Going into free agency, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix knew two things. First off, he wanted to play for a team that plays with the same amount of passion as him. Second of all, he wanted to go to a team that wants to win games as bad as he does. He felt the Chicago Bears were exactly that team. Clinton-Dix believed so much so that he left more money on the table elsewhere because he liked the Bears fit. Fast forward to the team’s offseason program this May, and Clinton-Dix learned for himself that the Bears brotherhood inside the locker room is the real deal. An ex Alabama teammate wasn’t lying when he was recruiting him back in March.

Eddie Jackson Relationship

Eddie Jackson was one of the NFL’s top defensive players on the number one ranked Bears defense. In only his second season, he earned a 1st Team All-Pro award after a six-interception regular season. Unfortunately, Jackson sustained an ankle injury which caused him to miss the Wild Card Game vs. the Eagles. With the departure of safety Adrian Amos, Jackson felt adding the skill set of Clinton-Dix next to him could make for a dynamic duo.

The Eddie Jackson and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix friendship goes back a long way. In 2013, Alabama head coach Nick Saban asked projected first-round talent Clinton-Dix to show a young Eddie Jackson around campus to try and recruit him there. Just Like Clinton-Dix, Jackson was a defensive back out of Florida. Jackson ended up signing with Alabama, and the two have been friends ever since. In the NFL, the two would speak on the phone almost every week, even though Clinton-Dix played for the division rival Green Bay Packers, and after the 2018 trade deadline, the Washington Redskins. Once Clinton-Dix hit free agency, Jackson flipped the script and recruited Ha Ha to play alongside him with the Bears. The pitch was simple. Come be a part of something special! Clinton-Dix did not hesitate to sign with his buddy and the number one defense in the league.

Scheme Fit

With the two teams swapping safeties, the never-ending debate between Packer fans and Bears fans this offseason was arguing who is better, Amos or Clinton-Dix. Amos has three career interception in 60 games. Most Bears fans loved Amos when he was on the team, but a lot of fans thought he benefited from playing on a loaded defense.

Meanwhile, Clinton-Dix has 14 career interceptions in 80 games while being the leader of some weak Packer defenses. I’m not here to argue who is better, but the fact of the matter is Clinton-Dix is a premier playmaker who is joining an already loaded defense. Adding Ha Ha next to Jackson, who has eight career interceptions in 30 games will be very fun to watch. Ultimately this move gives the Bears an incredible amount of playmaking ability in the secondary. Above all, you can’t beat the deal. 1-year $3.5 million was an absolute steal.

Bears Culture

The first couple of days in Chicago, Ha Ha said he wanted to be the quiet kid and try to get comfortable. He was quick to learn how close the team is. When Clinton-Dix went on a recent All-Access Bears radio show on WSCR 670 AM.

“We have something special going on here… In the locker room, there are so many great guys who are down to earth and funny. All have the same passion and also want to win ballgames, and that’s what it’s all about.”

This Monday ahead of OTAs, Bears head coach Matt Nagy called for a Monday-Funday. Players and coaches split into ten 11-man teams. The teams competed in obstacles and challenges all day. From hitting targets to dodgeball. Sure enough, Ha Ha ended up being on the winning team along with Leonard FLoyd, Pat O’Donnell, Chuck Harris, Allen Robinson, Ted Larsen, Bilal Nichols, and Ellis Richardson. Along with coaches Donovan Raiola, Mark Helfrich, and Deshea Townsend.

Since the arrival of Coach Nagy, you can see the difference in team camaraderie from years past. From Club Dub to the smiles on everyone’s faces, you can tell the players love to compete together. The Bears landed a good one in Coach Nagy. He has built a special locker room, and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix couldn’t be more excited for this opportunity. Bears fans, what better way for Ha Ha to officially become a Bear than picking off ex-teammate Aaron Rodgers at home on September 5th, the official kickoff of the 100th season of the NFL.