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.
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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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Jay Cohen, The Associated Press
