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Bears' Santos Sets 51-Yard Record, Camp Roster Shifts

7/24/2026

Summary

Cairo Santos Honored

Kicker Cairo Santos was NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his Dec. 20 overtime win over Green Bay.
He set a Bears record with a 51-yard field goal against the Rams, the longest in playoff history.
Punter Tory Taylor broke the Bears gross-average record with a 47.8-yard average in 2024.
Returner Kalif Raymond posted an 11.3-yard punt-return average, three touchdowns and 413 yards in 2024, earning All-Pro honors.

Summary

Bears Rebuild

Training camp runs July 29–Aug. 27 at Halas Hall, with rookies reporting first.
Garrett Bradbury replaces Drew Dalman after Chicago traded a 2027 fifth-round pick to New England.
Linebacker Devin Bush, a 4.43-second 40-yard dash athlete, joins as a middle linebacker.
Safety Coby Bryant and rookie Dillon Thieneman arrive as the back-end after losing Byard, Brisker and Edmunds.
Coach Al Harris must meld the secondary while monitoring cornerbacks Johnson and Gordon.

History

Historical Context

After Mike Ditka’s 1985 Bears posted a 15-1 record, allowed only 198 points (12.4 per game), recorded back-to-back playoff shutouts and won Super Bowl XX on Jan 26 1986, the franchise earned the “Monsters of the Midway” reputation. Today, Chicago’s new secondary—Devin Bush, Coby Bryant and rookie Dillon Thieneman—mirrors that 1985 defensive overhaul in hopes of reviving the same dominance.

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Cairo Santos Honored

Kicker Cairo Santos was NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his Dec. 20 overtime win over Green Bay.
He set a Bears record with a 51-yard field goal against the Rams, the longest in playoff history.
Punter Tory Taylor broke the Bears gross-average record with a 47.8-yard average in 2024.
Returner Kalif Raymond posted an 11.3-yard punt-return average, three touchdowns and 413 yards in 2024, earning All-Pro honors.

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