With the season over in Chicago, the attention turns to whether the Bears can keep the core together that propelled the club to its first NFC North title since 2018.
One of the several free key free agents is safety Kevin Byard, who led the NFL with seven interceptions — the second time in his career he’s led the league in picks. Byard said Monday his “first choice” would be to remain in Chicago, but noted he can’t predict the future.
“With the success that we all had this season as a team, I think a lot of guys on this team are going to be coveted around this league, honestly,” he said, via the Chicago Sun-Times. “And I think the same way the organization is always going to do what’s best for the team, I think I owe that to my family as well.”
A three-time Pro Bowler, Byard played a key role in Dennis Allen’s defense, owning the range to cover swaths of space and the smarts and savvy to cover up mistakes on the outside. Byard was named a first-team All-Pro for the third time in his career.