Kyle Odegard has been a professional journalist for two decades, with four years of experience in the sports betting industry. He was a beat writer for the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals from 2013-2021 and previously covered...
Read Full BioJaquan Brisker is talented enough that his career trajectory should not be questioned at age-25, but head injuries will do that.
The Bears’ fourth-year safety became a Day 1 starter as a second-round pick in 2022 and has looked like a burgeoning star in Chicago — but he’s also been dogged by concussions every season as a professional.
Last year was the most alarming of them all, as Brisker suffered a concussion against the Panthers in Week 5 and didn’t play again the rest of the year, leaving many to wonder if he can be counted on moving forward.
But in a 45-minute sitdown late last week, Brisker spoke about his situation exactly the way he plays: all confidence, no fear.
To him, the 2025 season is not a crossroads, but an on-ramp to stardom.
“I can’t wait to show the world what’s coming,” Brisker told Casino Beats in his first extensive interview since the injury. “Everybody’s writing me off right now, but that’s when I’m at my best.”
Brisker acknowledges how surprised he was by the length of last year’s absence. Like in previous seasons, Brisker thought the concussion would sideline him a game or two.
He was injured after forcing a fumble on Carolina tight end Tommy Tremble with about three minutes remaining in the first half.
Tremble was fined for lowering his helmet on the play, but Brisker didn’t think the collision was a big deal in the moment.
“I hit him with my shoulder, and his helmet hit my neck just in the right spot,” Brisker said. “So that probably got it. I was thinking nothing of it, and I played a little bit (more) in the game, which I probably shouldn’t have. I think it lingered because (I stayed) in the game. I probably made it worse by hitting people.”
Brisker said this type of concussion was different. Week after week, he hoped to return, but could not pass the protocol.
“There are like five different types of concussions, and I had a certain concussion,” Brisker said. “Really, I had to retrain my nervous system. That is why I took so long. It wasn’t my brain, it wasn’t my head. It was really my nervous system, and once I retrained that, I felt great.”
Brisker: My Brain Is Healthy, Career Not In Peril
Brisker doesn’t downplay the seriousness of concussions, noting their potential effects not only for his NFL career, but also in his 50s and 60s.
However, constant communication with doctors has him feeling optimistic about the short- and long-term prognosis.
“It really doesn’t concern me at all, especially talking with my doctors,” Brisker said. “Asking different questions, seeing how healthy my brain is. Everything went well. I got every answer that I needed.
“There’s not a number on concussions. It doesn’t say if you get five (your career is over). I know people who probably had, what, six, seven concussions right now in the league that are playing and and got paid. So there’s not a number on the concussion. It’s just how you feel, where your brain health is, and I’m in a great spot.”
Brisker says he finally cleared concussion protocol near the end of the season. He technically could have been brought back off injured reserve, but the Bears were out of the playoff picture at that point.
He will make his long-awaited return to team activities when the Bears reconvene for offseason workouts on April 7. Brisker, who has been working out for months, says he is completely healthy and fully motivated.
Brisker: I’m An All-Pro When Healthy
What can he be if the stars align and Brisker stays on the field for all 17 games? He doesn’t hesitate.
“All-Pro and Pro Bowl, period,” Brisker said. “First team, easy. My rookie year, I think I could have gotten Rookie of the Year. I was ballin’, then got a concussion. Second year, I was on the rise, about to take over, concussion. This year I already had All-Pro numbers. The only person who had better numbers than me — and it was just the interceptions — was Xavier McKinney. Everything else, I was leading in every category. Ball was coming to me and it was getting dangerous.
“Every single year, I was going like that, and then something happened. But we fixed that this year. It won’t happen in the future. So to me, to everyone — the coaches around the league are always giving me great dialogue — as long as I stay healthy, it’s going to be All-Pro.”
Brisker said he is doing preventative work to lower the chances of another brain injury, and also plans to change his play-style in 2025.
“What am I going to do different?” Brisker said. “I’m gonna change up my game just a little bit. I mean, I’m still gonna hit people. They’re still gonna get it, but I’m not gonna go too crazy. Yeah, I’ll say it like that. I’m gonna adjust my game, but if you really look at my game, that was like the only hit I ever had that gave me a concussion. So I’m gonna play cleaner, but people are still gonna get hit.”
Brisker is one of the more versatile safeties in the NFL. He had 104 tackles and four sacks in 15 games as a rookie, and then 105 tackles, two forced fumbles and nine passes defensed in 15 games in 2023.
Brisker had 40 tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack, an interception and a forced fumble in five games last year before the concussion.
Brisker: No Contract Extension Talks With Chicago
He is heading into a contract year, but said neither he nor the Bears have broached an extension, which makes sense.
It would be hard for the team to take a risk on a player coming off a serious head injury; on the flip-side, by betting on himself, Brisker, still just 25 years old, can make himself a bunch of money with similar production and no missed games in 2025.
“We’re both not really focused on that,” Brisker said. “We’re focused on this year, finishing out this year, and showing what I can really do. Last year I knew, once my season was over, that it’s gonna focus on this year. Not the (potential) money, but just focus on finishing the year.
“When I finish this year — you guys will see. It’s gonna be something you guys have never seen before, especially from a safety. It was getting like that. I was on a roll with having one of the seasons they’ve never seen before. People know that. People know the path. It’s going to get ugly for the league.”
Time will tell if Brisker can avoid more concussions, but his state of mind is readily apparent.
“I’m not going in worried about getting a head injury,” Brisker said. “I definitely believe in my team, believe in the doctors. They’ve had players all over, regular people who are able to be themselves. I’m excited for this new journey. I’ve been working on improving my brain.
“I’m not worried about getting hit. I’m not worried about concussions. I’m going to be so far clear of that. I’m going to be healthy.”
