As the Chicago Bears gear up for training camp, a familiar face is conspicuously absent from their roster. Reddy Steward, a fan-favorite undrafted free agent from last season, has traded navy and orange for purple and gold, signing with the division-rival Minnesota Vikings. But the cornerback’s journey to secure a spot on an NFL roster is far from guaranteed, and his days in Minnesota could be numbered.
Steward was a standout in Chicago’s 2024 training camp and preseason, earning the hearts of Bears fans with his knack for creating turnovers. His highlight-reel pick-6 remains etched in the minds of those who believed he was destined for a roster spot. Many were shocked when the Bears let him slip through their fingers, leaving fans wondering what could have been.
Now, Steward finds himself in a crowded and competitive Vikings cornerback room. Minnesota, desperate for depth at the position this offseason, offers both opportunity and uncertainty. On paper, Steward sits behind established nickel corners like Byron Murphy Jr. and Tavierre Thomas, with Jeff Okudah and Isaiah Rodgers projected as the starting outside corners. Yet, the Vikings’ depth chart is anything but settled, and a strong camp could shake things up.
Steward’s new home might just be the perfect landing spot—or a precarious tightrope. Minnesota’s cornerback group is a puzzle with multiple pieces still to be placed, and a repeat of last year’s electrifying preseason performance could vault Steward into the conversation for a roster spot. His ball-hawking instincts and relentless energy make him a dark horse in a wide-open competition.
But the brutal truth remains: Steward faces an uphill battle. If he can’t replicate his Chicago magic, he risks being cut, left to wonder if a return to the Bears—or another team—might be his last shot at NFL glory. For now, all eyes are on Minnesota’s training camp, where Steward’s fate hangs in the balance. Will he seize this chance to prove he belongs, or are his days in purple numbered?