Coby Bryant brings his fiery
intensity to a new-look secondary for the Chicago Bears
[June 11, 2026]
By JAY COHEN
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Coby Bryant was named after the Los Angeles
Lakers guard. Being competitive, well, it was destiny.
“I'm a true competitor,” he said. “I don't care if it's walking down
the street, I want to walk faster than somebody else. I don't care
what it is.”
Bryant's fiery intensity is part of a new-look secondary for the
Chicago Bears after the safety signed a $40 million, three-year
contract with the team in free agency. The 27-year-old Bryant was a
key member of Seattle's dominant defense last season, helping the
Seahawks to the franchise's second Super Bowl championship.
Chicago also selected safety Dillon Thieneman in the first round of
the NFL draft and cornerback Malik Muhammad in the fourth round.
Defensive back Cam Lewis signed a two-year contract with the Bears
in March, while safeties Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker departed in
free agency.
“A great group of guys, honestly,” Bryant said of his new team. “I’m
still getting to know everyone, but just being here a short amount
of time has been special, honestly. We laugh. We put in a lot of
work. Guys are willing to work, like I said. It’s been fun. It’s
going to be a great year, for sure.”
While the secondary has a handful of newcomers, cornerback Jaylon
Johnson is back. The 27-year-old Johnson, a two-time Pro Bowler, was
limited by a groin injury last season, but he had two interceptions
on Tuesday on the first day of mandatory minicamp.
“I think his mind is probably getting more confident in terms of the
movements he’s making,” coach Ben Johnson said Wednesday. “So yeah,
he’s a vital part of what we want to do. You know he’s been a Pro
Bowl-caliber player in the past and hopefully we can get that out of
him again this year.”
Bryant had a career-high four interceptions last season after
picking off three balls in 2024. He missed the final two
regular-season games because of a knee injury and returned in the
playoffs.
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Chicago Bears defensive back Coby Bryant works out during the NFL
football team's practice in Lake Forest, Ill., Wednesday, June 10,
2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Chicago went 11-6 last year and won the NFC North.
It edged the Green Bay Packers in a wild-card game before losing an
overtime thriller to the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round.
With the Bears looking to take another step forward in their second
year under coach Ben Johnson, Bryant has been asked a couple of
times about winning the Super Bowl.
“The biggest thing is I tell them, you know, just take it one day at
a time, one play at a time, one game at a time,” Bryant said. “I try
not to use my past — what I did in Seattle — with these guys. The
biggest thing I came here to do is be a leader and, you know, direct
these guys and lead these guys and vice versa.”
Bryant, who had an interception against Caleb Williams during
Wednesday's practice, is expected to serve as a key resource for the
speedy Thieneman during his transition to life in the NFL. Bryant
was selected by Seattle in the fourth round of the 2022 draft out of
the University of Cincinnati.
“He’s a rookie, so he wants to go full speed in everything,” Bryant
said. “In individual drills, we have to tell him to slow down
because I’m not running that fast. I’m 27. He’s 21. Just the speed.
He’s very coachable, like I said. He’s exciting to watch, man. He
makes plays every day. It’s been special.”
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