The Chicago Bears are currently busy cementing their run to their first division title in 2018. But no matter how the 2025 season ends up, the Bears will have some interesting decisions to make heading into 2026.
The Bears have established a new culture under head coach Ben Johnson, and part of the resurgence has been on the defensive end of the football. Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen's arrival has played a major role in that success, and one of the players who has benefited most is safety Kevin Byard.
Byard currently leads the NFL with six interceptions, and it’s becoming more important that Chicago retains him as he heads to free agency next spring. With a new contract looming, Byard was named to his third Pro Bowl and first since 2021 on Tuesday morning, per Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, perhaps increasing the cost to bring him back to the Bears next season.
A Pro Bowl Season May Cause Bears to Pay Up and Keep Kevin Byard
You couldn’t have written a better script for Byard’s second season with the Bears. After logging 130 total tackles with five tackles for loss, two sacks, and an interception after coming over from the Philadelphia Eagles last season, Byard has taken his game to another level this season. Although he has 83 total tackles and four tackles for loss, his six interceptions were already inflating his value before he was named to the Pro Bowl on Tuesday.
Earning his first Pro Bowl nod in four years is one way to make some money, and there could be a third first-team All-Pro selection in his future, given the Bears’ success. Mix in the personal accolades, and Byard could be looking for a significant raise on the $7.5 annual average value he made the past two seasons and possibly push for something in the $10.3 million range that Spotrac has deemed a market value for Harrison Smith of the Minnesota Vikings.
That number could require letting Jaquan Brisker walk in free agency, as he has an $11.3 million market value per Spotrac. But it also could see Byard take a little less money to keep the team together. When speaking to reporters during organized team activities last spring, Byard said he would love to retire in Chicago but also noted that it was a “year-to-year” situation.
“I put everything, my heart and soul into this year, to this team, to this group of guys, and then we revisit those things in the offseason,” Byard said via NFL.com’s Coral Smith. “I would love to be here long term, to finish my career with the Chicago Bears. That’s all I’m focused on right now.
“For me personally, I would love to be here. I’ve loved being here over the last year and going forward. This thing is year-to-year, and honestly, it’s probably going to be year-to-year for the rest of my career until I’m done playing. Regardless of whatever kind of contract I signed, this is always going to be year to year.”
With one of the best seasons of his career, Byard’s situation has changed drastically since he made those comments, and it could require the Bears to pay up this spring to keep him around.