After several flirtations, the Bears signed Chicago native Kelvin Hayden on Thursday.
Hayden, a cornerback who attended Hubbard High School, played at Joliet Junior College before transferring to Illinois. He was a second-round pick of the Indianapolis Colts in 2005, and he had his best season in 2007, when he started all 16 games, intercepted three passes and forced two fumbles. His most memorable play came against the Bears, when he returned an interception 56 yards for a touchdown in the Super Bowl.
But Hayden, who turns 29 in July, hasn’t played an entire season since 2007. Last season for the Atlanta Falcons, Hayden intercepted two passes in eight games. He started only one game.
Hayden has played in 85 games, starting 47. He also has appeared in 10 postseason games, starting five.
The Bears also signed cornerback Jonathan Wilhite, who will be entering his fifth season in the NFL. A 2008 fourth-round pick of the New England Patriots, Wilhite spent last season with the Denver Broncos, playing in 15 games, starting two. He had 26 tackles, two sacks and one interception.
