EH #22

Elijah Hicks

Safety · California

A seventh-round pick out of California, Elijah Hicks has spent his entire career as a depth safety and rotational piece for the Bears.

Elijah Hicks converted from cornerback to safety during his college days at Cal and has stuck around the league since as a reliable depth piece in Chicago's secondary. He has never been a full-time starter, but his steady special teams and rotational defensive work have kept him on the roster year after year.

★ First-Team All-Pac-12 at California (2021)

★ Seventh-round pick, No. 254 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft

★ Three career fumble recoveries with Chicago

Path to the league

Hicks played 54 games over five seasons at California, racking up 213 tackles, five interceptions and 14 passes defended while earning First-Team All-Pac-12 honors in 2021. Originally recruited as a cornerback, he moved to safety in college before Chicago drafted him in the seventh round, 254th overall, in 2022.

Career highlights

Hicks has appeared in 61 games across his four NFL seasons, all with the Bears, though he has made just 15 career starts. He has contributed three fumble recoveries during his time in Chicago and remained a valued depth piece in the secondary.

2025 season recap

Hicks continued in his familiar depth safety and special teams role for Chicago in 2025, staying with the organization that drafted him as it has retooled its defensive backfield around him. He has not emerged as a full-time starter but remains a trusted rotational contributor.