Bears lose major locker room leader and All Pro defender to the best possible situation, and it’s not entirely Chicago’s fault
Kevin Byard III will be playing for a new team with a familiar face in 2026.
The Chicago Bears left the writing on the wall that All Pro safety Kevin Byard III would not be back with the team in 2026 after pivoting to former Seattle Seahawks safety and Super Bowl champion Coby Bryant on Monday.
That news is now official. Byard is signing a one-year, $9 million deal with the New England Patriots. Byard was a two-time team captain for Chicago while on a two-year, $15 million contract. So, it’s a nice pay raise for the 32-year-old, who now gets the opportunity to join a contending AFC team.
According to Josina Anderson, who was on the phone with Byard after the deal was announced, it came down to the Bears and Patriots, a sign that Chicago was still willing to work something out with the three-time All Pro safety.
Kevin Byard made the best decision for his future but it’s notable the Bears remain involved
When Chicago agreed to a sizable three-year, $40 million deal with Bryant on Monday, I thought for sure that Byard’s time in Chicago was over. By Wednesday, Byard was still on the market, leaving the door open for the Bears to reconsider bringing the locker room leader back at a cheaper price.
Byard was expected to land a deal worth $10 million per year on the open market and was 70/30 about staying in Chicago in the days leading up to free agency. Chicago was smart to let Byard hit the market and smart to invest money early into a 26-year-old with plenty of versatility and potential.
The fact that it came down to Chicago and New England shows the Bears were still serious about pairing Bryant with Byard after seeing how his market was going. Instead, Byard gets solid money on a one-year deal and gets to reunite with head coach Mike Vrabel.
Byard started his career with the Tennessee Titans playing under Vrabel, where he was named as a two-time All Pro before getting traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023. His intention was to remain with a contender one way or another this offseason and now gets a chance to play under Vrabel once again with the team that represented the AFC in the Super Bowl.
Byard is a fantastic player and an even better person. This is best possible outcome for both sides with the Bears landing a potential upgrade at the position while Byard continues his career with a trusted coach on a great team. Now, the Bears will turn their attention toward finding a new starting safety to pair with Bryant, which will likely come from the 2026 NFL Draft.
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