The Chicago Bears 2025 season was an exciting thrill ride for many Chicago sports fans, but it was the offense that captured the attention.
Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams took the football world by storm, and it sadly left the other side of the ball wanting. The defense is in need.
The Bears' defense struggled last year, but it was frequently overshadowed by the offense's ability to create explosive game-winning scenarios. It's extremely easy to forget that the Bears' defense was ranked 29th overall in total defense. They ended up as the second seed and pulled off a Hail Mary victory over their divisional rivals in only their third-ever playoff matchup.
Where Improvement Lays
The Bears' defensive saving grace was their defensive takeaways, which led the league with 33. Safety Kevin Byard led the league in interceptions with seven interceptions. But Byard has since left the team in free agency. As did Nashon Wright, Tremaine Edmunds, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Those four players combined for a staggering 18 interceptions last season, and their services will no longer be lending themselves to the Bears' bottom line.
Despite Ryan Poles and the Bears' front office signing multiple players for the defense, Kevin Byard leaves a hole behind. Multiple evaluators have cited the Bears' need to find a long-term answer at the safety position. Here are a few realistic options the Bears have on the table as the draft rapidly approaches.
Donovan Wilson, formerly of the Dallas Cowboys, is a free agent. At 29 years old and with seven years of experience in the league, Wilson could be a formidable long-term option for the Bears. Wilson's profile as a tone-setting safety could work well opposite new Bears safety Coby Bryant. Wilson remains among the top free agent safeties left on the board, and if the Bears are to explore this option further, they'll need to get a move on.
Jordan Poyer, though 34 years old (35 by the time the 2026 season begins), could be a potential option if the Poles and the front office can't find a sufficiently long-term answer. Poyer had a solid 2025 veteran return to the Bills defense, and he could potentially fill the leadership role left behind by Byard.
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All in all, the odds are that Poles look to the draft to find an answer. Poles has been known to work some magic at the draft, and there's no reason to suspect that this year won't be the same. The Bears have emphasized stability for the future and sustainability to win ball games. All Bears fans can do now is sit back and trust Ryan Poles to set us up the way he has in the past.