Getty
Safety Kevin Byard III of the Chicago Bears.
The Chicago Bears are in the midst of a special season, which is unique beyond the fact that it will be only the second winning campaign in the last 13 years for the oft-beleaguered franchise.
Chicago set an NFL single-season record in Week 16 by executing its sixth comeback win within the last two minutes of a game. The victory over the Green Bay Packers in overtime moved the Bears to 11-4 and put them one win, or one Packers’ loss, away from their first NFC North Division title since 2018.
Several factors have played roles in the resurgence, including new head coach Ben Johnson and his run-game scheme, the development of second-year quarterback Caleb Williams and personnel improvements across the roster, but particularly along the offensive line.
Though safety Kevin Byard III, one of three Pro Bowlers from the team in 2025, believes there is something greater at work based on how the Bears continue to win games in clutch fashion.
“It’s only destiny, baby.”
@KevinByard was mic’d for one of the craziest games of the year 👀
“Hey, I’ve seen some crazy [expletive] this year, coach!” Byard said while mic’d up during Chicago’s game against Green Bay on December 20. “Destined, bro. Boy, we destined to go all the way, bro. Come on, bro. Stuff like that, bro! For a reason!”
“It’s only destiny, baby,” Byard continued.
Kevin Byard Leading NFL in Interceptions During Pro Bowl Year in 2025
GettyChicago Bears safety Kevin Byard III.
Byard, 32, earned Pro Bowl honors for the third time in his 10-year NFL career in 2025.
“Byard is having a career resurgence in Chicago with a league-high six interceptions on the Bears defense, which has a league-best 31 takeaways,” Courtney Cronin of ESPN wrote December 23.
Joining Byard in the Pro Bowl are center Drew Dalman and offensive guard Joe Thuney, who the Bears acquired during the offseason via free agency and a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs, respectively.
Byard, a two-time captain in Chicago, is the 11th-ranked safety league-wide out of 100 players who have seen enough snaps to qualify at the position, per Pro Football Focus.
He has amassed 83 tackles, including four tackles for loss, seven pass breakups and six interceptions through 15 games this season.
Considering Byard’s contributions, he has been a steal on a two-year deal worth $15 million total after 7.5 seasons (two first-team All-Pro selections) with the Tennessee Titans and a little over half of a campaign (10 games) with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023.
Bears Remain in Hunt for No. 1 Seed in NFC Playoffs
GettyQuarterback Caleb Williams (left) and head coach Ben Johnson (right) of the Chicago Bears.
As well as Chicago has played, and as much as the team has improved since a 5-12 campaign last season, the Bears still have some major flaws — particularly on defense. Thus, the higher the playoff seed the Bears can secure, the better their chances are of realizing the Super Bowl destiny Byard spoke about last weekend.
The team currently occupies the No. 2 seed in the NFC with an 11-4 record, one game behind the Seattle Seahawks. Chicago faces the San Francisco 49ers on the road in Week 17 and Detroit Lions at Soldier Field to close out the season.
If the Bears win out and the Seahawks go 1-1 or 0-2 over two road games against the Carolina Panthers and 49ers, respectively, Chicago will earn the No. 1 seed by way of a tiebreaker. The Bears would earn a bye through Super Wildcard Weekend and also gain home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs in that scenario.
However, Chicago could drop all the way to the No. 7 seed by losing its final two contests, should Green Bay also win both of its games against the Baltimore Ravens (home) and Minnesota Vikings (road), respectively.
Max Dible covers the NFL, NBA and MLB for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns. He covered local and statewide news as a reporter for West Hawaii Today and served as news director for BigIslandNow.com and Pacific Media Group’s family of Big Island radio stations before joining Heavy. More about Max Dible
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