Since the start of OTA practices last week, the Bears’ talented young secondary has exuded swag, confidence and cohesiveness.
“That’s really part of a function of us playing the young guys, rookies fast,” said coach Matt Eberflus, “putting them in there and playing them right away.”
Four of the Bears’ key defensive backs have started since Day 1 after arriving as second-round draft picks: Cornerback Jaylon Johnsonin 2020, nickel back Kyler Gordon and safety Jaquan Brisker in 2022 and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson in 2023. All four have gained valuable experience and are 24 or 25 years old.
Last season the secondary played a major role in the Bears tying for the NFL lead with 22 interceptions. Stevenson and Johnson—who was named to his first Pro Bowl—matched linebacker Tremaine Edmunds for the team lead with four picks, while Gordon registered two and Brisker had one.
The Bears added a seasoned veteran to their defensive back room in March when they signed ninth-year safety Kevin Byard III, a two-time Pro Bowler with the Tennessee Titans whose 28 career interceptions are tied for the fifth most among active NFL players.
Byard has enjoyed working with his new teammates in the secondary.
“It’s been pretty cool,” he said. “I’m the elder statesman now, so I don’t have as much energy as all those guys. But it has been exciting. Jaquan is a really vocal guy who has a lot of energy. Same thing with Kyler; he has his Spider-Man swag. I like that a lot. And then Jaylon and ‘Rique on the outside, those guys are lockdown, so it’s been exciting. It’s been a lot of fun. Just communication, doing different things on the back end. I expect us to be really good this year.”
