Cairo Santos (often misheard or mistyped as “Carlos Santos”) is still the Chicago Bears’ kicker and has not had any major public incident, retirement, or release as of January 2026.

Quick Scoop

  • Current status: Santos remains on the Bears’ roster and is signed through the 2027 season.
  • Recent role: He handled kicking duties throughout the 2025 season and into the current playoff run, including big games late in the year.
  • Performance: His accuracy has dipped slightly compared to his peak years, but he is still considered a steady, professional veteran who has delivered in several pressure moments.

What “happened” recently?

When people online ask “what happened to Carlos/Cairo Santos?” , they are usually reacting to:

  1. A rough stretch:
    • Over the last couple of seasons, his field‑goal percentage slipped somewhat, leading to fan debate about whether the Bears should move on.
 * Some columns and forum threads have framed him as a “potential liability” compared to stronger‑legged kickers.
  1. Clutch and highlight moments:
    • He has also hit several big kicks, including game‑winners and key postseason or late‑season field goals that went viral among Bears fans.
 * Team and media highlights from January 2026 still show him hitting field goals in meaningful games.

So rather than some dramatic event, the story is more about the usual NFL kicker arc: a veteran who’s still the primary kicker in Chicago, occasionally under fire when he misses, and praised again when he nails important kicks.

Note:
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.