Bears Coach Ben Johnson Opens Up on Difficult DJ Moore Trade to Bills

Johnson says he 'loved' Moore but the veteran receiver's elevated price tag no longer made sense in Chicago's offense.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 10:06pm

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Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson spoke candidly about the team's decision to trade wide receiver DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills, saying he 'loved' Moore but that the veteran's elevated price tag no longer fit the Bears' offensive plans after the emergence of tight end Colston Loveland and slot receiver Luther Burden III. The Bears had a chance to deal Moore to the Bills at the midseason trade deadline in 2025 but kept him to help make a playoff push, which he did with strong performances down the stretch and in the postseason. However, with Moore set to enter the first year of a 4-year, $110 million extension, the Bears ultimately decided to move him to Buffalo for a 2nd-round pick.

Why it matters

The trade of DJ Moore, a key contributor to the Bears' 2025 playoff run, highlights the difficult personnel decisions NFL teams face when balancing veteran production with long-term salary cap considerations. It also shows how the Bears are transitioning their offense around younger, cheaper options like Loveland and Burden, who have emerged as rising stars.

The details

The Bears had a chance to trade Moore to the Bills at the 2025 midseason trade deadline, but decided to keep him to help make a playoff push. Moore went on to have a strong finish to the season and playoffs, but his elevated price tag as he entered the first year of a 4-year, $110 million extension no longer made sense for the Bears, especially with the emergence of tight end Colston Loveland and slot receiver Luther Burden III as key targets in their offense.

  • The Bears had a chance to trade DJ Moore to the Bills at the 2025 midseason trade deadline.
  • Moore helped the Bears make the playoffs in 2025 with strong performances down the stretch and in the postseason.

The players

Ben Johnson

The head coach of the Chicago Bears, who spoke openly about the difficult decision to trade DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills.

DJ Moore

The veteran wide receiver who was traded from the Chicago Bears to the Buffalo Bills after helping the Bears make the playoffs in 2025.

Brandon Beane

The general manager of the Buffalo Bills, who said the team had interest in trading for DJ Moore at the 2025 midseason trade deadline but the Bears declined.

Colston Loveland

The tight end drafted by the Bears in the 1st round in 2025, who emerged as a top target in their offense.

Luther Burden III

The slot receiver drafted by the Bears in the 2nd round in 2025, who came on strong at the end of the 2025 season.

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What they’re saying

“'I love DJ. It hurts because I viewed him as one of the leaders.'”

— Ben Johnson, Head Coach, Chicago Bears

“'[Moore] was one of the guys that we called and checked. And Chicago shut it down. They were trying to make a run. But I think they at least knew there was interest, and they reached back out when we got to Indy [for the NFL combine] and said, 'Hey, you know, maybe we'd be open if something made sense.' And we [were] fortunate to be able to figure that out.'”

— Brandon Beane, General Manager, Buffalo Bills

What’s next

The Bears will look to use the 2nd-round pick acquired in the DJ Moore trade to help upgrade their defense, which was a weakness in 2025.

The takeaway

The trade of DJ Moore highlights the difficult personnel decisions NFL teams face when balancing veteran production with long-term salary cap considerations. The Bears made the tough call to move on from Moore despite his strong play, as his elevated price tag no longer fit their offensive plans with the emergence of younger, cheaper options like Loveland and Burden.