The Chicago Bears are heading into a pivotal offseason, and one of the biggest questions looming over Halas Hall is what happens with safety Jaquan Brisker. With a roster full of young talent and some major financial decisions on the horizon, the Bears may be forced to make some tough calls-and Brisker could be one of them.
According to ESPN’s Matt Bowen, Brisker is projected to land with the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency. It’s a move that checks a lot of boxes for both sides.
For Pittsburgh, it would be a homecoming of sorts-Brisker grew up in the Pittsburgh area and played his college ball at Penn State. More importantly, he’d fill a real need in the Steelers' secondary.
Under new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, Brisker would slide in as a replacement for Kyle Dugger. Graham’s scheme leans on versatility in the back end, and Brisker fits that bill.
He’s shown he can play deep in Cover 2 looks, but he’s also a physical presence in the box-exactly the kind of disruptor Graham likes to deploy in single-high alignments. Over four seasons in Chicago, Brisker racked up four interceptions, seven sacks, and 14 pass breakups.
That kind of production, combined with his scheme versatility, makes him an intriguing fit in Pittsburgh.
But from the Bears’ perspective, letting Brisker walk might be more about future planning than current performance. He had a standout rookie year and bounced back strong last season, but the two seasons in between raised some durability and consistency concerns. With a big payday likely on the horizon, Chicago may decide it’s better to sell high rather than commit long-term to a player whose trajectory still has some question marks.
There’s also the salary cap to consider. The Bears have a wave of young stars-Darnell Wright, Caleb Williams, Colston Loveland-who could command top-tier contracts down the line.
Keeping the financial books in order now could give Chicago the flexibility it needs when those extensions come due. That kind of forward-thinking roster management might mean parting ways with a fan favorite like Brisker.
And if the Bears are going to move on from a safety, Kevin Byard could be the one they choose to keep. He’s older, yes, but he’s a more natural fit for the current defense and likely comes at a more manageable cost. That makes Brisker the odd man out-not because he can’t play, but because the numbers and the fit might not align anymore in Chicago.
Meanwhile, the Steelers are in real need of help at safety. DeShon Elliott’s injury last season exposed some major issues in the secondary.
They experimented with moving Jalen Ramsey to safety, but the results were mixed-and there’s no guarantee Ramsey is even on the roster next year. Brisker would bring stability and physicality to a group that’s been searching for both.
Add in the hometown connection, and the dots start connecting fast. Pittsburgh offers a scheme that fits Brisker’s strengths, a defense that needs his skill set, and a city that already feels like home.
For the Bears, it’s a tough decision-but one that might make sense in the long-term roster puzzle. For the Steelers, it could be a savvy move that shores up a shaky secondary with a player who’s just entering his prime.