This offseason could see the Chicago Bears switch out both starting safeties and at least one of their starting cornerbacks. Jaquan Brisker, Kevin Byard III, and Nahshon Wright are heading into the offseason as pending free agents.
Brisker recently reached out with words of encouragement for one of his Bears teammates and fellow FAs.
They, too, face uncertainty before the offseason officially begins on March 11.
Bears’ Jaquan Brisker Sends Message to Super Bowl Champion
Jaquan Brisker Responds to Bears Teammate
Brisker, a second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, has spent his entire career up to this point with the Bears. Fellow safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson spent part of the 2025 season with the Bears, his first campaign in Chicago.
Both players provided tremendous value for the Bears this past season, but neither has a deal in place heading into the offseason.
Fittingly, then, Brisker was a notable respondent to Gardner-Johnson’s recent gripe.
“One thing about me I vouch for every single player I played with,” Gardner-Johnson posted on X on March 7, adding, “[I] wish the love was mutual! But god vouched for me so I’m blessed [praying hands emoji].”
Brisker replied to Gardner-Johnson, saying, “You always got love this way! [black heart and praying hands emojis] my mf guy go be greater.”
Two players with different paths, brought together by extenuating circumstances.
Spotrac projected Brisker’s market value at $11.1 million annually, providing a three-year, $33.3 million contract as a possible target. For Gardner-Johnson, a Super Bowl champion with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024, the projection is a more economical one-year, $2.3 million deal.
However, the Bears brought Gardner-Johnson in as a mid-year rental due to injuries in the secondary. Specifically, it was the absence of nickelback Kyler Gordon that prompted the decision.
Brisker has been the heart and soul of the Bears’ secondary, if not defense, for several seasons.
Bears Facing Reality Before Offseason
Neither player has suggested a return to Chicago is imminent. Moreover, the Bears, who Over The Cap has at $26.5 million below the limit, have several other roster needs to address this offseason.
The other factor is that, as key as Brisker has been for the Bears, he was not drafted to play in Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s scheme.
There is something to be said about fitting the scheme to the personnel.
In that sense, though, the timing of Brisker’s free agency may work against him, as could injuries to the Bears’ last two players who received extensions in the secondary–Gordon and Jaylon Johnson–this past season.
Gardner-Johnson seemed to mesh well with his teammates in the Bears’ locker room. He also did not call out anyone in particular in his post.
It remains unknown what lies ahead for the veteran duo, be it with the Bears or elsewhere.
