Deon Bush’s dalliance in free agency was short-lived.
The veteran safety is back with the Bears in 2021:
Safety Deon Bush is returning to the Chicago Bears on a 1-year deal, per @DrewJRosenhaus.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 17, 2021
Bush, 27, has five years of experience in Chicago and has found a home as a core special teams contributor since arriving. A fourth-round draft pick in 2016, Bush has 65 games (8 starts) of experience. He has just one interception, one forced fumble, and 5 passes defended under this belt. But as I alluded to earlier, his calling seems to be on special teams.
The University of Miami product has appeared on at least 40 percent of Chicago’s special teams snaps in each of the last four seasons. And in 2018 and 2019 — two years in which he played at least 15 games — Bush was in on nearly 60 percent of those snaps. Altogether, Bush has played 965 special teams snaps in five seasons. Conversely, Bush played 333 defensive snaps as a rookie in 2016, but just 362 in four years since.
By bringing back Bush, the Bears now have two safeties under contract. And for the time being, Bush slots in as a starter next to Eddie Jackson. It’s possible that turns out to be the case when the season kicks off. Remember, Bush was in a camp competition with Tashaun Gipson Sr. last summer. And for what it’s worth, Safeties Coach Sean Desai told reporters Bush had a chance to be a starter. Perhaps he’ll get a chance to do so now that Desai is the defensive coordinator. Stay tuned…