Chicago Bears safety Coby Bryant knows what it takes to help win a Super Bowl, and the veteran defensive back is open to helping out his new team in any way possible.
The Seattle Seahawks made it to the mountain top of the NFL world last season, and Coby Bryant played a major role in helping his former team’s defense dominate opponents.
After spending his first four seasons in Seattle, Bryant now gets to call Chicago home. The Bears signed the 27-year-old safety to a three-year, $40 million contract in free agency. A heavy investment was made in the 6-foot-1, 193-pound playmaker, but Bryant isn’t letting his lucrative deal impact him.
"I wouldn't say I feel any pressure,” Bryant told reporters on Monday at Halas Hall. “I would say it's a blessing to have that role. It's year five for me, I'm not a young guy anymore. That's the role I was already taken in, the investment standpoint doesn't apply to that. Just being who I am and being that leader."
Bears coach Ben Johnson expressed during the NFL’s annual league meeting that Bryant has that “it” factor. The Bears’ safety couldn’t quite describe what about him evokes that response from his new head coach, but leading the right way plays a role.
To go along with Bryant having the “it” factor, Johnson also has a unique way of describing Bryant on the field: a “trained killer.”
"He kind of told me that when we talked when I first got here,” Bryant said. “I'm extremely grateful to have that name behind it. I just need to put it to work and go out and do what I need to do."
Throughout his first four years in Seattle, Bryant showcased his overall versatility. He has played mostly at the free safety position, but has experience in the slot and in the box. Over the last two seasons, Bryant has intercepted seven passes and registered 139 tackles. He has forced at least one fumble every year, including four in his rookie season.
Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen will get to utilize a productive player who is comfortable regardless of where he lines up on the field.
“No preference at all,” Bryant said. “I just wanna play football, honestly. Wherever they need me to play, I'm willing to do, I could do it all, honestly. That's not to say it, you know, cocky or anything, but just being humble and just embracing that role.”
And if that role includes taking a rookie under his wing, that’s something Bryant would welcome. The Bears lost both starting safeties from last season in Kevin Byard III and Jaquan Brisker, and there could be a possibility that a rookie is paired with the reigning Super Bowl champion.
"I embrace it,” Bryant said. “I'm that type of guy, honestly. I did it last year with Nick Emmanwori, when I was a rookie, Quandre Diggs did it to me. So it's not my first time doing it. I embrace it. Just building that relationship early, it's a good thing."
Bryant is embracing this new opportunity in Chicago and is letting his coaches and teammates know he is willing to do anything and everything to help his team go where he is previous team left off, the top of the NFL world.
"Yeah, once I sign here, everything I've done in Seattle is behind me, honestly," Bryant said. "I'm looking forward to, like I said, being a part of this team and this organization. Plenty of special things are ahead of us, just scratching the surface and taking it one day at a time."