With Super Bowl dreams, Bears lean on acquisitions with championship experience

It was all then-Patriots center Garrett Bradbury could do not to cry during the national anthem. Playing in the Super Bowl last month was the highlight of his career.

‘‘You can’t put a price tag on it,’’ he said.

The Bears did, however. One of the things that drew them to Bradbury — and eventually prompted them to make a trade for him last week to replace retiring Drew Dalman — was the success he had last season with the AFC champion Patriots.

It wasn’t just that the Patriots made the Super Bowl, either; it was how they did it. Second-year quarterback Drake Maye went from a promising rookie to one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, finishing second in the league in MVP voting.

‘‘[Bears quarterback] Caleb [Williams] is the same age,’’ Bradbury said Thursday. ‘‘It’s the same process of, I want to get to know them and they want to get to know me and if there are ways I can help them.’’

He’ll pick his spots, though. Since the Vikings made Bradbury a first-round pick in 2019, he has learned when to interject and when not to when dealing with his quarterback — be it Kirk Cousins for five seasons, Sam Darnold for one or Maye last season.

‘‘The quarterback position is so unique,’’ he said. ‘‘There’s so many people talking to them. There’s so much on their plate that you don’t want to be a guy that just adds to that.’’

When Dalman retired, the Bears’ front office met with coach Ben Johnson and offensive line coaches Dan Roushar and Kyle DeVan to scour the league for a center that fit the team’s run scheme. Bradbury stood out because, like Dalman, he was nimble, if undersized. He was available because the Patriots wanted to move guard Jared Wilson, a third-round draft pick last year, to center.

Bradbury’s experience — both with winning and developing a quarterback — will resonate at Halas Hall. When the Bears reached the playoffs for the first time in five years, many of their best veteran players — from Montez Sweat to DJ Moore to Cole Kmet to Jaylon Johnson — were experiencing their first winning seasons as pros.

With the Bears now wanting to take the next step, the 2026 season will require players who have been there before.

Championship-level leadership was one of the common traits of the Bears’ free-agent signees, general manager Ryan Poles said, along with speed and passion. The Bears’ priciest offseason free-agent signee, safety Coby Bryant, was on the Seahawks team that beat Bradbury and Patriots in the Super Bowl.

Bryant was the lone defensive starter to leave a unit that gave up the fewest points in the NFL last season. Poles said that immediately after signing Bryant, he heard from opposing coaches and front-office members ‘‘how pissed off Seattle was’’ that the Bears lured him away. He considers that a good sign.

Bryant said he remembers telling friends the Bears would beat the Rams and advance to play them in the NFC title game. He watched the game intently.

‘‘It was a big reason why I came here,’’ he said. ‘‘I’ve seen the winning culture, the head coach and just the coaching staff.’’

If there was a secret to the Super Bowl-winning season, Bryant said, it was in the process.

‘‘Don’t get complacent,’’ he said, ‘‘and each week just continue to get better.’’

When Bradbury signed with the Patriots last year, they were coming off a 4-13 season. Coach Mike Vrabel, however, instilled a work ethic in his new team. He senses Johnson is the same way.

‘‘You have to have an identity in this league as a team, how you play football, how you go about your business,’’ Bradbury said. ‘‘I see that with the Bears.

‘‘You don’t make comparisons, you don’t make predictions, but you show up and work. That’s what I’m looking forward to.’’