Jaquan Brisker was on his way to having a career year in 2024 before a concussion in Week 5 sidelined him for the rest of the season.
But it sounds like Brisker is ready to embark on a major comeback in Year 4 with the Chicago Bears. A second-round pick (48th overall) in the 2022 NFL Draft, Brisker has been a primary starter at safety for the Bears and has been a quality piece of the defensive puzzle when he has been healthy and on the field. And while multiple concussions have kept the Penn State product from playing to his full potential, Jaquan Brisker is ready to ball out in 2025.
The message from Brisker’s Instagram post:
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When it comes to the 2025 Chicago Bears, there are so many storylines that will be worth following as things come together in OTAs, minicamps, training camps, preseason games, and eventually, the regular season. But few storylines figure to be as captivating as the Jaquan Brisker bounce-back tale.
Jaquan Brisker’s comeback tour is underway
The good news for Jaquan Brisker as he enters the 2025 season is that he is cleared to return to football action. This is an important first step for a player whose history with concussions has forced him to miss 16 games over his first three seasons in the NFL, including 12 missed games last season. Otherwise, Brisker does not have much of an injury history with the Bears. And that has me thinking about his production and what it could be if he can stay healthy.
These are Jaquan Brisker’s stats on a per-17-game basis:
- 121 total tackles (79 solo)
- 2.9 sacks
- 1 interception
- 6 passes defended
- 2 forced fumbles
- 1 fumble recovery
- 5 tackles-for-loss
- 4 quarterback hits
Jaquan Brisker is a stat-sheet stuffer who has shown the ability to defend the pass, help against the run, and rush the passer every now and again. The 25-year-old safety plays an aggressive brand of football. It is intense, to be sure. But it is fun to watch. Those do-it-all contributors tend to be this way. Unfortunately, the concussions have kept him from playing to his full potential.
CHICAGO BEARS 2024 EXIT INTERVIEWS: SAFETY JAQUAN BRISKER
Before suffering what turned out to be a season-ending concussion, Brisker was playing at a pace to collect 136 total tackles (78 solo), 3 sacks, 10 tackles-for-loss, 3 quarterback hits, and 3 interceptions. Had he been able to do that, we would likely be discussing what it could cost for the Bears to give Jaquan Brisker a contract extension. Brisker’s rookie deal expires at the end of the 2025 NFL season.
Figuring out what Jaquan Brisker could get in his next contract is a challenge. The concussion issues will likely keep him from making as much as he could if he had a fully clean bill of health. Also, we have seen teams opt for veteran safeties on short-term deals in recent years. For instance, we saw the Bears bring in safety Kevin Byard on a modest two-year deal that was worth up to $15 million and included $7.39 million in guarantees. I wonder if a contract similar to the one that Jeremy Chinn received from the Las Vegas Raiders (2 years, $16.258 million, $12.25 million guaranteed per Over The Cap) is something that could make sense for both sides.
WATCH: Jaquan Brisker’s Interception Seals a Bears Win vs. the Rams
For the Bears, it would allow them to maintain some continuity in the secondary with a player who could be the heartbeat of the defense because of the energy he brings every snap. And for Brisker, it could provide a nice pay raise, some short-term security, and put him in a position to get a bigger deal while still in the prime of his career. In the end, the thing I want most is a healthy Jaquan Brisker. Let his game do the talking, then figure out the rest later.
