Chicago Bears bolster defense with signings of Coby Bryant and Devin Bush on multi-year deals
The deals, agreed upon during the negotiating window, will become official when the league year begins. The Chicago Bears continue reshaping their roster for sustained contention in the NFC North.
The Chicago Bears kicked off the 2026 NFL free agency period aggressively, targeting their struggling defense by agreeing to three-year contracts with safety Coby Bryant and linebacker Devin Bush. These moves aim to address major weaknesses after a disappointing defensive performance in 2025.
Chicago Bears address defensive struggles after playoff appearance
Despite finishing 11-6 under first-year head coach Ben Johnson and reaching the NFC divisional playoffs, the Chicago Bears ranked 29th in total defense and 23rd in scoring defense league-wide. The unit's inconsistencies limited the team's potential in key games. General manager Ryan Poles wasted no time in free agency, adding experienced talent to rebuild the back seven.
Coby Bryant brings Super Bowl pedigree from the Seattle Seahawks
Coby Bryant, 26, joins the Chicago Bears on a three-year, $40 million deal. The former Seattle Seahawks standout was a key piece of their elite defense, which ranked first in points allowed and propelled them to a Super Bowl victory last season.
Bryant's journey has been eventful. A standout college cornerback at Cincinnati alongside Sauce Gardner, he won the Jim Thorpe Award in 2021 as the nation's top defensive back. Drafted in the fourth round by Seattle in 2022, he started as a nickelback but dealt with injuries and competition.
He transitioned to safety in 2024, becoming a full-time starter midseason with three interceptions, including a 69-yard pick-six. In 2025, Bryant posted four interceptions, seven passes defended, and four tackles for loss in 15 games before a knee injury sidelined him late. He returned for the playoffs.
Impressed by his adaptability, work ethic, and competitiveness, the Seahawks pushed for an extension, but talks stalled. Bryant now brings ball skills to a Bears secondary that needs playmakers.
Devin Bush provides tackling prowess and leadership
Devin Bush, 27, signs a three-year, $30 million contract with $21 million guaranteed. The former first-round pick (10th overall by Pittsburgh in 2019) has bounced around but found stability recently.
After four seasons with the Steelers, one with Seattle, and two with Cleveland, Bush started all 17 games in 2025 for the Browns. He delivered a career-best 125 tackles and three interceptions, two returned for touchdowns.
Bush offers reliable run defense, coverage ability, and veteran presence to a Bears linebacker group seeking consistency. His production in Cleveland showed he is still a high-impact player.
What these signings mean for the Chicago Bears' future
These additions signal the Chicago Bears' commitment to improving defensively around a promising core. With Johnson leading the charge, Chicago looks poised for another strong season.
About the Author
Aachal Maniyar is a Senior Content Producer at LiveMint, where she covers US sports with a focus on major leagues, marquee events, and athlete-driven stories, while also reporting extensively on cricket and global sports. With over five years of first-hand journalism experience, she combines sharp editorial judgment with real-time sports storytelling across platforms. <br><br> Her reporting journey spans leading newsrooms including Thomson Reuters, India TV, BTVI, ET NOW, and CNBC TV18, where she has worked across breaking news, live match coverage, feature writing, interviews, video scripting, and anchoring. This multi-platform exposure has shaped her ability to deliver context-rich sports and business journalism tailored for both television and digital audiences. <br><br> Aachal has conducted and produced exclusive interviews with athletes and public figures such as India cricketer Dhruv Jurel, Indian women’s hockey captain Savita Punia, and industrialist Ratan Tata, along with several emerging and established sports personalities. Her body of work includes in-depth explainers, athlete profiles, emotionally resonant fan narratives, and data-backed match analysis across cricket, Olympic sports, and international competitions. <br><br> She holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune, and believes in reporting that is grounded in accuracy, clarity, and credibility. Her philosophy is simple: sports journalism should go beyond scores and statistics, capturing the human stories, pressure moments, and decisions that shape the game and the people who play it.
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