Chicago Bears safety Jaquan Brisker, drafted in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft, has flashed his fierce, energetic play style from the start. He has developed as one of the hardest-hitting players in the NFL, but having missed 16 games in three seasons and most recently 12 in 2024 from concussions has raised questions about his availability and longevity.
Brisker met with the media today following offseason minicamp practice, for the first time since last season, and shared his journey, and tireless work to ensure his readiness for the upcoming season.
Brisker missed four games in his first and second years combined for Chicago, but a hit in the win against the Carolina Panthers in week 5 last season turned a multiple-week absence into a season-ending injury.
It was a hit in the open field where Brisker met Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble. The two hit head-to-head, causing a fumble that Chicago recovered. Initially, it seems Tremble got the hit’s worse side. Tremble was on the ground for some time but would only miss three games. Brisker, who finished the game, suffered from symptoms hours later.
As the Bears were ready to travel to London on Monday, Oct. 7, that night following the Bears’ win over the Panthers, Brisker knew something wasn’t right.
“It was really the night before — I was going to force myself to go. That’s how bad I wanted to play football, but I knew something was going on,” Brisker said. “Something in my head was telling me, nah, you can’t go. I felt funny — it was at night time, and my body felt a little off.”
From there on, Brisker was listed week-to-week. After being placed in the NFL’s concussion protocol for over five weeks, Chicago placed Brisker on injured reserve on Nov. 14, with his third concussion injury in three seasons.
The journey back
Knowing his season was over and the severity of this concussion greater than the first two, Brisker sought professional medical expertise at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center back home and in California.
There, it was diagnosed that Brisker suffered a vestibular concussion and was taught to re-train his nervous system, doing a routine of exercises that included reactionary body and eye movement, like side-to-side movement and tennis ball catching, ones that he is still involved in his routine today.
Symptoms of a vestibular concussion that damage the vestibular system can lead to dizziness, vertigo, balance and visual motion problems.
Having played football since age four, Brisker explained the difficulty of missing 12 games last season.
“It’s hard being away from the ball; I just had to keep my mind right and lock in,” Brisker said. “Being away from football week to week, it was kind of sad and depressing things like that, but I got over it, and it’s time to move on.”
Brisker said he would continue to play the same way and that retirement was never an option he considered.
“Nope, not with no one, especially not with myself, not with my parents,” Brisker said. “I feel like if my parents say something, it’s deep, so if it didn’t come from them or me, I’m good.”
When asked how he dealt with the mental aspect of being sidelined, Brisker said, “I’m a Brisker, so we’re strong. I got people behind and I’ve dealt with so much things worse than that, so this is another bump in the road, and just kept my head down.”
At this point in the offseason, the players are working on a noncontact basis. While there might be hesitation about Brisker’s ability to play the same way when the pads come on, he said he will be better, stronger, and more mentally focused.
With his mindset focused on the upcoming season, Brisker has mentioned that he’s keeping receipts of people who have doubted the team or him personally, saying that nine is back and ready for the season.
As Brisker, like the rest of the team, learns Dennis Allen’s defensive scene, which features more frequent two-high safety looks, Brisker is enjoying the opportunity for the new style to take his game to the next level. He mentioned the movement of the personal and the disguised looks as something he’s enjoyed so far about Allen’s defense.
Brisker has played 35 games for the Bears and has totaled three interceptions and six sacks, leading the team in sacks in 2022 with four. He has 11 total tackles for loss and 162 tackles in his career.
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