The Chicago Bears have an edge rusher problem at the moment. They have for the better part of a decade now. Don't even get me started on the Bears and their historic quarterback issue. The idea of a franchise quarterback has long been something fleeting, something unknown to Bears fans. But the kicker? The kicker position has been a strength of this team for the better part of this century thanks to a few key individuals.
Cairo Santos, the Bears current placekicker, is one of those key players. Santos was recently named the fourteenth most important Bears player heading into the 2026 season by Sports Illustrated. It's a high honor. Since 2020, Santos has been a reliable and clutch option available to multiple head coaching regimes in Chicago. The names around him have changed, but Santos has been a steady name on our screens every Sunday for the better part of a decade.
The Bears have enjoyed stability at kicker for decades
Robbie Gould was a name heard around Soldier Field for over a decade, from 2005-2015. During his tenure in Chicago, field goals and placekicking in general was something that was often brushed off or forgotten about, simply because of how skilled Gould truly was. By the time he left Chicago, he was one of the most respected Bears players, and he had totaled more points than any other player in franchise history. He was a dependable guy, and it didn't feel right without him after he left.
A couple names followed, but the important one to note here is Cody Parkey. Parkey was seen as a long term answer to fill the shoes left behind by Gould, and for a short while, it seemed like we had a fit. Then the turning point in the Matt Nagy era in Chicago happened.
The infamous double-doink, one of the lowest moments in modern franchise history happened. Parkey was subsequently released and then Santos finally emerged as the answer in 2020, taking the starting job after an injury sidelined Eddie Pineiro.
Since then, Santos has been the guy, and he's been one of the only steady pieces of the Bears roster since. He was important then, he's important now, and he's going to be essential to the future of success in the Ben Johnson era of Chicago football.
The Bears have plenty of questions to answer entering the Ben Johnson era, but kicker isn't one of them. As long as Cairo Santos keeps delivering in the biggest moments, Chicago can continue taking that stability for granted.
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