The Chicago Bears knew they didn’t have much money to spend in free agency this year. That means general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson would have to be careful with their one or two big swings. While many hypothesized that they would focus on finding a pass rusher or maybe a left tackle, the team pulled a slight surprise. Their biggest addition was actually Coby Bryant, a safety from the world champion Seattle Seahawks. It was an unconventional move. Teams don’t usually save their biggest swings for that position.
However, it did make sense. The Bears lost both of their starters, Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker, to free agency. C.J. Gardner-Johnson also left. They had nobody on the roster ready to take over. Signing Bryant solved part of that problem. However, it wasn’t just about that. The team genuinely felt they were getting a highly capable player with the versatility that defensive coordinator Dennis Allen craved. Though he hasn’t played a down yet, it already looks like a strong addition.
That was made clear by ESPN’s top 10 safety rankings. While Bryant didn’t make the main list, he did receive an honorable mention.
Coby Bryant, Chicago Bears: “I love him. He’s a corner by trade, so he has good feet and ball skills, but he will hit, too, now.” — NFL coordinator
Coby Bryant clearly has the respect of the league.
That is what matters. We already knew the Seahawks badly wanted to retain him, knowing what he’d meant to their Super Bowl-winning defense. As is often the case, they just couldn’t find the money. Chicago took advantage. Now he and 1st round pick Dillon Thieneman form what might be the most talented safety tandem the Bears have fielded in decades. Both of them are capable of doing almost anything on the field. Drop into deep coverage. Play man-to-man against tight ends. Slide up to the line of scrimmage as an extra run defender.
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Having one safety who can do that is great for any defense. Having two? That is incredibly valuable. Bryant’s intelligence alone is worth the price. He always seems to know where to be in key situations, either making a big tackle or taking the ball away. It forces offenses to always account for where he is, making life easier for teammates. He may not be the multiplier that a great pass rusher or cornerback would be, but Coby Bryant makes this defense better in several ways.
His impact will be heavily determined up front.
Despite obvious skill in several areas, safeties are always at the mercy of the front four. The more pressure they can apply on the quarterback, the more plays Bryant can make. That is why he was so effective in Seattle. Thankfully, Allen is similar in some ways to Seahawks head coach Mike MacDonald. He’s particularly effective at manufacturing pressure through creative blitz packages and exotic coverage. It was why Byard had such a great season in 2025. There is no reason to think Bryant can’t benefit as well.
All of this serves as confirmation that Poles and Johnson continue doing a good job of accumulating high-end talent on the roster. The offense had four players who cracked ESPN’s top 10 lists. The defense hasn’t been as well-represented, but they still have guys getting some love. Hopes are high that maybe Austin Booker, Kyler Gordon, and some other young bucks can rise to join him.
