Ryan Poles Explains Why Bears Were Fired Up to Sign Coby Bryant
Ryan Poles says Coby Bryant’s instincts, physical play, and leadership made him a perfect fit for the Chicago Bears’ defense.
The Chicago Bears made one of their biggest defensive investments of the 2026 offseason when they signed former Seattle Seahawks safety Coby Bryant to a three-year deal.
According to general manager Ryan Poles, the decision came down to one simple evaluation: Bryant looked exactly like the kind of player the Bears want to build their defense around.
Speaking during the team’s introductory press conference for its new free-agent class on Thursday, Poles explained that Bryant’s playing style immediately stood out during Chicago’s evaluation process.
“When we watched Coby’s tape, he was a guy who got us excited because we felt like he played our style of ball,” Poles said. “He played fast; he played physical. Those are the things that DA (defensive coordinator Dennis Allen) is looking for, that we're looking for. We thought there was leadership there. He's young. We had the opportunity to bring a unique player in, and that's the decision we made.”
Bryant Has the Traits the Bears Want on Defense
Chicago’s defensive identity has been evolving since Poles began reshaping the roster, and the arrival of defensive coordinator Dennis Allen in 2025 only reinforced that direction.
Speed, physicality, and instincts have become the defining traits the coaching staff wants throughout the unit.
Bryant checks each of those boxes.
Originally entering the league as a cornerback, Bryant transitioned into a larger role at safety with Seattle, demonstrating the kind of versatility modern defenses value. His ability to read, react, and attack the football stood out repeatedly during Chicago’s film study.
Bryant ended the 2025 season with 66 tackles and four interceptions. He tallied seven interceptions over the last two seasons.
Poles said Bryant’s instincts were one of the first things evaluators noticed.
“Instincts jump off the tape; his ability to anticipate,” Poles said. “We’re looking for guys that are passionate about ball. You can see that in his body language and how he moves.”
Coby Bryant Was On Other Teams' Wish Lists
Sometimes, the best confirmation of a free-agent signing comes from around the league.
According to Poles, that happened almost immediately after the Bears finalized the Coby Bryant's contract.
“When you bring a player in and your phones go off — coaches, front office — on how [ticked] off Seattle was not having him back and how fortunate we are to have a guy like this in our building, that’s what you want to hear,” Poles said. “And that’s exactly what happened, so we’re fired up.”
That reaction reinforced Chicago’s belief that Bryant was one of the more underrated defensive players available this offseason.
Bryant A Key Piece of the Bears’ Defensive Plan
Coby Bryant now enters a situation where he is expected to play a significant role in Chicago’s secondary.
The Bears have already added multiple defensive pieces this offseason, including linebacker Devin Bush and defensive tackle Neville Gallimore. Bryant’s versatility and playmaking ability could make him the most important addition of the group.
For Poles, the excitement surrounding Bryant was about adding a player whose instincts, competitiveness, and energy reflect exactly what the Bears want their defense to look like moving forward.
If Bryant plays the way Chicago expects, the Bears may have landed one of the more impactful defensive pieces of the entire 2026 free-agency class.
