When the Chicago Bears signed Kevin Byard on a two-year deal back in 2024, opinions were split on what exactly he'd bring to the table. His time with the Philadelphia Eagles didn't look anywhere close to his stint with the Tennessee Titans, but this past season, he brought it.
Byard led the league in interceptions at age 32, picking off seven passes in 2025, en route to yet another free agency coming up.
Byard told reporters that he'd like to be back in Chicago because of what this team has going right now, and also addressed the team's upcoming free agency period. In a nutshell, Byard is a Caleb Williams fan, and he believes other free agents will take notice of that:
“They have a franchise quarterback, and that’s the hardest thing to find… That’s going attract people to come here.”
Kevin Byard believes Caleb Williams will attract top free agents to the Bears
It doesn't seem as though there are any Bears teammates who dislike Williams, so this comes as no surprise. But Byard is a team captain and a strong leader in this locker room. For him to put that out there, plain and simple, means it's true. He's a well-respected veteran around the league and has put in quite a few years of his own.
The Bears' biggest priority this offseason is shoring up their defense, which Byard was a part of. Of course, the takeaways were a huge positive. But they also masked the league's fourth-worst defense in terms of yards allowed.
Should Byard be re-signed, he'd have even more opportunity to garner takeaways if Ryan Poles finally makes it a priority to level up the team's pass rush. Chicago needs to add talent across the entire defensive line, regardless of who is already here and under contract. That's a top priority, period.
And, for impending free agents around the league, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, knowing you'll be well-taken care of by a budding star at quarterback has to be an attractive part of the equation.
For any defender, getting a breather is key. Staying fresh is key, along with knowing that their hard work will not go to waste. Williams has become such an ascending talent under Ben Johnson that defensive players have to know their efforts will pay off in Chicago.
Read more: Kevin Byard just confirmed what every Bears fan believes about Caleb Williams
It's still odd to say, but the Bears do, indeed, have their franchise quarterback. If this team can improve its talent on defense, Williams and the Bears will easily take it up a notch in 2026.