Kevin Byard. Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Veteran safety Kevin Byard will bring key skill to Patriots defense

By Mike J. Asti | Last updated Mar 11, 2026 5:56 PM ET

A loss for one 2025 contender becomes a gain for another. On Wednesday, the New England Patriots stole safety Kevin Byard III away from the Chicago Bears.

Byard's deal with the Patriots is for one year and $9 million. He will now switch conferences and try to help New England go from making the Super Bowl to bringing home another championship.

Byard made 93 tackles with the Bears last season and 130 in 2023. But despite a dip in tackles, Byard became a ballhawk during his final season in Chicago, picking off seven passes for a Bears defense that led the NFL in turnovers (33).

Kevin Byard could increase the Patriots' ability to force turnovers

The ability to flip the field is what the Patriots are hoping Byard provides most of all. New England ranked eighth in yards allowed per game, giving up 295.2 on average.

Patriots signing safety Kevin Byard to one-year, $9M deal. (via @TomPelissero) pic.twitter.com/9gomrBdnYq
— NFL (@NFL) March 11, 2026

However, the Patriots ranked toward the bottom of the league in both picks (10) and fumbles recoveries (nine) as a unit.

Kevin Byard has already far exceeded expectations for a player from a small school

Listed at 5-foot-11 and 218 pounds, Byard will be entering his 11th professional season in 2026 after being selected in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans out of Middle Tennessee.

Overall throughout his career, Byard has recorded 972 total tackles, 81 pass deflections, 36 interceptions, 24 tackles for a loss and 21 quarterback hits with six sacks. He's made three Pro Bowls and has been named a first-team All-Pro three times as well.

Mike J. Asti

Mike Asti is an experienced media personality and journalist with a vast resume and skillset, most notably from time with TribLIVE Radio and WPXI-TV. Asti now serves as the Managing Editor of WV Sports Now, where he leads the coverage of WVU sports. He has also covered the Steelers, Penguins, Pirates and other teams within the Pittsburgh market

More must-reads: