Latest news with #Byard
Time of India
3 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
'We're trying to win the Super Bowl': Kevin Byard III backs head coach Ben Johnson's big plans for the Chicago Bears
Kevin Byard III and head coach Ben Johnson lock in on building something special in Chicago. As the NFL offseason rolls into training camp, Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson is wasting no time making an impression. In just the first few days of practice, Johnson's presence has been felt throughout the locker room – especially by veteran safety Kevin Byard III, who's now in his second year with the team. Johnson's focus and intensity are clearly registering with the players early on. Byard, one of the most respected veterans on the roster, has been vocal about what Johnson brings to the table, both in terms of leadership and vision. Players are already noticing Ben Johnson's energy and attention to detail According to Byard, Johnson has come into training camp with a strong sense of direction and a competitive fire that's hard to miss. The new head coach isn't easing into his role – he's bringing a clear message and high expectations. 'Ben Johnson breathes competition,' Byard said. 'His energy raises the level of everybody on the team.' That kind of comment from a veteran like Byard shows more than just excitement. For a team trying to improve, having the coach set the tone early is a big deal. Kevin Byard sees Ben Johnson's bigger plan for the Chicago Bears While Johnson is still settling into his first training camp as Chicago's head coach, he's already making it clear that this isn't just about this season – he wants to build something long-term. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Simple Morning Habit for a Flatter Belly After 50! Lulutox Undo 'We're trying to win the Super Bowl,' Byard said. 'Ben Johnson wants to build a dynasty. We want to be the guys who get this thing started. I want to be one of the guys who kind of builds the foundation of that and continue to go as long as we possibly can. That's the goal, but we have a long way to go to be able to accomplish that,' he added. Veteran leadership backing the coach is a strong sign for the Chicago Bears For a new coach, earning trust early matters. Byard isn't just praising Ben Johnson — he believes in the plan. With veterans like Byard backing him, Johnson is clearly changing the mindset in Chicago. If that continues, the Bears might be building more than just another rebuild. FAQs Q: Who is Ben Johnson and what is his role with the Chicago Bears? A: Ben Johnson is the new head coach of the Chicago Bears, leading the team through training camp and setting a clear vision for the future. Q: What did Kevin Byard say about Ben Johnson at training camp? A: Byard praised Johnson's energy and competitive mindset, saying he "breathes competition" and wants to "build a dynasty" in Chicago. Q: Why is Kevin Byard's support for Ben Johnson important? A: Byard is a veteran leader on the team. His early support signals that Johnson has already gained trust inside the locker room, which is key to building a strong team culture. Also read : Josh Allen's fiery emoji after Hailee Steinfeld's NYC selfie sends internet into meltdown For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Ben Johnson wants to build dynasty with Chicago Bears
There is no denying the impression that Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson has made early on in the first few days of training camp this summer. Several players have noticed the attention to detail and intensity from Johnson early on in training camp, including veteran safety Kevin Byard, who's entering his second season with Chicago. He's been a great veteran presence for the defense and team as a whole, and he sees Johnson's vision for this team. Earlier this week, Byard raved about how Johnson "breathes competition" and his energy "raises the level of everybody on the team." Also, Johnson is already talking about a building something lasting in Chicago. "We're trying to win the Super Bowl," Byard said. "Ben Johnson wants to build a dynasty. We want to be the guys who get this thing started. I want to be one of the guys who kind of builds the foundation of that and continue to go as long as we possibly can. That's the goal, but we have a long way to go to be able to accomplish that." Having a respected veteran like Byard buying into Johnson's philosophy, it's a big sign of leadership for this franchise. Johnson clearly wants to build a foundation of winning in Chicago, and getting team leaders like Byard to buy in will be crucial to building a culture that leads to success. Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
USA Today
09-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
30 Most Important Bears of 2025: Kevin Byard (No. 21)
The Chicago Bears are gearing up for an exciting 2025 NFL season, which features some new faces within the organization poised to get the franchise back to its winning ways. That starts with the hiring of Ben Johnson as head coach, as well as overhauling the interior offensive line, adding pieces on defense and a potenital impactful rookie draft class. Every day from now right up through training camp, we're counting down our 30 Most Important Bears for the 2025 season. We'll recap their 2024 season, look ahead to 2025 and tackle the biggest question facing them this year. Next up at No. 21 is safety Kevin Byard, who will once again serve as a key leader and contributor on defense. Background Position: Safety Age: 31 Experience: 10th season 2025 cap hit: $8.5 million 2024 recap The Bears signed Kevin Byard to a two-year, $15 million contract last offseason to serve as a 1-2 punch at safety alongside Jaquan Brisker. In his first season in Chicago, Byard, a two-time All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler, proved to be a valuable contributor and leader in a young secondary as things spiraled out of control under former head coach Matt Eberflus amid a 10-game losing streak. Byard was one of the more reliable members of the defense, posting a career-high 130 total tackles, becoming the first Bears defensive back to lead the team in tackles since 2014. He also tied a career-high 2.0 sacks and made plays be it through forcing takeaways, recovering turnovers and breaking up passes. Byard also started every game in 2024, which was huge for this defense, especially with Brisker missing 12 games due to a concussion. 2025 outlook The Bears defense is welcoming some new faces to the roster -- and coaching staff -- this season, but Byard will provide stability in a talented secondary looking to anchor this unit. Byard is coming off an encouraging first season with Chicago, where he played most of the year without Jaquan Brisker and aided by reserves Jonathan Owens and Elijah Hicks. Now, Byard is back with Brisker for the first year under new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, who's looking to instill a violent, aggressive mentality on defense. Byard's best ability was availability as he started every since game in 2024, which was sorely needed with Brisker missing 12 games. Outside of production, Byard will be relied on to once again serve as a veteran leader on this defense and team, a role that he thrived in amid chaos last season. The hope is this year will possess the stability lacking last season. Big Question: Does Kevin Byard have a future in Chicago? In just one season with Chicago, Byard proved himself to be a valuable asset for this defense, and that should only continue into his second year with Dennis Allen leading the defense. But Byard (along with his running mate Brisker) is entering a contract year, which raises questions about his future beyond 2025. Byard's caplet of $8.5 million is modest compared to some other big-name players on the roster. But if the Bears can find a viable option in the 2026 NFL draft (which is a long ways away), they could opt to let Byard hit the open market. With Byard's running mate Jaquan Brisker also in a contract year, that begs the question whether the Bears would consider both or either. The good news is, at least right now, there's no succession plan in place at safety, which could earn Byard another short-term deal in 2026. 30 Most Important Bears of 2025 Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Aid groups weigh how much more they can help if FEMA reduces its disaster response
Volunteers with the humanitarian nonprofit Team Rubicon are accustomed to filling in the gaps of disaster recovery — they chainsaw downed trees after wildfires, muck out flooded homes and rebuild roofs blown off by hurricanes. But with concern and confusion over how the federal government will respond to disasters this summer, the group is readying to possibly help in ways it hasn't before. 'The one thing certain this hurricane season is the uncertainty of what's going to happen at the federal level,' said Jeff Byard, Team Rubicon senior vice president of operations. Byard and his team are evaluating how else they can help communities if the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which oversees federal response to disasters, reduces its capacity or is deployed less often. President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed his intent to overhaul FEMA, if not totally dismantle it. Team Rubicon is good at being agile, Byard said, but nonprofits and funders are already under pressure from more frequent and severe climate events. 'It's going to be harder in a really hard situation already,' he said. Experts worry Trump might approve fewer major disaster declarations, which unlock federal funding and resources, and that FEMA's response could be slowed or diminished. Trainings have been reduced, and around 2,000 employees have left or been fired since January, including high-level staff. "Whether it's a hurricane or earthquake, the federal government is not prepared the way it has been in the past,' said Michael Coen, who held posts at FEMA under three presidential administrations. Nonprofits and funders across the United States say there is too much at stake for communities to just wait and see what happens. 'From the nonprofit perspective, we have to really lean in,' said Marcus Coleman, vice president of community resilience strategy for United Way Worldwide. FEMA is 'fully activated in preparation for Hurricane Season,' and is 'shifting from bloated DC-centric dead weight to a lean, deployable disaster force that empowers state actors to provide relief for their citizens," according to a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the agency. How FEMA cutbacks could be felt Leaders in disaster relief say FEMA's absence would make it harder to coordinate resources across federal government, set up effective communications, and deploy emergency supplies. 'FEMA is a key partner, we need them,' said David Guadalupe, chair of the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster. They worry the sudden policy changes could leave many states unprepared and under-resourced, intensifying the need for donations and volunteers. 'The worst case scenario is that that money gets pulled back and we have to fill in those gaps,' said Ann Lee, CEO of the relief organization CORE. It would be especially difficult, they say, to replace the services under FEMA's Individual Assistance program, like temporary housing and grants to repair or replace damaged homes and vehicles. For direct assistance alone, FEMA has approved over $460 million for 160,000 households in North Carolina since Hurricane Helene, and more than $136 million for 34,500 households after the Los Angeles fires. 'If the funding to the people gets eliminated, that's all they have,' said Michael Capponi, president of Global Empowerment Mission, adding that while nonprofits are often faster and more efficient at getting people help, they still need the money to make it happen. 'The private sector can never take that on,' he said. FEMA also funds disaster case managers, who help survivors navigate paperwork, and legal and mental health support. Providing those services 'will require even more robust volunteer organization,' said Byard. Other needs could include supporting smaller, less experienced emergency management departments, collecting data about survivor needs, or hauling away debris if federal dollars don't pay for the pickup. Even when FEMA help is available, it could look different than recent years, said Coleman. He points out that the agency already canceled its door-to-door canvassing program that helped survivors enroll with FEMA, and worries the feds could give survivors less time to apply. 'The effort to get the word out about FEMA assistance is critically important,' he said. 'Nonprofits will have to move quickly.' Relief organizations like CORE and Good360 are also pre-positioning more supplies in storm-vulnerable areas, in part in case FEMA supplies arrive more slowly. Trump took up to eight weeks to approve some declaration requests this spring, making aid groups even more important as survivors waited for help. 'That preparation is the biggest thing to focus on,' said Lee. Under strain from cuts, and more disasters The new responsibilities could come at a time when states, nonprofits and funders are already under strain from worsening disasters and federal funding cuts across government. A United Way Worldwide survey of the 211 network found that referrals for disaster-related assistance rose over 50% in 2024. Nonprofits have also been weakened by losing federal grants as well as staff from AmeriCorps cuts. 'The groups in the community 365 days a year are getting beat up significantly,' said Noah Patton, director of disaster recovery at the National Low-Income Housing Coalition, adding community-based organizations are already under pressure from housing shortages and other crises. 'When you're working at a homeless shelter that is 100% utilized and then you drop a disaster on it, it's 'How will I continue to do my job,' not 'How can I expand my mission.'' Funders that fuel recovery work say they can't replace federal money. 'It's not just unrealistic, it's a dangerous abdication of public responsibility,' said Ryan Eller, executive director of the Appalachia Funders Network. 'There's a reason these agencies were brought about in the first place when local resources just can't meet the need.' Philanthropy committed over $300 million to recovery to Hurricane Helene alone, and hundreds of millions more each for the fires in LA and on Maui. Eller said it's getting harder to fundraise for recovery. 'There is a general fatigue around disaster philanthropy because of the volume and frequency of storms,' he said. Even if a nonprofit can't take on more, simply building relationships with state and local government, residents, and fellow relief groups ahead of an emergency will make everyone more prepared, said Byard. 'Take FEMA out of it, now we're really looking at communities supporting communities,' he said. 'That can build some really really strong resilience.' —— Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP's collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP's philanthropy coverage, visit
11-06-2025
- Politics
Aid groups weigh how much more they can help if FEMA reduces its disaster response
Volunteers with the humanitarian nonprofit Team Rubicon are accustomed to filling in the gaps of disaster recovery — they chainsaw downed trees after wildfires, muck out flooded homes and rebuild roofs blown off by hurricanes. But with concern and confusion over how the federal government will respond to disasters this summer, the group is readying to possibly help in ways it hasn't before. 'The one thing certain this hurricane season is the uncertainty of what's going to happen at the federal level,' said Jeff Byard, Team Rubicon senior vice president of operations. Byard and his team are evaluating how else they can help communities if the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which oversees federal response to disasters, reduces its capacity or is deployed less often. President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed his intent to overhaul FEMA, if not totally dismantle it. Team Rubicon is good at being agile, Byard said, but nonprofits and funders are already under pressure from more frequent and severe climate events. 'It's going to be harder in a really hard situation already,' he said. Experts worry Trump might approve fewer major disaster declarations, which unlock federal funding and resources, and that FEMA's response could be slowed or diminished. Trainings have been reduced, and around 2,000 employees have left or been fired since January, including high-level staff. "Whether it's a hurricane or earthquake, the federal government is not prepared the way it has been in the past,' said Michael Coen, who held posts at FEMA under three presidential administrations. Nonprofits and funders across the United States say there is too much at stake for communities to just wait and see what happens. 'From the nonprofit perspective, we have to really lean in,' said Marcus Coleman, vice president of community resilience strategy for United Way Worldwide. FEMA is 'fully activated in preparation for Hurricane Season,' and is 'shifting from bloated DC-centric dead weight to a lean, deployable disaster force that empowers state actors to provide relief for their citizens," according to a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the agency. Leaders in disaster relief say FEMA's absence would make it harder to coordinate resources across federal government, set up effective communications, and deploy emergency supplies. 'FEMA is a key partner, we need them,' said David Guadalupe, chair of the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster. They worry the sudden policy changes could leave many states unprepared and under-resourced, intensifying the need for donations and volunteers. 'The worst case scenario is that that money gets pulled back and we have to fill in those gaps,' said Ann Lee, CEO of the relief organization CORE. It would be especially difficult, they say, to replace the services under FEMA's Individual Assistance program, like temporary housing and grants to repair or replace damaged homes and vehicles. For direct assistance alone, FEMA has approved over $460 million for 160,000 households in North Carolina since Hurricane Helene, and more than $136 million for 34,500 households after the Los Angeles fires. 'If the funding to the people gets eliminated, that's all they have,' said Michael Capponi, president of Global Empowerment Mission, adding that while nonprofits are often faster and more efficient at getting people help, they still need the money to make it happen. 'The private sector can never take that on,' he said. FEMA also funds disaster case managers, who help survivors navigate paperwork, and legal and mental health support. Providing those services 'will require even more robust volunteer organization,' said Byard. Other needs could include supporting smaller, less experienced emergency management departments, collecting data about survivor needs, or hauling away debris if federal dollars don't pay for the pickup. Even when FEMA help is available, it could look different than recent years, said Coleman. He points out that the agency already canceled its door-to-door canvassing program that helped survivors enroll with FEMA, and worries the feds could give survivors less time to apply. 'The effort to get the word out about FEMA assistance is critically important,' he said. 'Nonprofits will have to move quickly.' Relief organizations like CORE and Good360 are also pre-positioning more supplies in storm-vulnerable areas, in part in case FEMA supplies arrive more slowly. Trump took up to eight weeks to approve some declaration requests this spring, making aid groups even more important as survivors waited for help. 'That preparation is the biggest thing to focus on,' said Lee. The new responsibilities could come at a time when states, nonprofits and funders are already under strain from worsening disasters and federal funding cuts across government. A United Way Worldwide survey of the 211 network found that referrals for disaster-related assistance rose over 50% in 2024. Nonprofits have also been weakened by losing federal grants as well as staff from AmeriCorps cuts. 'The groups in the community 365 days a year are getting beat up significantly,' said Noah Patton, director of disaster recovery at the National Low-Income Housing Coalition, adding community-based organizations are already under pressure from housing shortages and other crises. 'When you're working at a homeless shelter that is 100% utilized and then you drop a disaster on it, it's 'How will I continue to do my job,' not 'How can I expand my mission.'' Funders that fuel recovery work say they can't replace federal money. 'It's not just unrealistic, it's a dangerous abdication of public responsibility,' said Ryan Eller, executive director of the Appalachia Funders Network. 'There's a reason these agencies were brought about in the first place when local resources just can't meet the need.' Philanthropy committed over $300 million to recovery to Hurricane Helene alone, and hundreds of millions more each for the fires in LA and on Maui. Eller said it's getting harder to fundraise for recovery. 'There is a general fatigue around disaster philanthropy because of the volume and frequency of storms,' he said. Even if a nonprofit can't take on more, simply building relationships with state and local government, residents, and fellow relief groups ahead of an emergency will make everyone more prepared, said Byard. 'Take FEMA out of it, now we're really looking at communities supporting communities,' he said. 'That can build some really really strong resilience.' ——
