Bears make their first splash at the safety position by bringing a Super Bowl champ and it could signal the end of Kevin Byard’s time in Chicago
The Chicago Bears are getting younger at the safety position based on their second reported signing.
The Chicago Bears were expected to make an early splash on the safety market to revamp the position going into the 2026 season and many expected that money will be used to re-sign All Pro safety Kevin Byard III. The Bears might be going in a different direction.
According to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, the Bears have zeroed in on former Seattle Seahawks safety Coby Bryant. Chicago is expected to sign Bryant to a sizable three-year, $40 million deal.
Bears opt for a younger option at safety and cash in on a versatile player fresh off a Super Bowl
“Bryant was a key member of the Seahawks’ secondary, which played a vital role in the team’s Super Bowl championship. His coverage ability is next level and will be a real asset for the Bears. This, paired with his physicality when he attacks a ball carrier, is exactly what most coaches are searching for at the safety position. Like other members of the Seahawks’ defense, he gets himself into trouble at times by trying to anticipate a play before it happens and becoming too aggressive in making the big play.
If the Bears can reign that in a bit, though, this signing has the chance to be a game-changer for their defense going forward.” – A to Z Sports’ Destin Adams
Based on that overview, Bryant sounds like the ideal safety for defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s system. Bryant is coming off a four interception season and will take over the free safety role previously held by Byard. Potentially losing Byard would be a big blow from a leadership standpoint but the Bears are bringing in a much younger (26-years-old) playmaker that can ideally be able to do even more in this scheme. The expectation now is that the Bears will pair Bryant with a rookie that can be more of a box safety in the role previously held by Jaquan Brisker.
Where did Coby Bryant rank in A to Z Sports’ Top-100?
“Coby Bryant’s NFL career got off to a rough start when he was miscast as a nickel early on, and he didn’t start to find his footing in the league until Mike MacDonald came into town and moved him back to a traditional free safety.
He’s a smart, instinctive safety who can help reinforce a team’s coverage on the back end, but he would be best served as a split-field safety to help hide his average movement skills.” – AJ Schulte
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