Follow every signing and trade with The Athletic’s live coverage of 2025 NFL free agency
The Chicago Bears enter the 2025 league year with an abundance of resources, a promising quarterback entering Year 2 and a head coach whose approval rating in town is off the charts.
General manager Ryan Poles’ record in three seasons is 15-36 with one fired head coach, but he got another swing at that, and can attack the offseason and build a contender for 2025 alongside Ben Johnson.
The Bears went 5-12 last season, which included mystifying losses, a franchise-record losing streak and a quarterback who was sacked way too often. However, the roster is not that far away from taking a big jump in Johnson’s first season. The Bears began the offseason with plenty of salary-cap space and three picks in the top 41 selections of April’s draft. Caleb Williams is going to have several new faces in the huddle with him, to go along with a new coach in his ear calling plays.
Poles kicked things off with two trades for starting guards, not waiting until free agency to begin fortifying the group tasked with protecting Williams.
This post will be updated as roster moves are made during free agency, so check back often.
Bears land Falcons center Drew Dalman
March 10: The Bears agreed to terms on a three-year, $42 million deal with Dalman as the team continued its overhaul of the offensive line, per sources. Dalman will play between new guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, who were acquired last week in trades. Dalman was one of the top free agents despite playing in only nine games last season because of an ankle injury. So there is some risk involved. But he’s an experienced center who should help quarterback Caleb Williams.
Bears re-sign DB Josh Blackwell
March 6: Set to be a restricted free agent, Blackwell returns to the Bears on a two-year deal worth up to $6 million, a league source confirmed. That’s a nice contract to reward the team’s top special teamer. Blackwell’s punt-return touchdown in Week 18 against the Packers earned him special teams player of the week honors. He’s been a productive gunner since joining the team in 2022 off waivers and has stepped in nicely as a backup slot corner when needed.
Bears keep LB Amen Ogbongbemiga
March 6: Another special teams move, Ogbongbemiga was one of the core players for Richard Hightower’s unit in his first season with Chicago. He also signed a two-year deal, per NFL Network. He had five special teams tackles and six assists, plus a sack on defense.
Adding a No. 2 TE in Durham Smythe
March 6: Johnson’s Lions were third in the NFL in the percentage of plays run in 12 personnel (two tight ends). Smythe, who played at Notre Dame in 2017 with Cole Kmet, reunites with his former college teammate to complement him in Chicago, NFL Network reported. He also was a rookie with the Dolphins in 2018 when Johnson was their wide receivers coach.
Joe Thuney brings significant upgrade to line
March 5: The Bears haven’t had an offensive lineman named first-team All-Pro since 2006. Enter Thuney, who’s done it two years in a row with the Chiefs. He comes to Chicago with four Super Bowl rings, experience with two of the greatest quarterbacks and head coaches to ever do it and brings leadership the line needs.
Jonah Jackson, Ben Johnson reunion
March 4: Poles’ first major move of the offseason was to send a sixth-round pick to the Rams to take a chance with Jackson, who is set to make $17.5 million this season after playing in only four games in 2024. Jackson overlapped with Johnson in Detroit, where he made a Pro Bowl in 2021, so there’s trust in Johnson for this move to happen.
(Photo: Jamie Sabau / USA Today)
