Earlier this week, we asked you guys to vote on which Chicago Bears defender would lead the team in takeaways, and more than half of you went with newcomer Coby Bryant.
After losing corner Nahshon Wright (8 takeaways), safety Kevin Byard (7 takeaways), and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (6 takeaways) to free agency, the Bears will need more than Bryant to produce.
The 27-year-old Bryant is coming off a career high of 4 interceptions in 2025 with the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, and the Bears
feel he’s an ascending talent at safety after playing mostly cornerback in 2022 and 2023.
He’ll provide versatility in Chicago’s secondary due to his coverage skills, but he’ll also have plenty of reps manning the deep part of the defense. The Bears have big expectations for him after signing him to a three-year, $40 million contract in March, but replacing the All-Pro production from Byard will be a tough task.
“Other” garnered 27% of your vote, and most of the comments we received point to rookie safety Dillon Thieneman as the other player you think could take the ball away. He had 6 interceptions as a freshman at Purdue in 2023 and 2 last year at Oregon. His 4.35 speed will ensure he’s around the ball a bit, assuming he wins and keeps the starting job next to Bryant. He’s also a versatile player who the Bears could move around the secondary.
Our partners at FanDuel Sportsbook have Thieneman with the tenth-best odds to win Defensive Rookie of the Year (+2700). So if you really think he’ll lead the Bears in takeaways, that seems like a fun bet to make.
SB Nation Reacts is a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year, they’ll ask questions of the most plugged-in Bears fans right here at WCG and fans across the country in their weekly emailed surveys. You can sign up here to participate in those.
