The Chicago Bears have agreed to release Pro Bowl linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Edmunds becomes the second notable player the Bears parted ways with, following the team’s decision to send wide receiver DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills.
The Bears originally granted Edmunds permission to seek a trade back in February. He was due a non-guaranteed $13.9 million salary in 2026 plus roster and workout bonuses, in the final year of a four-year, $72 million contract that he signed with Chicago as a free agent back in 2023.
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Edmunds was set to have a $17.4 million cap hit for 2026, but the Bears will now save $15 million of that. Between the release of Edmunds and the trade of Moore, Chicago will gain $31.5 million in salary-cap space through roster moves on Thursday.
Edmunds has spent the past three seasons with the Bears after starting his career in Buffalo. The 27-year-old finished the year leading the team with 112 tackles, despite missing four games due to a groin injury. He also had four interceptions, tying a career high.
The Bills selected Edmunds with the 16th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft out of Virginia Tech. He made the Pro Bowl in his second and third NFL seasons, logging 100-plus tackles in each of his eight years in the league.