Kirk Ferentz has become one of the great head coaches in college football history. While he has never won a national championship, the remarkable consistency with which he’s run the Iowa football program since 1999 can’t be overstated. He’s sent many young men to the NFL in that time from all positions. However, over the years, it has become apparent that his true specialty is the offensive line. That is no surprise since he was an offensive line coach in his youth. The list of names he’s developed is glittering: Eric Steinbach, Robert Gallery, Marshal Yanda, Brandon Scherf, Bryan Bulaga, and Tristan Wirfs, among others. Now, Logan Jones is set to join that list.
The Chicago Bears drafted the center in the 2nd round last month, to the surprise of many. Most felt Jones would likely go closer to the 3rd. However, head coach Ben Johnson said the team grew smitten with him early in the draft process. People began wondering what type of player the Bears were getting. Cassie Carlson of Fox 32 News decided to ask the man who’d know best, speaking with Ferentz in an interview.
Surprisingly, the head coach didn’t hesitate to compare Jones to another Iowa legend who is having a stellar NFL career so far. That is new Las Vegas Raiders center, and three-time Pro Bowler, Tyler Linderbaum.
That vote of confidence in Logan Jones is no small thing.
After all, he coached Linderbaum, too. His saying the two players are incredibly similar in makeup is a pretty big deal. It is pretty remarkable how alike the two are in dimensions and styles. Linderbaum was considered undersized but highly athletic when drafted in the 1st round four years ago. What he lacked in power, he made up for with mobility and intelligence. It feels like the only reasons Jones wasn’t taken in a similar range were his shorter arms and his age. He turns 25 years old this year.
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Part of why Linderbaum found so much success was landing in Baltimore. The Ravens are a first-class organization that always coaches players well. They put Linderbaum in a situation that fit his game perfectly, and he thrived while helping Lamar Jackson continue dominating. It feels like the same has happened for Jones. Johnson’s offense is tailor-made for his skill set, from the wide-zone running game to the pass protection responsibilities. He could hit the ground running just as fast as Linderbaum did.
The implications of this can’t be overstated.
If Logan Jones lives up to that comparison by any reasonable degree, the Bears will have scored one of the biggest steals of the 2026 draft. It is amazing to think where the offseason started for the team. Drew Dalman, their reigning Pro Bowl center, who they’d signed just last year, had abruptly retired. That left a gaping hole in the middle of the offensive line. Most teams would’ve panicked and flailed about looking for solutions. The Bears, to their credit, pivoted quickly.
First, they traded for Garrett Bradbury as a great short-term solution. Then, after doing serious work ahead of the draft, they scooped up Jones as their potential long-term option. They did all of this without spending too much money or using unnecessary draft capital. Jones has a realistic chance to win the job outright. Coach Johnson said the door is wide open. He’s not a raw prospect. The experience is there. The maturity is there. All he needs is the opportunity to prove Ferentz right.
