NASHVILLE — Former Tennessee Titans safety Kevin Byard is in agreement with the Chicago Bears on a two-year contract worth $15 million .
The Titans traded Byard to the Philadelphia Eagles ahead of the 2023 NFL trade deadline. Philadelphia recently released Byard for salary cap relief, freeing him up to sign with any team before free agency opens league-wide.
Byard’s new deal with Chicago is a big win for himself, a big win for the Bears, who add veteran leadership to their defense, and a big win for….the Titans?
Chicago released former All-Pro safety Eddie Jackson at the beginning of the offseason, leaving them in the market for a talented safety like Byard at a cheaper price. The Titans are one of the other teams around the league looking to add a proven safety in free agency.
A reunion with Byard was never likely for the Titans. But with Byard landing in Chicago, it takes away a competitor for an over-populated pool of free agent safeties.
Byard recorded a career-high 122 tackles in 2023 between Tennessee and Philadelphia, but only had one interception.