Bears Considering Cutting $72 Million Linebacker Due to Cap Crunch

Tremaine Edmunds could be a cap casualty for Chicago despite his strong 2025 season.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The Chicago Bears are facing a tight salary cap situation this offseason, and The Athletic's Kevin Fishbain reports that the team may need to cut ties with linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and his $72 million contract to create much-needed cap space. While Edmunds was productive in 2025 with four interceptions and nine passes defended, the Bears don't have an obvious in-house replacement and his release would save $15 million against the cap.

Why it matters

The Bears are looking to build on their 2025 playoff appearance, but their tight salary cap situation could force them to make difficult roster decisions like potentially parting ways with a key defensive starter in Edmunds. This highlights the challenges teams face in managing the salary cap while trying to field a competitive roster.

The details

Edmunds, 27, is entering the third year of a four-year, $72 million contract he signed with the Bears in 2024. Cutting him would save Chicago $15 million in cap space, though it would also result in $2.4 million in dead money. The Bears are currently projected to be $5.3 million over the cap, so Edmunds' release could provide significant relief as the team looks to re-sign key free agents and address other needs on the roster.

  • The Bears are facing the 2026 offseason with limited salary cap space.

The players

Tremaine Edmunds

A 27-year-old linebacker who has started for the Bears the past two seasons after signing a four-year, $72 million contract in 2024.

Ben Johnson

The Bears' head coach, who led the team to the playoffs in his first season in 2025.

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What they’re saying

“No one on the roster can seamlessly step into his role. The Bears do have some simple restructures they can do to create a bunch of cap space, but it might still be necessary.”

— Kevin Fishbain, Reporter (The Athletic)

What’s next

The Bears will need to make a decision on Edmunds' future in the coming months as they work to get under the 2026 salary cap.

The takeaway

The Bears' salary cap crunch could force them to part ways with a productive starter like Tremaine Edmunds, highlighting the difficult roster decisions teams must make to field a competitive team within the constraints of the NFL's salary cap system.