For the 17th straight year, we’re bringing you who we believe will be the ten most important Chicago Bears for the upcoming season, and Spidey checks in at number 5.
Back in April, the Chicago Bears gave Kyler Gordon a three-year $40 million extension, locking him up through the 2028 season, and making him the highest-paid nickel in the NFL. Not only was he Ryan Poles’ first draft pick to earn a new deal, but he was the first Bear from the Eberflus era to get extended for the new coaching staff.
“We are fired up to secure Kyler as a mainstay on our defense and a dependable component of our team,” head coach Ben Johnson said about his talented defender. “Our staff cannot wait to get to work with Kyler.”
Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen immediately knew Gordon would be a building block for his defense.
“He was a guy that when we first got in here and we watched tape, we clearly identified as a guy that fit our scheme, the things that we want to be able to do,” Allen said about Gordon. “We’re excited about having him and look forward to getting started.”
Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon and Jaquan Brisker have been putting in WORK with training camp around the corner.
: @prospectmedia_ pic.twitter.com/FmVlkjlaMT
— Bearsszn (@bearssznn) July 8, 2025
The 25-year-old Gordon is a do-it-all defensive back, just as comfortable in coverage, on the blitz, or attacking his run fits. That versatility is intriguing for Allen, who plans to give Kyler another position besides nickel to work at.
“He’s played more outside corner, so obviously that would be the comfort level. Some of the things that I see him do and the way that he fits in the run game tells me that he could be a fit with safety also,” Allen said a couple of months ago. “We’ve had guys that have had the flexibility to play a lot of different positions. I think that’s important in today’s football, where you’re not just locked into one thing. Being able to be multiple and do a lot of different things.”
Gordon has been a bright spot on Chicago’s defense, but as he heads into his fourth season as the highest-paid nickelback in the game, expectations have never been higher.