DJ Moore Bids Farewell to Chicago After Trade to Bills

The wide receiver thanks Bears fans, teammates, and staff after being traded to Buffalo

Mar. 14, 2026 at 7:51pm

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Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore has been traded to the Buffalo Bills, and he took to Instagram to share a heartfelt farewell message to the city, fans, teammates, and staff. Moore was a beloved player in Chicago, amassing over 3,000 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns in his three seasons with the team. Bears GM Ryan Poles cited the team's depth at wide receiver as a factor in the trade decision, but acknowledged it was not an easy choice, especially with his own son being a passionate Bears fan.

Why it matters

The trade of DJ Moore, one of the Bears' top offensive weapons, signals a shift in the team's roster as they look to build around younger talent like Rome Odunze, Luther Burden, and tight end Colston Loveland. Fans will be sad to see Moore go, but the move highlights the tough decisions NFL executives must make to shape their rosters and stay competitive.

The details

In his farewell message, Moore thanked the Bears fans for embracing him and said he was proud to call Chicago home. He also expressed gratitude to his teammates, coaches, and the entire Bears organization for the opportunity to play in the city. Bears GM Ryan Poles explained that the trade was a 'business decision' due to the team's depth at wide receiver, with Odunze, Burden, and Loveland emerging as promising young talents. Poles acknowledged it was a difficult choice, especially with his own son being a passionate Bears fan.

  • DJ Moore spent three seasons with the Chicago Bears from 2023 to 2025.
  • Moore was traded to the Buffalo Bills on March 14, 2026.

The players

DJ Moore

A wide receiver who spent the last three seasons with the Chicago Bears, amassing over 3,000 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns during his time in Chicago.

Ryan Poles

The general manager of the Chicago Bears, who made the decision to trade DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills.

Rome Odunze

A wide receiver for the Chicago Bears who is expected to play a bigger role in the offense following the trade of DJ Moore.

Luther Burden

A wide receiver for the Chicago Bears who showed promise as a rookie and is expected to contribute more with Moore's departure.

Colston Loveland

The tight end for the Chicago Bears, who Poles highlighted as a 'special player' who can help ease the loss of Moore.

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What they’re saying

“I've mentioned this before — my son is a passionate fan of the Chicago Bears. He was not very happy with me at all.”

— Ryan Poles, General Manager, Chicago Bears (heavy.com)

“DJ's one of my favorite players, will always be one of my favorite players. I knew that that was going to be tough for our organization.”

— Ryan Poles, General Manager, Chicago Bears (heavy.com)

“Last year was my first winning season, so I got a taste of what everybody has been getting a taste of here in Buffalo. It was good. It was fun. The atmosphere was amazing. …I look forward to getting back there with the Bills and going further.”

— DJ Moore (heavy.com)

“Chicago!! I Wanna Say Appreciate all the love and support the last three years. My family and I were proud to call this place home and this community has been unbelievable to us. We will miss you all.”

— DJ Moore (Instagram)

What’s next

The Bears will look to their younger wide receivers, including Rome Odunze, Luther Burden, and tight end Colston Loveland, to step up and fill the void left by DJ Moore's departure.

The takeaway

The trade of beloved wide receiver DJ Moore from the Chicago Bears to the Buffalo Bills highlights the tough decisions NFL executives must make to shape their rosters, even when it means parting ways with a fan favorite. While Bears fans will miss Moore, the move signals the team's commitment to developing their younger talent and building for the future.