Three-Time Pro Bowl Safety Agrees to Terms with the Patriots
In the 2025 NFL season, the Chicago Bears exceeded expectations with new head coach Ben Johnson at the helm. They won the NFC North Division with an 11-6 record and made it to the NFC Divisional Round, where they lost to the Los Angeles Rams in a close 20-17 defeat. Both Chicago’s offense and defense made huge strides, especially the defense, which had three-time Pro Bowl safety Kevin Byard on the team. Byard is a two-time interceptions leader and led last season with seven INTs. Now a free agent, it’s been reported by Tom Pelissero that the three-time Pro Bowl safety signed a one-year, nine million deal with the New England Patriots.
During the 2016 NFL Draft, Byard was drafted as the 64th overall pick in the third round by the Tennessee Titans. By his second NFL season, he would become a Pro Bowl safety, a member of the First-Team All-Pro, and lead the league in interceptions. Byard played under current Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel and under his new coach with New England, the three-time Pro Bowl safety found considerable success. With Tennessee, Byard appeared in the playoffs from 2017 to 2021. During the middle of the 2023 season, he would be traded to the Philadelphia Eagles, where they made the NFC Divisional Round and lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 32-9. Even though the 32-year-old had five tackles in the loss, the Eagles would end up releasing him in the offseason, in which Byard signed a two-year deal with the Bears. Chicago did not make the playoffs in 2024, even though there was much hope they could, yet, under Ben Johnson in 2025, the team dynamic changed, and once again, Byard appeared in the playoffs.
Last season, the three-time Pro Bowl safety played in all 17 games for Chicago. He recorded 93 combined tackles, 61 solo and 32 assisted tackles. Byard also had four tackles for a loss of yardage, eight pass deflections, and seven interceptions. In 2025, Byard had a phenomenal season, and under coach Vrabel, the three-time Pro Bowl safety can find great success in New England. With solid teammates surrounding him and just coming off a Super Bowl appearance, the Patriots will be as hungry as ever to get back and win it all.
