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The Chicago Bears are releasing linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, a source told ESPN‘s Adam Schefter on Thursday.
It’s a money move – and it clears $15 million in cap space just days before free agency kicks off.
Edmunds signed a four-year, $72 million deal when he joined the Bears as a free agent back in 2023. He was heading into the final year of that contract, but Chicago gave him permission to look for a trade on Feb. 25 (a source confirmed to ESPN). If he couldn’t find a new home, this was always the likely outcome.
The numbers tell the story. Edmunds was carrying a $13.9 million base salary for 2026, plus a $1 million roster bonus due on the fifth day of the league year; his total cap hit sat at $17.9 million.
“This is a unique situation where we’ve gotten our roster in a position where we have a lot of talented players, a lot of guys getting paid well, and that puts some constraints on the cap,” general manager Ryan Poles said at the NFL combine when asked about Edmunds’ future. “So we got to make some tough decisions. And, you know, like I said, when we win games, you create these relationships. There’s leadership guys or guys that were captains that mean a lot to our organization. But when you’re kind of put in a corner, that’s what league’s been and has been.”
On the field, Edmunds was productive when healthy.
He led Chicago with 112 tackles last season despite missing four games with a groin injury. He also added nine passes defensed, four interceptions, one sack and a fumble recovery during the regular season – then racked up 13 tackles across the Bears’ two playoff games.
The move caps off a hectic stretch for the Bears. Thursday night, they shipped wide receiver DJ Moore and a fifth-round pick to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a 2026 second-rounder. That followed center Drew Dalman’s surprise retirement on Wednesday.
All told, the three moves create an estimated $44 million in cap space for Chicago heading into free agency.
