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Stephen Paea | Defensive Lineman

Team: Chicago Bears
Age / DOB:  (25) / 5/11/1988
Ht / Wt:  6'1' / 300
College: Oregon State
Contract: view contract details
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Recent News

Bears NT Stephen Paea added five pounds to his 6-foot-1 frame.
Paea is listed at 300 pounds on the team's official website, so he's somewhere around 305 now. Paea was billed as a three-technique defensive tackle coming out of Oregon State, but the Bears moved Paea to nose tackle. The added weight is a necessity in order to plug holes in the run game. Apr 19 - 5:42 PM

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Date:

Bears NT Stephen Paea (ankle) returned to practice Monday and says he's "ready to roll" for Week 1.

Paea missed a large chunk of training camp with the injury, but the goal all along was to get him ready for Opening Day. He's ready, and figures to start over Matt Toeaina at nose tackle. Henry Melton is the three-technique tackle.
Mon, Sep 3, 2012 04:44:00 PM

Bears DT Stephen Paea has been sidelined three weeks with an ankle sprain.

The injury was poor timing for a player popularly picked to break out as the Bears' new starting nose tackle. Matt Toeaina will likely enter the season as the starter, allowing Paea to get back up to full speed.
Thu, Aug 30, 2012 05:04:00 PM

Bears DT Stephen Paea (ankle) was spotted in a walking boot Sunday.

Paea sprained his left ankle Saturday and is expected to miss at least a week. Coach Lovie Smith confirmed that the second-year man has already done enough to keep his starting nose tackle job ahead of veteran Matt Toeania.
Source: Bears.com
Mon, Aug 13, 2012 11:00:00 AM

Stephen Paea appears to be the front-runner for the starting nose tackle job after pushing Matt Toeaina to the second team on Thursday.

The NFL Combine record-holder on the bench press came to camp noticeably stronger after working out like a maniac during the offseason. He's drawn early-camp praise from the coaching staff for his versatility, speed, strength and athleticism. "Toeanina's going to have his hands full," DC Rod Marinelli said Thursday.
Fri, Aug 3, 2012 01:05:00 AM

The Bears are projecting second-year DT Stephen Paea as a 30-40 snap-per-game rotational player this season.

He's the top backup to NT Matt Toeaina and under tackle Henry Melton, and the trio will work in a near-even rotation. Though Paea struggled coming off a Senior Bowl knee injury for most of last season, he flashed when he played with 14 tackles, two sacks, and six QB pressures in 11 appearances (no starts).
Thu, May 24, 2012 11:45:00 AM

The Bears expect DT Stephen Paea to make a major step forward in his second NFL season.

The Bears' defensive tackle depth has diminished this offseason following the departures of Amobi Okoye and Anthony Adams, so Paea is ticketed for a larger role. Undersized at 6-foot-1, 300 pounds, Paea projects to back up Henry Melton and Matt Toeaina at both the three-technique and nose positions. The Bears also figure to add depth via the draft or free agency.
Sat, Apr 14, 2012 06:20:00 PM

Bears rookies DT Stephen Paea and FS Chris Conte both received passing grades for their first extensive defensive action of the season against the Vikings in Week 6.

Paea has earned more practice reps this week. "A lot of quickness; the speed was great," DL coach Marinelli said. "He's always had a great motor, and he was very productive. We're excited about him. He got his opportunity, and that's everything in this league. When you get your opportunity, you've got to cash in. He did."
Fri, Oct 21, 2011 10:25:00 AM

Bears VP of Player Personnel Tim Ruskell expects No. 53 overall pick Stephen Paea to play both nose and three-technique tackle.

"[He has] the strength and ability to be able to hold off the double-team with his upper body," Ruskell said. "So if we have to move him over to the nose ... he would have the capability to do that. It's just a unique guy for us." Paea's primary position will be three technique. When Henry Melton enters on passing downs, Paea will slide over to the nose position.
Tue, May 10, 2011 10:05:00 AM

Bears traded up with the Redskins to select Oregon State DT Stephen Paea with the No. 53 overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft.

The Redskins picked up picks 62 and 127. Paea is a bit of a 'tweener three technique/nose tackle, but his production in college says he'll mostly be playing the latter position next to some combo of Henry Melton and Matt Toeaina. The two-time Morris Trophy winner as the Pac 10's top defensive lineman, Paea racked up 29.5 career tackles for loss, 14 sacks, and a whopping nine forced fumbles. He won't struggle for rookie-year playing time.
Fri, Apr 29, 2011 07:51:00 PM

Multiple front office men tell the Chicago Tribune that Oregon State NT Stephen Paea is more of a second- to third-round pick than a potential first-rounder.

The Tribune's Dan Pompei cites Paea's size as a concern, as well as a less productive senior season than his junior year. His Senior Bowl knee injury also can't help. We still like Paea as a prospect in the middle of round two.
Thu, Apr 14, 2011 10:24:00 AM

Oregon State DT Stephen Paea (knee) will hold a personal workout for NFL evaluators on March 31.

The workout will be held on the Beavers' campus. Paea will be roughly nine weeks removed from arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn right meniscus suffered during January's Senior Bowl practices. He should be 100 percent.
Tue, Mar 15, 2011 12:43:00 PM

According to the Denver Post, Oregon State DT Stephen Paea "would get the (Broncos') full attention" if he's available at No. 36 overall.

No. 36 is right around the range at which Paea is expected to be drafted, and the Broncos have quite arguably the poorest defensive tackle depth chart in football. Paea would be a one-gap nose tackle in Denver, ideally playing next to a pure up-field pass rusher. The Broncos could get the latter in Nick Fairley at No. 2 overall. Marcell Dareus would be a bigger option.
Source: Denver Post
Tue, Mar 15, 2011 11:29:00 AM

Oregon State DT Stephen Paea (knee) is expected to work out for NFL teams later this month.

Paea missed the Beavers' Pro Day Friday while continuing to recover from January meniscus surgery. Unlike Da'Quan Bowers, Paea's rehab is believed to be going on schedule. He remains on track to be a high second-round pick.
Fri, Mar 11, 2011 07:30:00 PM

Oregon State DT Stephen Paea set the NFL Combine record with 49 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press Sunday.

He bettered Ohio State DE Mike Kudla, who never played a snap in the NFL. Paea is a legit day-two prospect, however, and did well to dominate one of the few drills in which he'll be able to participate. Paea is still recovering from a January knee scope. He's targeting the Beavers' mid-March Pro Day.
Sun, Feb 27, 2011 03:26:00 PM

Depth Charts

Skill Players
PosRoleName
QB1Jay Cutler
2Josh McCown
3Matt Blanchard
RB1Matt Forte
2Michael Bush
3Armando Allen
4Harvey Unga
5Michael Ford
GLB1Michael Bush
2Matt Forte
3RB1Matt Forte
2Michael Bush
FB1Evan Rodriguez
WR11Brandon Marshall
2Earl Bennett
3Eric Weems
4Joseph Anderson
5Brittan Golden
WR21Alshon Jeffery
2Marquess Wilson
3Devin Hester
4Dale Moss
5Terrence Toliver
WR31Earl Bennett
TE1Martellus Bennett
2Kyle Adams
3Steve Maneri
4Brody Eldridge
5Fendi Onobun
K1Robbie Gould
2Austin Signor