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Josh Kreutz will get a tryout with the Chicago Bears at rookie minicamp.
The Chicago Bears are bringing a familiar last name back to Halas Hall, at least for a tryout.
The Bears are expected to extend a rookie minicamp invitation to former Illinois center Josh Kreutz, the son of six-time Pro Bowler and team legend Olin Kreutz. The New York Giants offered the same opportunity, according to longtime Bears insider Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
Kreutz, listed at 6-foot-2 and 290 pounds, finished his Illinois career with 36 starts across five seasons. He earned back-to-back All-Big Ten honorable mentions and served as a team captain in 2025.
A tryout invite falls short of an undrafted free agent contract, meaning Kreutz will report to rookie minicamp in May with no guarantees beyond a chance to earn one. For a player linked to one of the most decorated offensive linemen in franchise history, it’s a unique opportunity — particularly when you consider Chicago’s question marks at the position.
The Bears entered the offseason searching for stability at the position after Drew Dalman’s stunning retirement at age 27. General manager Ryan Poles responded by trading a 2027 fifth-round pick to New England for veteran Garrett Bradbury, who will enter camp as the presumed starter. Bradbury is in the final year of his deal, and Logan Jones, Chicago’s No. 57 overall pick in the 2026 draft, will be the heir apparent after winning the 2025 Rimington Trophy as the nation’s top center at Iowa.
Behind them, new UDFA signing Caden Barnett has said he can play all three interior spots.
That leaves Kreutz facing an uphill battle for a roster spot, and his clearest path to sticking around will be on the practice squad. That’s a legit possibility, as Chicago has carried several developmental linemen on its practice squad in recent years.
Kreutz is on the smaller side, but his 6-foot-2, 290-pound frame is exactly the same as his father’s, and the younger Kreutz has much of the same grit and determination his dad played with.
GettyJosh Kreutz will get a tryout with the Chicago Bears at rookie minicamp.
Josh’s father, Olin, was drafted by the Bears in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft out of Washington. The elder Kreutz played games 191 over 13 seasons in Chicago, second-most in franchise history behind only long snapper Patrick Mannelly. He earned six Pro Bowl selections, first-team All-Pro honors, a spot on the NFL’s 2000s All-Decade Team.
The elder Kreutz has personally trained Josh in recent years, sharpening his strength and technique at his gym, and the undersized center has long credited his father’s tutelage for his development rather than the family name. He told the Sun-Times in 2023 that growing up around Olin as his dad gave him an inside track on the importance of good technique and film study from a young age.
The Bears’ rookie minicamp is scheduled for either May 1-4 or May 8-11, per Bears Wire. If Kreutz can show he belongs, he may be able to stick around on the practice squad. Stay tuned.
Beth Mishler-Elmore Beth Mishler-Elmore is a Heavy sports contributor based in the Midwest, focusing on the NFL, NBA and WNBA. More about Beth Mishler-Elmore
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