Feb. 14, 2026, 3:28 p.m. CT
The Chicago Bears’ special teams unit was a solid group during their successful 2025 season.Kicker Cairo Santos remained a reliable option, though his field goal percentage was his lowest since joining the team.Punter Tory Taylor, a former fourth-round pick, has yet to consistently live up to his draft position.Long snapper Scott Daly was a solid contributor, starting all 17 regular-season games.
The Chicago Bears had a magical 2025 season under first-year head coach Ben Johnson, where they went from worst to first with an 11-6 record, NFC North title and the franchise’s first playoff win in 15 years. And there’s no denying that the future is bright.
While the Bears exceeded expectations in their first year under Johnson, there’s still plenty of work to be done with this roster, most notably on defense. After overhauling the offense in the trenches and at skill positions, the focus shifts to the defense where the hope is general manager Ryan Poles does the same to round out this unit under defensive coordinator Dennis Allen and form a complete team with a top-five offense.
Here at Bears Wire, we’re going position by position through the 2025 Bears and grading every player. W’re wrapping things up with the special teams unit, where Cairo Santos remains a reliable option in the kicking game.
K Cairo Santos
2025 stats: 25-for-30 field goals (83.3%); 39-for-39 extra points (100%)
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Cairo Santos was a controversial player in Chicago this year, where at one point some were ready to move on with Jake Moody, who stepped in for a couple games in Santos’ absence. While Santos has brought stability to the kicker position that wasn’t there since Robbie Gould, he’s not exactly a modern NFL kicker known for his leg strength. Santos’ 83.3% field goal percentage was the lowest since joining the Bears although he made all of his extra points for his first time with Chicago. Santos came through with some clutch kicks to force overtime, win games or even put the Bears in a position to win. But, at some point, you have to wonder with his inability to connect on long field goals (now a regularity in the NFL) when will the team move on.
Grade: B+
2025 stats: 60 punts, 2,870 yards, 47.8 yards per punt, 7 touchbacks, 21 punts inside 20-yard-line
GM Ryan Poles took a swing on punter Tory Taylor in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, but after two years he’s yet to live up to his draft stock. In theory, drafting someone with the ability to flip the field and change games is a solid move. But Taylor just hasn’t been able to consistently do that, and certainly not for the price of a fourth-round pick. Quarterback Caleb Williams finally made good on his promise that Taylor wouldn’t see the field much as he had 22 less punts in 2025 compared to his rookie season. Taylor had a long of 69 yards while kicking 21 inside the 20-yard line and totaling seven touchbacks.
Grade: C+
LS Scott Daly
2025 stats: 3 total tackles
Last year, Scott Daly proved himself to be the long snapper after Patrick Mannelly was lost to a back injury. He earned a one-year extension with Chicago and returned for Year 2 of the Bears’ special teams trio. Daly started all 17 regular-season games (and two playoff contests) and was a solid long snapper. We’ll see if Chicago elects to re-sign him to another one-year deal or perhaps give practice squad long snapper Luke Elkin, who was signed to a reserve/future deal, a chance this offseason.
Grade: B+
Position grade: B+
Overall, the Bears special teams unit was a solid one, including all three specialists, returners and gunners. Chicago saw significant contributions from special teams in a few of their impressive fourth-quarter comebacks, including Josh Blackwell’s blocked field goal against the Las Vegas Raiders and the onside kick recovery in their Week 16 win over the Green Bay Packers. Cairo Santos continues to be a reliable field goal kicker, inside 50 yards, while Tory Taylor has shown at times he has what it takes to flip the field the way the Bears envisioned when they drafted him in the fourth round two years ago.
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