Bears general manager Ryan Poles didn’t mince words when asked about veteran safety Kevin Byard’s future in Chicago: “That’s a player we would like to have back.” And honestly, it’s hard to argue with him.
Byard, now 32, didn’t just hold down the back end of the Bears’ defense in 2025-he elevated it. The veteran safety played all 17 games, racking up 93 total tackles, four tackles for loss, seven interceptions (which led the NFL), and eight pass breakups.
That’s not just production-that’s impact. And it’s the kind of presence that’s tough to replace, especially with all four of the Bears’ safeties currently heading into free agency.
Poles acknowledged that there are “some challenges to sort through,” which is GM-speak for salary cap gymnastics and roster priorities. But the message was clear: Byard is a difference-maker, and the Bears know it.
Let’s rewind for a moment. Byard entered the league as a third-round pick by the Titans back in 2016.
He earned a reputation early on as a ballhawk with leadership chops, and the Titans rewarded him with a five-year, $70.5 million extension in 2019. That deal made him one of the highest-paid safeties in the game at the time.
Fast forward to 2023: Tennessee restructured his deal, dropping his base salary to $4 million. But by October, they dealt him to the Eagles for a pair of late-round picks and veteran safety Terrell Edmunds. The move was seen as a savvy midseason addition for Philly, but after the season, the Eagles cut ties.
That’s when the Bears stepped in, signing Byard to a two-year deal worth up to $15 million. And in year one, he delivered. Not just with stats, but with veteran savvy and leadership in a secondary that needed stability.
Now, with that deal set to expire, the Bears have a decision to make-and it sounds like Poles is leaning toward continuity. With so much turnover looming in the defensive backfield, keeping a proven playmaker like Byard could be crucial for a team looking to build on a promising defensive core.
Byard’s name is already on the list of the top 2026 NFL free agents, but if the Bears have their way, he may not be on the market for long.