Sports · American Football · 2 hrs ago
Cairo Santos faces job pressure despite strong record with Chicago Bears
Cairo Santos, a 34-year-old kicker from Brazil, plays for the Chicago Bears in the NFL.
His four-year contract extension has one season left, but only its first two years were guaranteed, so the team could release him without paying the remaining salary.
The Bears have brought in younger kickers to compete for his job, and Santos says he must earn his place again each year.
Against the New England Patriots, he missed a 53-yard attempt but persuaded the coaches to let him try again soon after.
He made the next kick from 58 yards, a career best, to secure a 30-24 win.
Through seven games, he has made 11 of 15 field goals and all 21 extra points, while the Bears had five wins and two losses.
His future with the team is not guaranteed, even if he finishes the season strongly.
Chicago Bears kicker Cairo Santos faces competition for his job despite being the most accurate field-goal kicker in the team’s history.
The 34-year-old has one season remaining on his four-year contract, but the final two years were not guaranteed.
In seven games this season, he has made 11 of 15 field-goal attempts and all 21 extra points.
He missed a 53-yard attempt against the New England Patriots, then made a 58-yard field goal to secure a 30-24 win.
Santos says he must keep proving himself as the Bears consider younger kickers.
- Who
- Cairo Santos, the Chicago Bears’ kicker.
- What
- He faces pressure to keep his job despite a strong record with the team.
- When
- The report was published on November 3, 2026; Santos had played seven games this season.
- Where
- Chicago, Illinois, with the Bears in the NFL.
- Why
- His contract does not guarantee his place through its end, and the team has brought in players to compete for his position.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Santos signed a four-year contract extension, of which only the first two years were guaranteed.
After missing a 53-yard attempt, Santos made a 58-yard field goal to help secure a 30-24 win.
Santos had made 11 of 15 field-goal attempts and all 21 extra points.
UOL published its report on Santos’s job pressure.
- Age
- 34
- Contract
- Four-year extension signed two years before the report; only the first two years were guaranteed
- Field goals this season
- 11 of 15, a 73.3% success rate, through seven games
- Extra points this season
- 21 of 21 through seven games
- Bears field-goal record
- 87.2% accuracy, the best in team history
- Patriots game
- Made a 58-yard field goal in a 30-24 win
What people are saying
Each year at my age, I have to fight harder to keep up.
The team can cut me after the season or even during it, without owing me the rest of my salary, and sign another kicker.
Winning my spot again is something that motivates me in my preparation before the season.
The more success I have in my career, the more frustrating mistakes become.