Kevin Byard was considered a solid veteran addition last year who could bring some much-needed leadership to the Chicago Bears defense. Beyond that, expectations were tempered. He was already in his 30s, and it was unreasonable to assume he'd ever regain the All-Pro form during the 2010s. For the most part, those assumptions were correct. Byard was good enough last year, but nobody would've mistaken him for a star. He was a great leader and made some nice plays. Those expectations did not change coming into 2025, even with a new coaching staff.
In hindsight, maybe they should've. Byard claimed his sixth interception of the season on Black Friday against the Philadelphia Eagles. It marks only the second time in the past decade a Bears player reached that mark. There are still five games left to go. Former NFL defensive back Matt Bowen admitted to 670 The Score that what he's seeing on tape shouldn't be possible. Most players Byard's age slow down at this point their career. Somehow, he is playing faster than he did a year ago.
It is a combination of the safety's intelligence, comfort in the scheme, and Dennis Allen's excellent coaching.
Kevin Byard is reminding everybody how great he can be.
He was doing stuff like this almost every year between 2017 and 2022. No safety in the NFL was better at taking the ball away. Unfortunately, the Tennessee Titans traded him after it appeared he may have lost his edge. Philadelphia couldn't bring it back. Signing with the Bears likely represented his last stop as a starter before he had to start thinking about retirement. This season suggests he may have more in the tank than people realized. It's another reminder that some players age differently from others.
One thing is clear. Kevin Byard has put the Bears in a tricky position. He is a free agent next offseason. Re-signing him would be the logical decision, but the team has salary cap issues. They are just under $3 million in projected cap space and have multiple notable names who need new deals. Among them are Jaquan Brisker, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Andrew Billings, Nahshon Wright, and Theo Benedet. Most of them are younger than Byard. Are the Bears willing to let him walk even after a terrific season like this?
That won't be an easy call.
