The Chicago Bears lost some of their leadership from a season ago in free agency, so who are the likely candidates to fill those voids for this upcoming season?
Players provide more to a team than what anybody would see on a box score.
Sure, stats are a huge component when evaluating a player, but one detail that can’t be overlooked is the leadership that individuals also add. Ben Johnson named five season-long captains in 2025: quarterback Caleb Williams, left guard Joe Thuney, defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, safety Kevin Byard III and kicker Cairo Santos.
These five individuals represented the team and served as a helping hand for Johnson throughout his first year as a head coach.
A day after the Bears' Wild Card win over the Packers, Johnson noted that the veteran leadership stepped up at halftime when the Bears trailed their NFC North rivals 21-3. Those important moments can’t be overlooked.
That’s why having the right players in the locker room is vital. The Bears lost one of their captains after Byard left in free agency for the New England Patriots. But they also have to replace some of the vocal leadership who are no longer in Chicago.
The Bears traded veteran wide receiver DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills. The team also released linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, who signed with the New York Giants, and Jaquan Brisker left in free agency to join the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Although Drew Dalman wasn’t as vocal as some of the other players, his retirement still left a void in the middle of the Bears’ offensive line.
With key departures throughout the team, who are the likely candidates to step into leadership roles? If Johnson decided to keep the same structure with the five season-long captains, then one spot would be open.
Three candidates come to mind: tight end Cole Kmet, cornerback Jaylon Johnson and linebacker T.J. Edwards. All three were season-long captains during the 2024 season under former head coach Matt Eberflus.
A case can be made for all three, but to avoid having three offensive captains, Johnson and Edwards make sense. Both players are coming off an injury-riddled 2025 season, but either would be a good representative for the team.
For some of the other leaders on the team, Garrett Bradbury could fill the void left by Dalman. He’s played 105-career regular-season games at center over the course of his career. He was also named a captain in his final year at North Carolina State in 2018.
New safety Coby Bryant aims to bring veteran leadership to Chicago. During his introductory press conference at Halas Hall, Bryant explained his plan to lead by example initially, transitioning into a more vocal role once he builds rapport with his new teammates.
Wide receiver Kalif Raymond brings 11 years of NFL experience and has familiarity in Johnson's offense. He should provide a natural mentorship for receivers Rome Odunze and Luther Burden throughout the 2026 season.
Veteran defensive lineman Kentavius Street also could become a vocal leader for the D-line room. He's entering his ninth season and played one under Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen when the two were in New Orleans in 2022.
Once the team goes through OTAs, minicamps and training camp, it should be evident who the new leaders are for the Bears. Although their work may go unrecognized to those outside of Halas Hall, those future leaders will impact the 2026 team.