Hicks' consistent work ethic and coachability have also factored into him earning a roster spot year after year. A Long Beach, Calif., native, Hicks said he "didn't come from much growing up," so his main initial motivation as a football player was to create a better life for himself and his family.
But once he reached the collegiate level at the University of California, his mindset shifted. He realized success wasn't just about working hard; it was also about perfecting his craft and having goals beyond "making it."
"Once you get money and once you get two, three contracts, after a while, if your only motivation was getting out of the hood or providing for your family, then what?" Hicks said. "I was able to have that mindset shift in college where I was like, 'Okay, let me really lock in on my techniques of playing my positions and my roles.' Once my mindset shifted to that, it was moreso like, 'I don't mind going out there and getting extra work in and doing more,' because I see it as me just trying to improve."
That mindset is what attracted the Bears, especially special teams coordinator Richard Hightower, to Hicks back in 2022.
Having been together for four seasons now, Hightower and Hicks have formed a close bond, with Hicks even saying the pair are "wired the same way." That relationship is why Hightower joined Hicks and his family in the TV studio to help commemorate the moment and pose for a signing photo alongside the veteran safety.