s talk scheme. Matt Eberflus might be a fine human being, but his defensive system was as vanilla as it gets. Enter Dennis Allen, the new defensive coordinator who actually knows how to use interior linemen.
Allen isn’t here to sit back and react. His defenses attack. We’re talking stunts, blitzes, man coverage — stuff that creates chaos and gives aggressive linemen like Dexter room to feast. Per Pro Football Reference, Allen’s defenses have finished top-10 in points allowed in 7 of his 11 seasons. He doesn’t just coach defense; he engineers controlled violence.
Dexter’s versatility is a match made in hell for opposing offenses. He’s played 3-4, he’s played 4-3, and Allen’s hybrid front gives him the freedom to blow up plays however the hell he wants. Ben Johnson, the Bears’ new head coach, even said, “He can play in any scheme.” That’s coach-speak for “We’re going to move him around and make people miserable.”
The Historical Blueprint Says It’s Time
Look around the league — elite defensive tackles often make the leap in year two or three. Chris Jones? Didn’t fully pop until year three. Jeffery Simmons? Same deal. Dexter’s on that same arc. These guys don’t come into the league dominating; they grow into it. And all signs say Dexter’s right on schedule.
Oh, and let’s not forget the measurables. 6’6”, 312 pounds, absurd athleticism for his size. At Florida, he piled up 131 tackles and showed off versatility all over the defensive line, according to SI.com. The foundation is rock solid.
ESPN Might Be Sleeping on Him
ESPN’s projections have Dexter pegged for 590 snaps, 45 tackles, and 3.9 sacks in 2025. That’s... fine. But it’s safe. Conservative. Maybe even lazy.
With a reloaded front, a scheme that fits like a glove, and a third-year mindset, it wouldn’t be surprising if Dexter flirts with 7+ sacks and a dozen TFLs. That’s not hype — it’s the logical outcome of everything lining up.
The Team Around Him Is Finally Not a Dumpster Fire
This matters: the Bears’ defense doesn’t suck anymore. Jaylon Johnson is locking things down in the secondary, Montez Sweat is causing havoc off the edge (fingers crossed), and now the interior rotation is deep enough to rotate without falling apart. Dexter isn’t being asked to carry the whole damn line this year — he just needs to dominate his reps.
And Ben Johnson seems to get it. He’s publicly praised Dexter’s mindset and growth, calling out how the young DT rose to the challenge when things got tough. That kind of public backing? It’s not just lip service. It means Dexter has the green light to take over.
Final Verdict
There’s no such thing as a sure thing in the NFL — but Gervon Dexter Sr. in 2025 is about as close as it gets to a breakout lock. The growth curve, the early flashes, the return of supporting vets, the influx of talent, the new attack-first scheme — it’s all adding up.
Dexter has already shown he can play. Now he’s about to show he can dominate.
So get your popcorn ready, because if you thought his 2024 mini-breakout was fun, 2025 is going to be a damn highlight reel.
