Elijah Hicks: Everything you need to know

Hicks and the Bears agreed to terms on a one-year deal Thursday. The 2022 seventh-round pick from California is now slated to remain in Chicago after spending the first four seasons of his NFL career with the team. Hicks appeared in 17 regular-season games in 2025, recording 19 total tackles across 371 total snaps (309 on special teams, 62 on defense). He's expected to remain one of the Bears' top special-teamers during the 2026 campaign.

Hicks (shoulder) is practicing at Bears training camp, Alyssa Barbieri of USA Today reports. Hicks missed the final two games of the regular season last year but is now healthy. The 25-year-old safety logged 40 tackles (24 solo), two pass breakups and two fumble recoveries across 12 regular-season contests in 2024. He's competing for a backup safety job behind Jaquan Brisker, Kevin Byard and Jonathan Owens in Chicago.

Hicks missed the last two games of the season with an ankle injury. He ended the season with 40 tackles in 12 games. Hicks was the starting strong safety for the Bears until suffering an ankle injury in Week 11. Once he returned to action in Week 15, Jonathan Owens had taken over the starting job, which limited Hicks to 10 snaps in Weeks 15-16. Another ankle injury ended the season early for Hicks. The veteran is under contract with the Bears through next season.