Rookie cornerback who impressed in his debut season, is leaving the Chicago Bears for the Minnesota Vikings as he heads into his second NFL offseason in 2025.
NFL insider Aaron Wilson reported that the 23-year-old has agreed to a reserve/future contract with the Vikings for the 2025 offseason after his practice-squad deal with the Bears expired on January 13. Wilson noted that several teams showed interest in Steward during his brief period of free agency, although it’s unclear if the Bears made him an offer.
It’s likely that Steward, who recorded two interceptions in the 2024 preseason, chose to explore the free-agent market after logging just 18 defensive snaps in one game during his rookie year with Chicago. The Bears are expected to retain most of their cornerback group for 2025, which would limit his chances of securing a significant role.
Minnesota, on the other hand, offers Steward more opportunity. The Vikings are set to have four of their top six defensive backs, including cornerbacks Byron Murphy Jr., Shaq Griffin, and Stephon Gilmore, become free agents in March. Even if Murphy, a 2024 Pro Bowler, is re-signed, there will still be room for competition at the position.
Steward’s departure leaves the Bears with one fewer promising young player to develop for the upcoming season. However, they can still bring back players like Josh Blackwell, Jaylon Jones, and Ameer Speed for depth, though Steward showed potential as well.
The 2025 NFL league year and unrestricted free agency will officially begin at 4 p.m. ET on March 12.
Reddy Steward Shined in Rookie Preseason for Bears
Steward will now attempt to make his mark with a new team in the NFC North, though his departure is somewhat unexpected given his strong performance with the Bears last preseason.
The rookie cornerback stood out early in his first NFL training camp, temporarily taking over the nickel cornerback role with the first-team defense while starter Kyler Gordon was sidelined due to injury. Steward also made a strong impression during the preseason, playing in all four games and finishing with a standout performance, including a two-interception game against Kansas City.
In the end, the Bears left Steward off their initial 53-man roster, but quickly re-signed him to the practice squad for further development. They later promoted him to the active roster for Week 8’s game against the Arizona Cardinals, where he recorded one tackle and forced one fumble on 18 defensive snaps during the 29-9 loss.
It’s possible the Bears decided not to bring Steward back due to uncertainty surrounding their 2025 coaching staff. With the firing of head coach Matt Eberflus—who was responsible for the team’s defensive strategy—there may be a shift in schemes depending on the new hire. Regardless, the Bears will have to hope they didn’t let a potential hidden gem slip away in Steward.
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