The Chicago Bears have usually been averse to taking risks on players with checkered backgrounds. However, that started changing with head coach Ben Johnson. Since his arrival, the team has been more willing to take calculated swings on players with “character concerns” provided they have talent and are noted as hard workers. That is why they drafted Luther Burden last spring and signed C.J. Gardner-Johnson in the middle of the season. Both worked out pretty well. That probably explains why the team elected to gamble on Beanie Bishop.
Don’t feel bad if you’re unfamiliar with the name. The 26-year-old cornerback was an undrafted free agent of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024. Injuries forced him into the lineup as a rookie, where he became a major sparkplug, snagging four interceptions and helping the team make the playoffs. For reasons that are still hazy, Bishop was relegated to the practice squad last season and eventually waived. He latched on with the New Orleans Saints in December but was eventually handed a three-game suspension by the league for the 2026 season. That hasn’t seemed to deter the Bears.
Chicago’s interest in Beanie Bishop isn’t hard to see.
For one, he has 4.39 speed, which fits the new identity that defensive coordinator Dennis Allen is trying to build. More importantly, he is a slot cornerback. That position has given the Bears all sorts of headaches since last season. Kyler Gordon can’t stay healthy. His most experienced backup, Cam Lewis, is also hurt. The team has been going with rookie Malik Muhammad in recent practices. It’s an unfamiliar position for him, though. Bishop gives them somebody who knows it and plays well there.
The primary drawback is versatility. Beanie Bishop is 5’9″ and just under 190 lbs. That is undersized for cornerback in the NFL. He isn’t built to play outside, meaning his only viable spot is the slot. No doubt that was part of the reason Pittsburgh wasn’t willing to stick with him. He also has a gambling streak. Often, he’ll take risks to jump passes. It can work sometimes, but it also leaves the defense vulnerable when he does. That was probably a big no-no with Mike Tomlin. Allen, on the other hand, doesn’t mind his players being aggressive.
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Besides, the Bears have Al Harris coaching the secondary. He’s seen Bishop’s type before.
Bishop might be a signing the Bears benefit from later.
It seems rather odd that they’d bother adding him since he’s destined for suspension. However, the Bears have to think about the entire picture. The NFL season is a long one. Given what they know about Gordon, there is no way he’ll make it through the entire year without missing games. That means it is imperative that they have insurance in place for when that inevitably happens. Bishop is just the right guy for that eventuality. Chicago can probably stash him on their practice squad to serve out the suspension and then call him up later.
In the meantime, he can use the next four weeks learning the defense and getting acclimated. Don’t be shocked if he pops up somewhere midway through the season and delivers some impact plays for them. We already know he can do that from his time in Pittsburgh. Sometimes all a guy needs is a chance. The Bears wouldn’t have signed him if they felt he had nothing to contribute.
