Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show - Report: Bears are signing safety Coby Bryant on a 3-year deal

Episode Date: March 9, 2026

Leila Rahimi, Marshall Harris and Mark Grote reacted to the breaking news that the Bears have added Super Bowl champion safety Coby Bryant on a three-year deal.

Rahimi Harrison Grovey, Midday's tidal two on Chicago Sports Radio 12-4-3. Rivers down the middle of the field and it is hitters! That courtesy of CBS, and we do have some significant Bears news. It also makes everything, I think, make a little more sense. This per Tom Pelliserra, we heard the news just moments ago, that the Bears were looking into the services of Seattle safety, Kobe Bryant, And now, according to Tom Pelliserro, it is happening. He reported about two minutes ago that the bears are citing Kobe Bryant that per sources.

Now, Bryant had been a safety with Seattle for the last four years. He has a total of 66 tackles in the 2025 regular season. 39 of those solo, 27 assists as part of that outstanding Seattle defense. but when we look at the interception numbers, he also, not bad for himself by any means, four interceptions in the regular season last year. And that per Tom Pelliserro, other sources reporting it as well.

So he's 26 years old. I think this does change how we felt about Kevin Byrd and what the hope is and perhaps what the price was for Byrd and maybe his age factors in going into what we're seeing now. This guy is kind of played all over the place, though, like in specific spots, His 2024 season, he was a strong safety, played in 17 games, started 11 games. That would be obviously last year, two years ago now, in the 2024 season, but was still very effective.

He's a tackler, too. 73 tackles that year, 66 this year. He was a cornerback for Seattle in 2023, playing nine games at the position, starting twice and has been relatively durable throughout his career. So on the overall, with the up-and-coming factor, with the four interceptions for a key place for obviously the best team in football last year, this is a good signing for the Chicago Bears. No, it's a great signing, in my opinion. And the thing that sticks out to me is that versatility, which you're alluding to Grotie, because we know that Dennis Allen likes weapons. He likes guys that he can have do different things depending on the scheme, the down and situation. and imagine having a guy like Kyler Gordon,

but also having more players like that that can play strong, whether it's down in the box or in coverage. And this guy has experience covering guys. I'm interested to see what else they do because, again, they didn't have any safeties. Now they're going to have one more, and you've got to add more to that, whether it's through the draft or through free agency.

I wonder who this eliminates, like, for the Bears. Like, is this a... Is Jaquan Bristker goodbye? Because he was the young guy, This is the young guy that decided to sign. Maybe. I drafted the same year, right? So that would make it make sense 2020. There's also this.

So according to SpotRack, this was from the fan-sided blog 12th Man Rising. They said that SpotRack reported that Bryant's deal would be estimated to be two years in the $28.8 million range. So that means about $14 million or so when it comes to what potentially is cap hit could be, probably more. if there's a signing bonus there or what the discussion is or what that looks like as far as how the bears manage this money. So that's significant too when you consider that they're only under the cap according to over the cap by about let's see 21 million or so. 25 is the latest number now for over the cap. So I think that is starting to refresh itself. So 25 million. So when we keep that number in mind and that number will change. We know that. We know that.

based on how this goes and how the reporting goes. But how are they factoring into what he will do? Is it a three-year deal for him? You know, does he get a longer contract to maybe kind of offset those expenses? I don't know, but it's worth a discussion when it comes to his value. And for him being a safety off the board early,

of course we ask the question what that means for Kevin Byard. But it sure sounds like comparable stats. Yeah, I mean, it can be interesting to see where Jaquan Brisker lands. Like at this point, it sure doesn't feel like he's coming back to the Bears, but I am interested in who will kind of take a chance on DeQuan Bricker, knowing his injury history, although he was terrific last year and totally durable, but he's an interesting case. I'm anticipating that one.

He was durable last year. That's what I mean. That's what I said. Yeah, but I mean, like, that's the hard part is trying to measure that durability throughout multiple years. Especially because of all the head injuries. I mean, like, you know, unless guys aren't paying attention to the Bears and his injuries, that's a huge part of the Brisker story and future. He did everything he could, I think, to try to answer that issue,

but there's only so much you can do when that's the career. Well, the good news for Briskers is that he had his best game at the right time, and that was against the L.A. Rams, where he was just unbelievable. Definitely finished on a strong note, and if you remember the way he left the field after that game, he kind of let you know he thought his time with the Bears was over. Yeah, he told me he hadn't heard from anybody, so, you know, you see. The other thing is as we absorb the news that the bears have one safety,

and Kobe Bryant, of course, from the Super Bowl winning Seattle Seahawks is the understanding that I'm really curious about the details financially of his deal. Yeah, we've got to find that out. But he looks like a willing tackler too. He's had 70. One year was 18. That was a year he played cornerback. 73 and 66 tackles in his years, which obviously,

You have to be, and he'd spent one year, like he said, at strong safety. Last year he was their free safety. I mean, I think that those are good numbers. You know, the four interceptions that was tied for eighth. Tremaine Edmonds had four interceptions last season. But when you consider the 66 total tackles, 39 of those solo, the stats are comparable. Are they not? Yeah, yeah.

No, absolutely, absolutely, you know. With Tremaine Edmins, I guess this replaces his production, although be it from a different position. From a turnover standpoint, a takeaway standpoint. No, not if they don't. replaced fired. Or they think they just did. I still think they're going to get something down to buyer. I think they're going to get something down on fire. You know what?

And that might be me being doing the old hope wishing. Sure. There's still, it feels like there's still room for it. A little bit. No, the hope wishing. That's where we are now. It's just hope wishing. Like, I'm hoping that the wishes might come true. That sounds lower confidence level than wish. It is. That's why I said it just like that. Because wish casting is like, oh, here's something that I could wish for, but I'm now hoping to be wishing this maybe. Position of need taking care of.

So the next actual literal position of need is left tackle. Right? The, the, like, you don't have that. No, they still need three other safeties, though. Well, I'm just saying, like, they're on the board with safety. At least they're on the board. But let's get back on the board with left tackle now, please. I just, I'm not.

I don't, I can't see it. I can't see them signing a left tackle and free agency. What are they going to? You think they're going to draft their next left tackle? Yeah. Or Thiel Bennett? Or maybe. Like you can't leave out the house.

Maybe he gets better. Canadian Eagle. Yeah. I mean, it could, right? They could say, yes, there's something there. And Theo Betta, there still needs, some things need to be smoothed out, but maybe they think they can get them there. Well, let's be honest. They've already said there's something there because they gave him a chance to start last year.

They did, but it seemed like they lost some faith in him as the season went on. We have terms from Jordan Schultz. Schultzzi. Three years and $40 million. Three years, $40 million. So that's $13.3. Colby White to the Bears to play safety. That's roughly 13.3 and then put the little repeating line over the point three.

Three years, $40 million. Yeah. Okay. So that, that, the estimate that on Brisker, I'm just like trying to compare from everything I saw, three years, $30 million. So a little bit more to maybe a little bit of a sure thing. But if it's over 13 million A-AV, which is what that is, you can't tell me this doesn't affect what they expect to pay a guy like Kevin Byard if they expect to pay a guy like Kevin Byrd.

And that's why I moved on to left tackle. Because that's going to be in the next So you resigned and did Kevin Byers not coming. I don't know. I'm kind of with you. I think I was wish casting it before I heard the number. I was like, I still think they're going to get them. This certainly lessens the chance. But it's not, it can't be ruled out still.

He's still out. Kevin Byrd is still available. Center News for the Lions per Tom Pelliserro. They're signing center Cade Mays per source. Pain. Is it pain? That reminds me of a Jim Kramer, you know, the CNBC man.

Financial dude. Where he hits the House of Pain button on a stock. House of Pain. I didn't watch closely enough to know that, but I believe you. Cade Mays is the former Carolina Panthers Center. He is 26 years old. All caught. All right.

So the Bears have a Kobe White. They have a Neville. Gallimore. I was going to say Gillings for some reason. He's in Neville Gallimore. Daniel Hardy is back. DeMarco Jackson is back. What am I leaving out?

Well, I just want to let you know they don't have a Kobe White. They have a Kobe Bryant, but I've already done it once today. And we're going to do it. We miss you, Kobe White. I don't care what anybody says. But yeah, Kobe Bryant. Thank you. But at the same time, if we're not shifting from safety to another position,

I am curious as to whether or not they're just like, we're going to deal with safety through the draft. We're going to deal with left tackle through the draft. I think the point can be made that Ryan Poles doesn't believe that this draft class is that deep. Also, in the division, this is worth noting Diana Rusini with this one from the athletic. The Buccaneers have been focused on improving their defense and are signing former Lions linebacker Alex Anzolone. So he is out of the division. And this is for you, Marshall Harris, former Steelers.

Steelers running back, Kenneth Gainwell, is signing with the Buccaneers. Why is that for me? I need you explain that to me. You never talked about the Steelers this last season? All he talked about was his obsession, and that's Aaron Rogers. His obsession is Aaron Rogers. Now's an obsession. I'm Max Crosby on this.

Is this not a direct quote from you, Marshall Harris? Super Steelers, Super Bowl. Yeah, yep, that was what he said. That has never been uttered except for by you, Ray D.S. just now. I said they had Super Bowl. potential. Is this us feeling the breeze of the window of the negotiating window being open? That's right. That window's

open. It's breezy. Do you feel a breeze? Actually, if you go outside today, you can feel a heck of a breeze. It's a nice day. I can't believe y'all. I can't believe y'all would try to twist my words like that. I actually think that the Diana Receivie Post said, Marshall's boy, Kenneth Gainwell.

And I've never been high on Kenneth Gainwell in that manner. All you have to do in this city is give a little bit of positivity towards Aaron Rogers and you get crushed. The next thing you know, you want to hang out with Aaron Rogers. It's not positivity towards Aaron Rogers. This guy was like,

this guy's going to the Super Bowl. Somebody on Twitter says that they saw you guys in Camero Rio together. Let's let Marshall say what he really said. It was more so the positivity for Mike Tomlin. And I thought that was a marriage that could work.

He got fired. Now nobody's in the marriage. No, no, no. We're not going to do that to Mike Tomlin. Mike Tomlin stepped. Yeah, he quit. He was like, Whatever, whatever.

Aaron Rogers made Mike Tomlin quit. Oh, wow. Marshall and Aaron Rogers were hanging out in Camarillo, says some dude on Twitter who won't reveal his name and has 12 accounts. Do you think Steelers fans would have wanted to push them out the door as much as it seemed like they wanted to if they knew Mike McCarthy was going to be the replacement? Absolutely not. Absolutely not. Also, 773 at our text line wanted to correct you.

In all caps, they put Colby White. You didn't get it right either. That's like Zimlow. You didn't get it right. That's like Emma correcting us. You know what's so funny about that? I had to, for the first year that Kobe White was here with the Bulls, had to keep from calling him Kobe Bryant,

which I know it was like a huge insult to Kobe Bryant because Kobe White is no. And now I'm going to have to be careful here with Kobe Bryant to not call him Kobe White. Give me like 10 more of those, like two weeks worth of it, and then I'll stop. Kobe Bryant. See, this is 104. The score all over again. Get you to that 104. I'm not.

I see six to Kobe Bryant. I ripped three off the top just to give. Kobe Bryant, Kobe Bryant. Thank you.

Yeah. We're going to have you right on the wall like Bart Simpson at the beginning of a Simpson's episode. And I'm going to feel weird about calling him

Kobe Bryant even though it's his name because I'm used to. And every time you Google him, you have to put Kobe Bryant football player Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, or else you just get all the Kobe Bryant stuff. The one you know.

Oh, man. The more you know. Bears. Yeah. This is a sad, sad, sad, sad thing from 630. We have Theo. at left tackle. Not a killer, but it's a body.

We only have one safety. Do the math, Grody. But like, the way they just put... The cope is hard today. Somebody else goes, well, we've got Dave Frazier coming back and Terrell Smith, so we're fine at quarterback. Oh, okay. You sure about that? Well, I'm glad to see your confidence. Question for you, Grody. How many

bears did Marshall lose due to his Rogers loved from 217? I didn't... I don't love him. I do respect the future Hall of Fame or Aaron Rogers. That's all it is. If you loved him, you wouldn't even make the bear scale. Like you wouldn't be eligible for it. You would be ineligible for my bear scale.

You could be on the afternoon show, Hallis scale, maybe. Wow. They have a Hallis scale. Wow. Mm-hmm. We have more free agency news, and we'll discuss the latest developments as we get them real time.

The Bears reportedly signing safety, Kobe Bryant, to what looks like a three-year deal. More to come here on Rahimi-Harris and Grotie on 104-3 Chicago. Nope, can't do it. Kobe Bryant. score.