The Chicago Bears are still weighing who to keep among their top safeties. Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard are both set to hit free agency.
Brisker, 26, has played four NFL seasons, all with the Bears. He joined the team after being selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft.
After missing time due to injuries, he bounced back in 2025. He recorded 93 tackles and strengthened the Bears’ defense. Over his first four seasons, Brisker appeared in 52 games, totaling 342 tackles and 7.0 sacks. He completed the final year of his rookie contract in 2025.
Brisker has youth and talent, but he suffered three concussions. This could impact his ability to secure a long-term deal.
Byard, 32, signed with the Bears in March 2024 after being released by the Philadelphia Eagles. He played in all 17 games in 2024 and recorded a team-leading 130 tackles.
Byard followed that with 93 tackles and a league-leading seven interceptions in 2025. He also earned his third Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors and was named Chicago’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Byard began his NFL career in 2016 with the Tennessee Titans. He earned two first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors with the Titans before joining the Eagles. These achievements established him as one of the league’s top safeties.
Chicago Bears safety Kevin Byard III (31) after an NFL International Series game.
Chicago Bears Face Tough Choice: Jaquan Brisker or Kevin Byard?
Both Brisker and Byard can sign with another team if the Bears fail to reach new deals with them. Fox Sports predicts the Bears will likely choose Byard over Brisker.
The outlet forecasts that Byard will re-sign with Chicago, while Brisker will join the Las Vegas Raiders. There is speculation that the team may part ways with Brisker because of concussion concerns.
“Chicago has major decisions to make on who to keep in that group and who to let go, with Brisker and veteran safety Kevin Byard both free agents. Will teams make a big investment in a player who’s had three concussions?” Fox Sports wrote.
Brisker suffered his third diagnosed concussion in October 2024. He missed the final 12 games of the season. Repeated concussions raise serious long-term health concerns, which are now part of the team’s evaluation. However, some analysts argue Brisker remains one of the defense’s most impactful players when healthy, as was evident last season.
The Bears are carefully weighing their options, as they also have limited salary cap space for new contracts. Due to budget constraints, the team may not be able to afford both Brisker and Byard.
For Fox Sports, keeping Byard makes sense. The outlet said he is a crucial defensive leader, and even a short-term contract would benefit the Bears.
“He set the tone on a defense predicated on takeaways, so keeping him on a one-year deal wouldn’t be bad at all for the Bears, who won’t be able to keep their talented secondary intact,” the outlet said.
As of now, nothing is official. These forecasts are only predictions. Chicago has not yet made a final decision on Brisker or Byard, keeping fans in suspense as free agency approaches.
NFL Draft analyst reveals good news for Chicago Bears’ biggest need
Read More
For More Great Chicago Sports Content
Get the latest Chicago sports news, analysis, and breaking stories on the Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks, Cubs, White Sox, Sky, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, so you never miss a story on your favorite Chicago teams.
Follow us on Twitter at @chicitysports23 for more great content. We appreciate you taking time to read our articles. To interact more with our community and keep up to date on the latest in Chicago sports news, JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP by CLICKING HERE