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Bear Digest

The Hidden Risk the Bears Signing Coby Bryant Creates

The new safety's talent is undeniable in coverage and run defense, but football isn't an individual sport, particularly on defense.
Gene Chamberlain|
Former Seahawks safety Coby Bryant brings an impressive skillset to Chicago, but also some issues not related to his talents.
Former Seahawks safety Coby Bryant brings an impressive skillset to Chicago, but also some issues not related to his talents. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Coby Bryant brings to the Bears what coach Ben Johnson described during the owners meetings as the ability to be a "trained killer" on defense.

The potential problem with Bryant is not his hitting or even coverage skills.

No one could describe Bryant's coverage as lacking after he had a 54.0 passer rating against last year, or even the 77.3 he had in 2024 according to analytics from Stathead/Pro Football Reference. Seven interceptions in two seasons says he knows what he's doing.

Essentially, the only criticism of Bryant's skillset for the Bears is how he missed a high percentage of tackle attempts last year. According to Stathead, it was 21.4%. He's only had one year below 9% missed tackles, but it was in one of his only two years as a safety starter.

The real risk with starting both Bryant along with a draft pick at the other safety or spot—or someone else they could still add in free agency—is simply they are not Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker.

This isn't to suggest Byard was going to follow up on a third Pro Bowl season with a fourth at age 33, or that Brisker was going to get through a second straight season without a concussion issue after three straight seasons with them.

Rather, the problem the Bears will have with Bryant is how he lacks the experience of a wise old veteran safety who directs traffic and leads the way Byard did alongside teammates who he already knows well.

"KB's really one of the best leaders I've been around, certainly on the defensive side of the ball," coach Ben Johnson said to reporters at the owners meetings. "I had multiple plyers talk to me at our exit meetings just about the impact he had in that locker room throughout the year."

Leadership counts

Bryant definitely can step up and do it because he commands respect by starting on a Super Bowl champion last year.

"We thought there was leadership there," Johnson said.

However, it's not the same thing as being the proven 30-something player with respect in the locker room and in the secondary during games. This status is earned and Byard had to do it with the Bears once he was obtained from Philadelphia in free agency. He did earn it. Bryant hasn't earned it in Chicago yet.

Beyond that, the leadership switch there is lack of continuity resulting from any change. The Bears had some continuity last year with both starting safeties back, although in a scheme they'd never played. The full secondary had played together in a different scheme heading into last season. The lines of communication were fresh.

This year they'll not only have a new pair of safeties, but they'll have these players in schemes they haven't been in during past seasons. Bryant is going to need time to adjust and learn this. Often players who work together can communicate more easily. Instead, he's going to be working in back most likely with a rookie safety.

Sure, they have cornerbacks returning but Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon really only scratched the surface as starters after injuries last year. Gordon played five of the 19 games and Johnson played in nine of 19 but never entirely healthy.

Inevitable confusion

Bryant's ability to lead a group that also will include a rookie, and pull them all together in a scheme he is just learning himself will be closely scrutinized. Expect breakdowns in the secondary at times due to communication issues.

Remember, too, despite the great explosiveness and hitting ability the Bears saw in Bryant, he has only been a safety for two seasons after converting from cornerback.

Even if Byard had been retained and slowed somewhat more by age, no one could doubt his ability to lead and be a binding force through the instability of change that could come as the secondary gets younger. This can't be said for Bryant now as their leader. No one knows how he'll handle all of this.

Bryant may eventually succeed as leader of a more effective secondary. This can't be forecasted for now. He definitely adds talent.

However, change always means uncertainty and there is a ton of this in this Bears secondary, when as recently as last offseason this could have been viewed as the team's strongest positional group.

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Gene Chamberlain
GENE CHAMBERLAIN

Gene Chamberlain has covered the Chicago Bears full time as a beat writer since 1994 and prior to this on a part-time basis for 10 years. He covered the Bears as a beat writer for Suburban Chicago Newspapers, the Daily Southtown, Copley News Service and has been a contributor for the Daily Herald, the Associated Press, Bear Report, CBS Sports.com and The Sporting News. He also has worked a prep sports writer for Tribune Newspapers and Sun-Times newspapers.

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