Nov 3, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Chicago Bears kicker Cairo Santos (8) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

NFL rewards Chicago Bears for risky move

Originally posted on ChiCitySports | By Jordan Sigler | Last updated Dec 24, 2025 3:49 PM ET

First-year Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson had a difficult decision to make early in the season.

Kicker Cairo Santos was made a team captain before the season, but his Achilles heel of not having a strong leg cost the Bears in Week 1 when he was unable to kick the ball out of bounds against the Minnesota Vikings, allowing their returner to advance the ball and take the clock under two minutes in the fourth quarter.

Chicago signed former San Francisco 49ers kicker Jake Moody to the practice squad.

While Santos dealt with a quad injury, Moody made eight of his nine field goal attempts, including making all four attempts in a 26-14 win over the New Orleans Saints on Oct. 19. Moody made four of his five field goal attempts in a 25-24 win over the Washington Commanders on Oct. 13.

However, Johnson stuck with Santos, and Moody was signed off the practice squad by the Commanders.

Santos was clutch in the Bears’ 22-16 win over the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night, making all three of his field goals in blustering conditions at Soldier Field.

Chicago Bears K Cairo Santos earns an award

For his efforts in the Bears’ win, the league named Santos the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.

King Cairo

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) December 24, 2025

The risky move to keep Santos paid off on Saturday night. He’s made 24 of his 29 field goal attempts (82.8 percent) this season, including making four of his six attempts from 50-plus yards.

Moody has gone on to make all six of his field goal attempts for Washington, but has yet to attempt a field goal beyond 50 yards.

Because of the strength of Santos’ leg, the Bears will have to plan their special teams strategy around the fact that he cannot be relied on to kick the ball out of the end zone. However, he is proving to be worth that opportunity cost because he’s reliable in windy conditions in Chicago.

This article first appeared on ChiCitySports and was syndicated with permission.

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