Kevin Byard's Bears future gets positive outlook ahead of NFL free agency

Kevin Byard had one of the best seasons of his career in 2025 with the Chicago Bears.

Byard snagged a league-high seven interceptions and was a first-team All-Pro selection for the third time in his career.

2025 marked the second time Byard led the league in interceptions, and the veteran safety picked a fantastic time to showcase that he's still an elite defensive back.

Byard is set to hit unrestricted free agency this offseason, and though the former Tennessee Titans draft pick could look to chase a final payday elsewhere, it sounds like there is mutual interest on both sides for a return to Chicago for Byard.

ESPN's Courtney Cronin says Byard is open to a return to the Bears, and that Chicago also wants to get a deal done.

However, the Bears have other key decisions to make in the safety room this offseason, as Jaquan Brisker will also hit the market.

"Byard is open to returning to Chicago and the Bears have expressed a desire to bring him back. But they also have decisions to make on three other safeties ahead of free agency, most notably Jaquan Brisker," Cronin explained.

During his end-of-season press conference, general manager Ryan Poles said the team wants to retain Byard but admitted it won't be an easy task.

"Kevin's a special player," Poles said. "I have no problem saying that's a player that we would like to have back. But, again, when you add the other safeties into that mix and all the other decisions we have across the roster, with cap restraints and things like that, it'll be a challenge." 

Chicago is slated to be $17 million under the cap this offseason, and with both starting safeties, Byard and Brisker, hitting the market, the likelihood of the Bears keeping both is slim.

We'll see who Chicago decides to re-sign in their safety room. Byard is still an effective player at 32, but is re-signing the Middle Tennessee product worth potentially losing a 26-year-old Brisker who started all 17 games in 2025?

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