The Detroit Lions are churning through free agency as they look to get out of the NFC North’s basement, and the team they are looking to emulate is their rival, the Chicago Bears, who went from worst to first a year ago.
The Lions beat the Bears twice last season, but the Bears got the upper hand, winning their first division title since 2018. Chicago’s chances of repeating took a big hit on Wednesday, however, when NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported that safety Kevin Byard had reached a one-year, $9 million agreement to sign with the New England Patriots.
The Bears losing one of their defensive leaders is enough to put a smile on a Lions fan’s face. But it’s even more enjoyable considering that Byard not only turned down a chance to return to Chicago but instead took the opportunity to reunite with his former head coach, Mike Vrabel.
“It was either the Bears or the Patriots, and you know I have a relationship with Coach Vrabes,” Byard said, via NFL insider Josina Anderson. “...New England it is.”
Kevin Byard’s Departure From Bears Removes a Thorn From Lions’ Side
Byard was a big part of the Bears’ success last season, leading the NFL with seven interceptions. He also made 93 tackles, with four coming for loss, and eight pass deflections on his way to his third career First-Team All-Pro selection, his first since 2021.
But instead of returning to the Bears, he decided to reunite with the coach who helped him earn his last All-Pro selection. Vrabel joined the Titans one year after Byard first became an All-Pro with an NFL-high eight interceptions in 2017 and continued to coach him until he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles midway through the 2023 campaign. Vrabel was fired after that season, a decision that looks even more questionable now than it did at the time, and Byard went on to join the Bears on a two-year contract, logging totals of 223 tackles, nine tackles for loss, two sacks, 15 pass defenses, and eight interceptions.
The Bears, who are also expected to lose fellow starting safety Jaquon Brisker in free agency, probably aren’t happy to see Byard go. But the Lions have to be ecstatic knowing that Byard’s departure could help them climb the division standings.
Byard hasn’t been a major foil to the Lions, logging 42 total tackles and a pair of interceptions in six career meetings. However, he has definitely made things more difficult for the Lions' offense, despite Detroit winning all four meetings between the two teams during his tenure in Chicago. With a high-octane passing attack, the Lions should have more room to operate downfield, even with the Bears’ addition of former Seattle Seahawks safety Coby Bryant and the possibility of a rookie being added in this year’s draft.
With the Bears also creating an opportunity for second-year receiver Isaac TeSlaa to break out after agreeing to terms with veteran wideout/returner Kalif Raymond, Byard’s departure is another win for the Lions’ offense. If new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing can manage the group better than predecessor John Morton did, it’s a pair of developments that should put the Lions back on track and potentially swap places with the Bears in 2026.