With a successful 2025 season in the books, the Chicago Bears must turn their attention towards replicating that success next year. To do that, the Bears will have to shore up their deficiencies that stopped them short of the Super Bowl this year and a big focus will be on the secondary.
The group could face a challenge if defensive backs coach Al Harris leaves for a defensive coordinator job in the coming weeks. But Chicago may also want to upgrade their personnel, specifically on the back end after several key injuries struck this season.
To achieve that, the Bears have to keep their eyes open across all avenues. One opened up on Monday as NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported a list of players on practice squads that became free agents after their teams were eliminated in the divisional round of the playoffs and former Houston Texans safety K’Von Wallace should be one player Chicago has its eyes on going forward.
Bears Should Consider K’Von Wallace for Secondary Depth in 2026
Adding a safety that spent the year on the Texans' practice squad isn’t enough to get Bears fans excited about the 2026 season. But his past is a track record that indicates he can be of use to Dennis Allen’s defense.
A six-year veteran, Wallace’s best year came in 2023, logging 89 total tackles, an interception and six pass deflections between the Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans. But he couldn’t parlay that into a full-time starting role, serving as a reserve and special teamer with the Seattle Seahawks before suffering a season-ending ankle injury after nine games.
Wallace struggled to find a new team in the aftermath of the injury, failing to make the New York Giants’ roster out of training camp, signing with the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad and signing with the Texans practice squad following his release last October. While he got into three games, making nine tackles with a tackle for loss, he did not play during the playoffs before becoming a free agent on Monday.
Recent history suggests the Bears could look somewhere else for depth. But they’ve had success with low-risk pickups before. Chicago’s secondary battled injuries throughout the 2025 campaign with Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon out for extended periods of time and the Bears pivoted by signing C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who stepped in with 51 total tackles, two interceptions, four pass defenses and three sacks over 10 games.
While it’s possible Garner-Johnson could be back next year, the Bears will need a few extra answers if injuries arrive or he decides to head elsewhere in 2026. If anything the Bears could sign Wallace, allow him to battle for a spot during camp and release him if he doesn’t make the team.
It’s the type of move that many teams make this time of year and could add some needed depth to the Chicago secondary.