It's not a secret that Kyler Gordon's 2025 season was one to forget. The veteran Chicago Bears cornerback was hampered by injuries that limited him to five appearances between the regular season and playoffs, which wasn't what fans wanted to see before his three-year, $40 million extension kicks in next month.
Gordon was expected to be the anchor of the secondary. Instead, his contract could be an albatross, depending on whether his injury issues are behind him, leaving his future murky in the Windy City.
All things considered, Gordon may have been the most disappointing player on head coach Ben Johnson's team. Although his injury situation wasn't entirely his fault, it's clear that the Bears need him to get back on track if they want to be a Super Bowl threat next season and beyond.
Kyler Gordon's Health Could Make or Break the Bears' Defense in 2026
After sitting on the sidelines for most of the regular season, the Bears activated Gordon from injured reserve (IR) just hours before their Wild Card win over the Green Bay Packers. He was clearly a couple of steps behind after dealing with a groin injury, looking out of place even if Chicago ended up getting the win.
Gordon struggled to keep up with speedy guys like Romeo Doubs and Matthew Golden, giving up two 3-plus-yard receptions and looking like Jordan Love's favorite victim. He got right back on track in the loss to the Los Angeles Rams, even taking down Matthew Stafford with a sack that resulted in a loss of 13 yards. Still, one performance doesn't erase all the concerns.
If anything, his effort vs. the Rams proved just how impactful Gordon can be when he gets into a rhythm. As reported by Thomas Kavanaugh of the "Bears Blog Boy" podcast on X, Gordon's presence changes everything on the field for the Bears' defense.
Just this season, the defense had an EPA/play of minus-0.19 when he was on the field, compared to an EPA/play of 0.02 when he sat out. The same happened with their EPA against the pass (minus-0.12 with him and 0.05 without him) and the rush (minus-0.31 with him and 0.03 without him).
Gordon might not be the type of ballhawk defensive back that other guys like Nahshon Wright or Kevin Byard are, but he's elite at disrupting every single pass that goes his way. More than that, Gordon is also a much more physical tackler than the average cornerback. His hard-hitting and ability to keep up with speedy route-runners came in huge when he was available for this team.
Gordon is still under contract for the next three years, and he's just 26 years old. He's still got more than enough time to live up to that big contract he had.
Bears fans might have a bad taste in their mouths after last season, and it'll be up to him to prove he can stay healthy enough to do so.