After a few years of being in football purgatory, it’s a good time to be a member of the Chicago Bears right now. The Bears own a 10-4 record going into Saturday’s game against the Green Bay Packers, and if they win, there’s a good chance they could win their first division title since the 2018 season. Everything feels like it should be coming up Bears unless you’re safety Jaquan Brisker.
Brisker has been part of a defense that has the most interceptions (21) and the highest turnover rate (19.7%) in the NFL entering Week 16, which includes his interception during an Oct. 13 win over the Washington Commanders. While he hasn’t put up the massive numbers that his counterpart, Kevin Byard, has put up, it’s looking more like he’ll be looking for a new job next offseason.
Jaquan Brisker’s Return to Health May Not Be Enough to Stay in Chicago
Unlike most players who are frustrated at this point of the season, Brisker has had plenty of opportunities to show his worth. After getting limited to five games due to concussions last season, Brisker has played in 14 games with 69 total tackles, a tackle for loss, five pass defenses, and a sack. He’s also flashed the form he had in his first two seasons, when he had 209 total tackles, 11 pass defenses, five sacks, and a pair of interceptions earlier in his career.
And yet he hasn’t been able to force his way into Chicago’s long term plans.
Chicago has some valid reasons for this. For starters, Byard has been the more impactful of the two safeties, leading the NFL with six interceptions. He also brings a level of leadership as a two-time (and likely three-time by the end of the year) Pro Bowler and has the playing style that defensive coordinator Dennis Allen wants in his defense.
At this time a year ago, the Bears were also concerned about Brisker’s long-term health after he admitted he had to “retrain his nervous system” after suffering three concussions last year.
While none of this sounds ideal, there are also some concerns with keeping Byard around. He’ll turn 33 during next year’s training camp, and while he’s put up big interception numbers this year, he could be due for regression with more interceptions this season (6) than the last three seasons combined (3).
However, Byard is also the perfect pairing for a rookie safety considering his reliability and mentorship. This adds to the scenario where the Bears keep him around and bring in a youngster through the 2026 draft.
That, then, would leave Brisker looking for a new NFL home. He does have an opportunity over the final weeks of the season and playoffs to change minds in the organization, but it's looking likely that his time in Chicago is running out as the team plots a new course at the position.