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The spotlight surrounding Dillon Thieneman and the Chicago Bears’ draft choice had an unexpected twist. The Bears made headlines by selecting a safety in the first round for the first time in 36 years, surprising many when they announced the No. 25 pick.
Yet, amidst the excitement, it was Thieneman’s younger sister, Kiera, who became the evening’s unexpected star during an ABC interview in Pittsburgh on Thursday night.
Kiera, dressed elegantly in a striking red gown, stood beside her father during the interview. Her exuberance and joy for her brother’s achievement were palpable, capturing the attention of viewers and sparking a viral moment on social media.
A member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority at Purdue, Kiera’s infectious enthusiasm resonated with fans, adding an unexpected charm to the draft night. Meanwhile, Dillon, a promising talent from Oregon, will soon head to Chicago, hopeful of earning the same admiration from Bears fans as he embarks on his rookie season.
The member of Kappa Kappa Gamma at Purdue captured the attention of many fans, leading to a viral moment on draft night. Dillon, the Oregon product, likely hopes to gain just as much favor over Bears fans upon arriving in Chicago to kick off his rookie season.
On Friday, Kiera shared her mom Shannon’s Instagram Story, which showed them on a flight to Chicago.
After winning the NFC North during head coach Ben Johnson’s first season, Thieneman will be joining an eager group that’s trying to build off their breakthrough season.
The safety played at Purdue for two years before transferring in 2025 to Oregon, where he had a stellar season. The 6-foot, 201-pound defensive back logged 95 tackles and two interceptions while earning his All-Big Ten first-team honors.
The Ducks finished with a 13-2 record and made it all the way to the College Football Playoff semifinals.
The last time the Bears drafted a safety in the first round came in 1990 when they selected Mark Carrier with the No. 6 pick out of USC.
Thieneman is also the first defensive player selected by Chicago in the first round since linebacker Roquan Smith in 2018.