30 most important Bears of 2026: Kyler Gordon (No. 18)

USA TODAY Touchdown Wire · Jul 11, 2026 17:53 · 3 min read

Most Important Bears of 2026: Kyler Gordon

Our Most Important Bears of 2026 series continues with Kyler Gordon, who has plenty to prove by staying healthy for this defense.

The Chicago Bears are gearing up for a hyped 2026 season, where they're looking to build off their impressive first season under head coach Ben Johnson, which included an NFC North title and a wild-card playoff win. While they found success in 2025, it's a brand new slate for this Bears team following an offseason of change, including the departures of key veterans and the additions of new veterans and exciting rookies.

The work begins in training camp, where Johnson will put his team through the wringer with the intent to prepare them for the 2026 season. Every day from now right up through training camp, we’re counting down our 30 Most Important Bears for the 2026 season. We’ll recap their 2025 season, look ahead to 2026 and tackle the biggest question facing them this year.

Next up at No. 18 is cornerback Kyler Gordon, who is one of the most controversial players on the roster. Gordon's continued injury struggles, leading to inconsistent availability, will be a big point of contention for him in 2026. And, if he's not careful, the Bears might already have a succession plan in place with a new rookie.

Background

Position: Cornerback

Age: 26

Experience: 5th season

2026 cap hit: $12.91 million

2025 recap

Kyler Gordon missed most of the 2025 season due to soft tissue injuries. In fact, he had two different stints on injured reserve (at the start of 2025 and then midway through the year). It was disappointing after the Bears rewarded Gordon with a lucrative three-year, $40 million contract extension that made him the highest-paid slot cornerback at the time. When on the field, Gordon has been a game-changer for this defense. But that was the issue as he appeared in just three games this season, totaling seven tackles, including one tackle for loss, one sack, one QB hit and one fumble recovery.

Importance in 2026

When defensive coordinator Dennis Allen was first hired last year, he specifically mentioned Gordon as someone he was excited to utilize in his scheme. But after appearing in just three regular-season games, that vision was never realized. If Gordon is available, he'll be a huge asset for this defense with his attacking, aggressive style of play. There's been a noticeable difference on defense when Gordon is on the field, and Chicago really need his physicality and playmaking ability on the field. This season presents as a fresh start, but it's not off to an encouraging start after Gordon was limited during the offseason. The hope is Gordon can finally find a way to stay on the field and help elevate this Bears defense.

Big Question: Can Gordon stay healthy this season?

When Gordon is healthy, he's one of the best nickels in the NFL on top of elevating the defense. But the problem is he can't seem to stay healthy. In four years, Gordon has yet to play a full season, due to injury, and his absence in 2025 was noticeable. Gordon missed 14 games and had two stints on injured reserve last season amid a slew of soft tissue issues including groin, hamstring and calf injuries. There was a report that he's been dealing with another soft tissue injury, and he was limited during the offseason program. It's not what you want to hear from your young, injury-prone cornerback who's supposed to a key part of your defensive success. If Gordon can't stay healthy, the Bears might turn to fourth-round rookie Malik Muhammad, who saw some work inside, as well as outside, during the offseason.