Just two players have logged more snaps than Chicago Bears safety Kevin Byard.
With 4,416 snaps since 2020, per Stathead, Byard trails only fellow safety Quandre Diggs and Diggs? former teammate, linebacker Bobby Wagner in that span. Byard has 106 more snaps than the next closest defensive player, Philadelphia Eagles cornerback and former teammate James Bradberry.
Bears’ Kevin Byard Reacts to Being Among NFL Leaders in Snaps
Kevin Byard Bringing Iron Man Streak to Bears
Cincinnati Bengals guard Alex Cappa is the only offensive player to cross the 4,400-snap threshold. Byard was certainly proud of his accomplishment.
?Availablity is your best ability,? the former Tennessee Titans star said in a post on X on June 7, quoting a graphic illustrating the feat.
Byard has never missed a game in his career due to injury.
He posted a career-best 122 combined tackles and 80 solo stops last season, splitting the campaign between the Eagles and Titans. The 30-year-old received his lowest grade since 2020 and the third-lowest mark of his career last season from Pro Football Focus.
He signed a two-year, $15 million contract with the Bears in free agency.
Kevin Byard Gives Bears Greater Defensive Flexibility
One of the most telling aspects of Byard?s addition ? and perhaps his predecessor Eddie Jackson?s departure ? came via comments from teammate Jaquan Brisker. Known as one of the up-and-coming box safeties, Brisker revealed the Bears are making a key change.
?This year with KB, we’ve been playing a lot know left and right. I’ll say that’s different,? Brisker told reporters on June 6. ?Really, those guys are both great players. Really no drop off. But that’s really the difference, the playing left and right. And then KB has a lot of football IQ, a lot of veteran football IQ that he has brought to the team. A lot of leadership, very vocal and things like that. So it’s been good.?
Byard split his snaps between free safety and in the box roughly 46% and 38%, lining up in other spots ? such as linebacker and slot corner ? last season, per PFF.
Brisker has lined up at free safety as well in his career.
However, the frequency with which he plays there and what his responsibilities are when he does figure to change with Byard?s versatility in place of Jackson. The latter posted the lowest PFF grade of his career last season. Byard?s coverage grade alone was eight points higher than his fellow Pro Bowler, Jackson, who remains a free agent.
Bears Secondary Battled Injuries in 2023
Each member of the Bears? starting secondary missed time last season, including Brisker, with rookie Tyrique Stevenson leading the team with 16 games. Brisker noted being healthier as one of his goals.
He said he is trying to pass along that knowledge to younger teammates.
?I feel like I always been a leader and things like that. But now it’s time to be smart because we want everybody to be out there,? Brisker said. ?Just make sure we’re all good because we need everybody out there. Like, we need every single body. As y’all seen, it affects us when we’re not all out there and we need to be out there at all times.?
Having an ironman in Byard as an example will help. Defensive end Montez Sweat is another player who, outside of one season, has been remarkably healthy in his career.
The same can be said for linebacker T.J. Edwards. Meanwhile, fellow linebacker Tremaine Edmunds has missed more than one game in any season just twice, though both instances have come in the last two seasons.
It highlights the types of free agents ? and trade acquisitions ? that Ryan Poles has targeted on that side of the ball.
