The Chicago Bears selected Kyler Gordon with the 39th overall pick in the 2022 draft, and he has become an invaluable member of their secondary in the years since.
The slot cornerback’s 2025 season has been delayed slightly, as he missed the first four games with a hamstring injury. He returned Week 6, and his presence has given a definite jolt to the entire defense.
Week 6 against the New Orleans Saints, he played lights out, finishing with four total tackles (one for loss), a QB hit and his first sack of the year.
Late in the second quarter of that October 19 matchup, Gordon was flagged for unnecessary roughness after a jarring hit on running back Alvin Kamara — a call that drew immediate frustration from Gordon and the entire Bears’ sideline. The play wiped out what would’ve been a key third-down stop, and drawing the flag was something that stayed with Gordon after the final whistle blew.
Kyler Gordon on Unnecessary Roughness Penalty vs. Saints: ‘Hoping I Don’t Get Fined’
GettyCB Kyler Gordon of the Chicago Bears hopes he doesn’t get fined for his unnecessary roughness penalty called against him Week 7 vs. the Saints.
“Gordon was still in disbelief after the game,” Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune wrote on October 20. “He clearly hit Kamara on the shoulder. Gordon’s left hand contacted the helmet when Kamara was going to the turf, but it sure didn’t look worthy of a penalty. Fortunately for the Bears, the Saints drive quickly stalled out after the penalty.”
“Blew him up,” Gordon said about the play, via Biggs. “Did my job and they didn’t like it. I don’t know what to say. You can review the film and I’m hoping I don’t get fined. I’m not trying to get fined. I think I did the right thing. We’ll review it.”
If anything, the Bears should ask the league to review the play, as it sure looked like Gordon did everything right only to get penalized for it.
Bears Defense Looking Dominant in Recent Weeks
Gordon’s return to the lineup has undeniably given Dennis Allen’s defense a ton of juice. In their win over the Saints, the Bears held Kamara and company to just 44 rushing yards, their lowest total of the year by far.
Chicago’s defense had nine takeaways over its first four games. The unit has forced seven turnovers over the last two games since Gordon returned to the lineup. With Gordon in the mix, Chicago can mix up looks, blitz more frequently and trust the secondary to hold its own.
Gordon’s return also carries a broader ripple effect — the defense has more options. They can stay in nickel without sacrificing coverage quality. They can shuffle Gordon between slot and outside. Pressure packages become more feasible because the secondary isn’t having to double-up on every dangerous receiver. That flexibility is exactly what Allen covets.
Return of LB T.J. Edwards Has Also Given Bears Defense a Boost
The return of linebacker T.J. Edwards has been just as impactful.
Edwards stepping back into the middle of the field means the defense isn’t just better on the edge and in the secondary — they’re stronger in the second level too. His run-stuffing prowess is a huge reason the team’s defense played so well against Kamara and the Saints.
Taken together, Gordon and Edwards both returning gives the Bears’ defense a far better shot at being more than just average. Weeks 6 and 7 offered a glimpse of what this unit can be. If this continues — if Gordon remains healthy and Allen keeps calling the aggressive stuff — the Bears will be a genuine menace on that side of the ball.
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