The Chicago Bears are gearing up for what will be a pivotal offseason as the team looks to make a push towards Super Bowl contention.
During the 2025 NFL season, the Bears were one of the biggest surprises in the entire league. They were expected to take a step forward from previous seasons, but no one expected them to make the playoffs as the No. 2 seed in the NFC and also win the NFC North division title.
Led by first-year head coach Ben Johnson and second-year quarterback Caleb Williams, the future looks incredibly bright. Chicago has a good chance of being a contender for many years to come if it continues making the right decisions.
Heading into this offseason, the Bears are expected to keep the aggressive approach they have had in recent years. Ryan Poles is all-in on pushing the team towards a championship. No one should expect to see him take his foot off of the gas.
Chicago Bears Safety Kevin Byard Set to Hit Free Agency
Sep 21, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears free safety Kevin Byard (31) reacts against the Dallas Cowboys during the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
Kevin Byard, a starting safety for Chicago, is going to be one of the main offseason priorities. He is set to become a free agent after being a key player and leader for the Bears during the 2025 season.
Ahead of free agency, Byard took some time to speak out about his future. He’s not sure whether or not he’ll end up re-signing with Chicago.
“I’m a pending free agent, so don’t know if I’m gonna be back just yet,” Byard said. “Those conversations are probably gonna get started here pretty soon … I know (Ryan) Poles and Ben Johnson, they’ve got a lot of decisions to make as far as our roster, trying to see how everybody fits in there. I’m hoping to be able to come back … but we’ll see. It’s still unknown right now.”
Obviously, that isn’t exactly what fans would have preferred to hear. It’s clear that Byard is planning to explore the market. If the Bears give him the kind of deal he’s looking for, he would likely love to return, but he’s not locked in one way or another.
Throughout the course of the 2025 season, the 32-year-old safety played in 17 games. He racked up 93 total tackles to go along with seven interceptions and eight defended passes.
Expect to see the Bears attempt to re-sign Byard when free agency opens. They may or may not be successful, but he was a huge part of the team’s defensive success this year.
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