When new Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen was introduced to the media in January, the first player he mentioned was Kyler Gordon.
Discussing the pieces he was eager to work with, Allen said: "Kyler Gordon is an outstanding nickel player. I have a vision for how we can utilize him."
While it was clear then that Gordon would continue to play a prominent role on the Bears defense, it became even more evident Monday when he signed a three-year contract extension through the 2028 season.
"It says a lot," Gordon said on a Zoom call with reporters. "I appreciate and I love that. I feel like that speaks to a lot of things that we're going to be able to do, and I feel like that sets the bar even higher of the things that we can accomplish here individually and as a team. I'm just excited to see how far we can raise the roof.
"Chicago and the organization showed me how much they did value me and what they wanted to do with me here and wanting to keep me here. I feel like you guys heard a majority of the time that it's a priority and they've shown me that since the beginning. We talked about it. It's just a good feeling to have that coming from the staff and the organization."
Signing an extension in mid-April will enable Gordon to focus entirely on preparing for the 2025 season.
"It's obviously stress off the plate and it just allows me to focus more on the task at hand that we have for the season," he said, "allows me to meet the coaches, get in the playbook and just focus on doing that. That's all I'm really caring about right now."
The first player drafted by Ryan Poles as Bears general manager, Gordon has appeared in 42 games with 34 starts in three seasons. The 2022 second-round pick has registered 207 tackles, five interceptions, 17 pass breakups, nine tackles-for-loss, 1.5 sacks, four fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles. Last season Gordon played in 15 games with 13 starts and established career highs with 75 tackles, four tackles-for-loss and three fumble recoveries.
Gordon said that he received a congratulatory hug from Poles after signing the extension, but no one in the building is focused on any one player.
"Everyone is still in the mindset that we have work we want to do," Gordon said. "We're all thinking about where we want to take this team more than what I'm doing. That's where my mind is too. We all wanted to get this out of the way and do it the right way, respectfully, but really get to the main priority, which is building this team and getting where we want to get in this NFL season."
To celebrate nickel back Kyler Gordon staying in Chicago thanks to a three-year contract extension, take a look at some of the best images of "Kyler-Man" from his first three NFL seasons.
Gordon loves the energy and sense of urgency he's felt from first-year coach Ben Johnson and his staff.
"I love people that want to come and [work hard], have goals they want to accomplish and are very serious about it," Gordon said. "How imperative it is to all the coaching staff, I love it, like we're on top of it. We're trying to get things in motion, like no time wasted because time is precious. And so I think we're on the right path right now."
Gordon has been on the right path since he arrived in Chicago. As a rookie, he initially lined up outside at cornerback and moved inside to nickel in passing situations. The Washington product later became a full-time nickel and has developed into one of the NFL's best players at his position.
Gordon acknowledged that he experienced "a lot of ups and downs" while "being thrown into the fire early as a rookie," but it benefitted him in the long run.
"I think it helped," Gordon said. "I'm the type of person where I want to see the whole menu right away, just so I can keep digesting as much as I can instead of just getting piece by piece. To be able to go like that and learn quickly, I feel like I adapt real fast, so I feel like it just accelerated everything for me."
Having researched how Allen has employed nickel backs in the defenses he has previously coordinated, Gordon is excited to see how he is utilized. One of the Bears' most versatile players, the 6-foot, 200-pounder excels against the run and the pass, possesses excellent ball skills and is an effective blitzer.
"I feel like there's really no limit to my possibilities," Gordon said. "I'm excited to see what he cooks up and what his plan is. We've definitely got to get more in person and continue to have these meetings and kind of feel out everything that's going to happen. I don't know exactly what's going to happen, but I have a good idea and I'm excited."
