Vrabel has often spoken highly of Byard, even when the two weren't working together directly. Now, he'll have one of his favorite defensive weapons back for the 2026 season. The Patriots and Byard agreed on a one-year, $9 million deal in free agency.

The Chicago Bears entered the new league year Wednesday with a flurry of offseason moves.

Byard rebounded in a big way this past season, earning his first Pro Bowl nod since 2021.