Coby Bryant, Seahawks
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Seattle Seahawks defensive back Coby Bryant reacting in the middle of an NFL game against the Minnesota Vikings.
The Seattle Seahawks are in the midst of retooling in preparation for an attempt at a Super Bowl repeat. With free agency in the rear view mirror and the draft on the horizon, the Seahawks have work tobe done in replacing some key figures who have departed the team.
One of the most prominent departures on offense was of Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III, and on defense, the team lost several starters, including Riq Woolen and Boye Mafe. However, one other starter lost on defense may be the most impactful.
Coby Bryant departed Seattle for the Chicago Bears, andhe’s already making a significant first impression.
“IT”Factor
At the NFL league meetings, coaches, general managers, and owners are available to discuss moves made so far this offseason, and one person who answered questions was Bears head coach Ben Johnson. Johnson discussed how the newly acquired free agent from the Seahawks, Coby Bryant, has made a strong first impression.
Kole Noble ofA to Z Sports wrote aboutJohnson’s first meeting with Bryant.
“My little exposure with him when he came in was, ‘Holy cow, this guy has got the ‘it’factor to him,’” Johnson said. “He’s got some dynamic traits in terms of his personality that I think are going to rub off on our guys—and not to mention the way he plays the game is what we want our defense to look like as well.”
Bryant will have big shoes to fill as he follows in the footsteps of All-Pro safety Kevin Byard, who left in free agency for the New England Patriots.
Bryant was a playmaker for the Seahawks last season with 70 tackles, two sacks, four forced fumbles, and four interceptions. He will bring toughness to theBears’ secondary, as hewasn’t handed anything in the NFL.
Earning His Spot
Coby Bryant is emblematic of the culture change Mike Macdonald brought to the Seahawks, which led to their becoming champions. Macdonald came in preaching that “stacking days”and working hard in practice would lead to more opportunities on game day, and Bryant is proof of Macdonald being a man of his word.
Originally a nickel cornerback who transitioned to safety, Bryant went from backup to starter with sheer hard work. In a 2024 profile on Coby Bryant inThe Athletic by Michael Shawn-Dugar, Macdonald discussed how Bryant was the poster child for Seahawks culture.
“Coby is a great example of how we want to build this thing,”Macdonald said aboutBryant’s work ethic. “Come in, work, compete, do the things every day, stack all the great reps, get the confidence, get an opportunity, take advantage, and run with it. Then let your abilities go from there.”
Bryant was so impressive as a rookie to his teammates that former Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf called him “Ed Reed,” as Shawn-Dugar wrote about.
“I knowit’s a stretch, but just hear me out,”Metcalf said. “No offense to Ed Reed or anything, but just the way that (Bryant) tracks the ball,he’s always near the ball. Just going back to when he was a rookie,he’s always had a nose for the ball, whether that was punching it out, catching picks, or making an open-field tackle. I just thought he had the complete package to be a great defensive player.”
While Bryant may not be a Hall of Famer just yet, the Seahawks will miss his playmaking presence, and could look to draft his replacement in the upcoming draft.