The following is the eighth of eight position reviews of the Bears' 2019 season.
The Bears secondary was once again powered by a pair of Pro Bowlers in 2019, with cornerback Kyle Fuller and safety Eddie Jackson both earning return trips to the NFL's annual all-star game.
Fuller led the Bears with three interceptions and 12 pass breakups and finished second with 82 tackles in 2019. Last year the 2014 first-round draft pick was named first-team All-Pro after tying for the NFL lead with seven interceptions and topping the league with 21 pass breakups.
Fuller's 10 interceptions the past two seasons are tied for the most in the league with Falcons safety Damontae Kazee.
Jackson, meanwhile, recorded 60 tackles and two interceptions in 2019, with both picks coming late in games to seal wins over the Lions and Vikings. The 2017 fourth-round pick also registered five tackles-for-loss, five pass breakups, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Earlier this month, Jackson signed a four-year contract extension through 2024.
"We're very excited to get this deal done with Eddie to keep him in a Bears uniform long-term," general manager Ryan Pace said at the time. "It's rare to find a player in this league with talent like Eddie's. He's a rangy ball hawk with exceptional IQ, a great teammate and a natural leader. He is the anchor to the back end of our defense and we are fortunate to have him."
Jackson, who has started 46 of a possible 48 games in three seasons, has scored five career defensive touchdowns, the fourth most in Bears history behind Charles Tillman (9), Mike Brown (7) and Lance Briggs (6).
Free-agent acquisition Ha Ha Clinton-Dix started opposite Jackson at safety and finished third on the Bears with 78 tackles. The sixth-year pro also recorded two interceptions—one of which he returned for a touchdown—five pass breakups and two fumble recoveries.
Veteran Prince Amukamara started 15 games opposite Fuller at cornerback, registering 53 tackles, 10 pass breakups, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
Nickel back Buster Skrine, who signed with the Bears in March after spending his first eight NFL seasons with the Browns and Jets, compiled 47 tackles, five pass breakups and two forced fumbles while appearing in all 16 games.
First-year cornerback Kevin Toliver II saw limited action in 2019, recording 12 tackles and two pass breakups.
Cornerback-turned-safety Sherrick McManis played sparingly on defense but generated one of the most impressive plays of the season when he punched the ball out of Raiders receiver Trevor Davis' hands inside the Bears' 1-yard line in a Week 5 loss to Oakland in London.
