The Chicago Bears have entered a new era after Ben Johnson left his role as offensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions to come to the Windy City and take over as Chicago's next head coach.
With a new regime calling the shots, players who are holdovers from the previous coaching staff will need to prove their worth throughout the 2025 campaign to position themselves best to be mainstays on the roster beyond this season.
One veteran starter in the secondary should be well aware of this as Week 1 approaches. After not receiving a contract extension from the franchise, a move that is understandable given his concussion history, Jaquan Brisker must get off to a strong start over the next four weeks if he wants to remain a member of the Bears.
Bears' Brisker Has 1 Month to Prove He’s Worth Keeping Beyond 2025
It is always easier to make a strong first impression than it is to change a less-than-positive one. When it comes to being a professional athlete in a contract year, the same train of thought holds. In Brisker's situation, considering the overhaul to the coaching staff running the show moving forward, what he can produce over the first month of the regular season will go a long way toward determining what his future in Chicago holds, and more importantly, what his next contract looks like.
The former Penn State Nittany Lions standout has been a consistent contributor since entering the league in 2022, recording over 100 tackles in each season along with five QB sacks, three forced fumbles, and a pair of interceptions.
The problem Brisker has faced, however, has been injury issues that have forced him off the field. Concussions, in particular, have been a major issue for Brisker since entering the league, which explains why Ryan Poles and the front office would be hesitant to sign him to a big-money extension before seeing just what he can accomplish during the 2025 season..
The ball is in Brisker's court here. If the defender can prove there are no lingering effects from the head injuries and that he is the same impact player that Bears fans remember, Chicago would likely be happy to pay him to retain his services moving forward.
If the injury issues persist, however, it would be hard to blame the Bears for looking to get that type of production from another player.