The Chicago Bears are in the middle of a surprising season and one of the biggest reasons has been the performance of their defense. Chicago entered Sunday’s showdown with the Green Bay Packers first in the NFL in interceptions and turnover rate. But while the players on the field are doing their job, there’s one that has been late to the party.
That player is Kyler Gordon, who was deemed a cornerstone of the Bears’ defense when he signed a three-year, $40 million contract this spring. Yet, Gordon has been MIA for most of the 2025 season after suffering hamstring and calf injuries and he suffered another setback after The Athletic’s Brad Biggs reported that he sustained a groin injury in pregame warmups.
With a laundry list of lower-body ailments, it’s unknown whether Gordon will be able to contribute to the Bears’ playoff push. But he also looks like a $40 million mistake as he can’t stay on the field long enough to validate his contract.
Kyler Gordon’s Latest Setback Sets Bears’ Money on Fire
The Bears had some reason to pay Gordon. A second-round pick by Chicago in the 2022 draft, Gordon’s overall grade rose from 49.8 in his rookie season to 65.6 in his sophomore year and 76.0 last year according to Pro Football Focus, signaling a player on the rise.
His coverage in the slot was one argument against paying him as he ranked 27th among 42 qualifying corners with 1.30 yards allowed per coverage snap and the 13th highest passer rating allowed at 102.1. Gordon also had his share of injuries in his first three seasons, suffering a concussion in 2022, a broken hand in 2023 and a pulled hamstring last season.
Despite the performance and injury concerns, the Bears paid Gordon anyway, giving him $13.3 million per year and $21.25 million guaranteed. Their investment has belonged to the training room, though, with only three appearances so far in 2025.
With Gordon’s 2026 salary fully guaranteed, there’s a good bet that he’ll be back for next season. But it could also influence other decisions by the front office including whether or not to retain Nahshon Wright, who is set to become a free agent after a revival season in Chicago.
At this point, Gordon looks like money down the drain, and that could have the Bears throwing out extra cash for some insurance behind him next offseason.