When the Bears’ new defensive coordinator, Dennis Allen, arrived, he had a clear vision for cornerback Kyler Gordon. “Kyler Gordon is an outstanding nickel player. I have a vision for how we can utilize him,” he said.

In the 2024 season, the Bears’ defense was a nightmare to watch—whatever could go wrong, did. And it wasn’t just the defense; even the offense struggled to find its rhythm. Struggles became the norm for rookie quarterback Caleb Williams and the rest of the team. So, when the offseason rolled around, Chicago knew it was time to regroup and rebuild. That meant starting by locking in the few bright spots they had.

One of those bright spots was Kyler Gordon, who showed real promise amid the chaos. Playing in the nickel spot—arguably one of the most demanding roles on defense—Gordon didn’t flinch. He acted as the glue between CB Jaylon Johnson and outside corner Tyrique Stephenson.

So, when GM Ryan Poles and the front office sat down to map out their offseason strategy, they knew keeping Gordon on the roster was a must. In fact, getting a deal done with Kyler was one of Ryan’s top priorities—and he got it done.

Chicago has agreed on a three-year extension with the 25-year-old, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported on Sunday.

Gordon was in the final year of his $8.7 million rookie contract. Just two weeks before, at the annual league meetings, GM Poles had assured that they wanted the Washington alum for the long term.

“I know Kyler is a guy that we want to be part of this moving forward. So the timing of that, I’m not sure how that all is going to work out, but that is a priority,” he said.  Now, the new deal not only keeps Kyler in Chicago but also makes him the highest-paid slot CB in the league. 

Bears pay big for Kyler Gordon

“I mean, I love Chicago. I love everything about it, the people, the history, the team, the community, so if this is where God tells me to be, this is where I will be, this is where I want to be,” Kyler shared in an interview last month. Luckily, the Bears felt the same way about it.

Locking in your phenomenal nickel comes with a great price. On Sunday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that Chicago signed a whopping three-year, $40 million extension with Gordon. His $40 million contract surpasses Colts’ Kenny Moore’s $30 million contract, making him the highest paid. The CB will pocket $31.25 million guaranteed money. Kyler’s new average annual salary is $13.33 million. This new deal locks Gordon with the Bears until 2029 while earning a base salary of $3.66 million this year. 

In the 2024 season, Kyler played in 15 games. The 25-year-old finished off his season, recording 48 solo tackles and a total of 75 tackles. The CB has five pass breakups and one forced fumble. Well, now that Kyler has secured his big payday, Chicago will be counting on him to anchor their defense. Just like he’s done in the past, hopefully, the CB will continue to be a reliable force in the secondary for Ben Johnson and Dennis Allen.