The Chicago Bears are embarking on an ambitious task, remaking their secondary after leading the NFL in takeaways, and free agent pickup Coby Bryant is a big part of their plan to be better on the back end.
Bryant entered the league as a cornerback, but moved to safety full-time in 2024.
He brings an element to the field that the Bears lacked last season, and it is not just his championship pedigree.
Bears’ Coby Bryant Was Coveted in Free Agency
Bears Got Valued Contributor in Coby Bryant
The Bears signed Bryant to a three-year, $40 million contract in free agency this offseason. He figures to replace Kevin Byard III, who signed with the New England Patriots, as the deep safety in defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s scheme.
Allen’s defense calls for versatility from the DBs, but Bryant is also a positive in the run game.
“Good player — wish we could have gotten him,” an anonymous executive told The Athletic’s Mike Sano in comments published on April 3.
Sando noted that another executive said the Seattle Seahawks, who selected Bryant 102nd overall in the 2022 draft, wanted to retain the former Cincinnati Bearcat, while another noted the ways that Bryant and fellow free-agent signing Devin Bush project as fits.
Both players improve the Bears’ speed at the position compared to last season.
“Coby Bryant is going to play in the post,” a third unnamed executive told Sando. “Devin Bush is the athlete that they like. They will probably either (blitz) him or match him underneath.”
Sando noted that an exec mentioned the Bears are banking on cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon returning to health. They also still have Tyrique Stevenson, who started in Johnson’s left cornerback slot while the latter was injured this past season.
Coby Bryant Key Part of Plan
The Bears are expected to address their front line further. They could also add another safety, particularly one who is even better than Bryant at defending the run.
Regardless, the ex-Seahawk has to be a key, but profiles as someone who can be just that.
“He … was a key starter on the Seahawks’ Super Bowl defense,” The Athletic’s Daniel Popper wrote in February. “Bryant has reliable eyes and positioning in the deep part of the field. He can support the run. His corner traits show up when he is carrying vertical routes and driving on routes underneath.”
Popper ranked Bryant the 42nd-best player and the fourth-best safety, including behind Byard, in free agency this offseason. The Bears’ pass defense ranked 29th overall and 22nd against the pass in 2025.
Improving that will help offset their regression in turnovers.
