Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald was able to turn the unpolished stone that was Coby Bryant into a diamond. After being benched in 2023, Bryant was able to take over at one safety spot midway through 2024, but in 2026 free agency, Bryant agreed to terms with the Chicago Bears.
Bryant was tabbed as one of the top free agents available in a recent ranking by FanSided, and no one would have thought that would have been the case before Macdonald's arrival after the 2023 season. The safety began his career as a slot corner. The taking of Devon Witherspoon in the first round of the 2023 draft meant Bryant had no position to play.
Yet, in practice, his teammates raved about his ability to disrupt the offense. He could take the ball away, and he had proven he could do that in real games, even as a rookie when he had four forced fumbles. As it turned out, Bryant could pick passes off, too.
Chicago Bears reportedly steal Coby Bryant from the Seattle Seahawks in free agency
In his four seasons with Seattle, the safety had seven interceptions and seven forced fumbles, and that kind of production is going to be difficult to replace for the Seahawks. His immediate replacement might already be on the team in the person of Ty Okada, but Okada doesn't have a long track record of success.
In the long-term, Seattle might have to look to find a new starting safety in the 2026 NFL draft. Playing with three safeties is something Macdonald likes to do, but the head coach has also shown he isn't afraid to make quick changes if he thinks a player will help more than one, getting a lot of reps.
That is how Bryant got his gig. He would probably continue to be disruptive with the Bears, too. The unfortunate part for Seattle could be that Chicago is in the NFC and could take on the Seahawks in the postseason. Bryant might want revenge for Seattle not offering him enough. Players often find ways to be extra motivated, even when the reasons are rather loose.
The question for the Seattle Seahawks now, though, after losing both Bryant and Kenneth Walker in early free agency, is which free agents the team will be able to keep. The list includes edge rusher Boye Mafe, cornerback Riq Woolen, and wide receiver Rashid Shaheed. Hopefully, at least one will stay.
Update: Coby Bryant's deal will reportedly pay him as much as $40 million over the next three seasons.