Catching Up on Bears’ Offseason Moves

The Bears’ rebuild is underway, and nowhere was that more evident than when new GM Ryan Poles traded LB Khalil Mack to the Chargers for a couple of draft picks. Poles has wasted no time in putting his stamp on the 2022 squad, and with that in mind, now is a good time to catch up on the Bears’ offseason moves.

• January 22 – The Bears named Matt Eberflus as the 17th head coach in team history. Coach Eberflus came to Chicago from Indianapolis, where he served as the Colts’ defensive coordinator.
• January 29 – Announced the hiring of Packers coach Luke Getsy as offensive coordinator, Andrew Janocko as quarterbacks coach, Tyke Tolbert as receivers coach/passing game coordinator, and David Overstreet II as assistant defensive backs coach. The Bears also named Ian Cunningham as the team’s first-ever assistant general manager on this date.
• February 3 – Named Travis Smith new defensive line coach.
• February 4 – Named Tim Zetts assistant tight ends coach and Omar Young offensive quality control coach.
• February 5 – Named Andre Curtis safeties coach.
• February 7 – Signed Browns practice squad offensive lineman Willie Wright to a reserve/futures contract, the first player acquisition by Poles.
• February 10 – Named Brent Salazar director of high performance.
• February 11 – Signed long snapper Beau Brinkley and punter Ryan Winslow to reserve/futures contracts.
• February 13 – Named Jim Arthur head strength and conditioning coach.
• February 15 – Announced the hiring of Alan Williams as defensive coordinator. Williams previously worked with Eberflus in Indianapolis.
• February 17 – Signed depth linebacker Noah Dawkins of the Jets.
• February 19 – Named Matt Feinstein director of football administration.
• February 24 – Signed Ravens linebacker Joe Thomas to a futures contract.
• March 6 – Released running back Tarik Cohen with an injury designation. Released DT Eddie Goldman. Claimed running back Darrynton Evans off waivers from the Titans.
• March 9 – Signed DT Larry Ogunjobi to a three-year contract.
• March 10 – Traded Mack to the Chargers for a second-round pick (No. 48 overall) in this year’s draft and a sixth-round pick in 2023.
• March 11 – Signed long snapper Patrick Scales and offensive lineman Lachavious Simmons to one-year contracts. Released linebacker Danny Trevathan.
• March 12 – Released Brinkley.
• March 15 – Signed Packers offensive lineman Lucas Patrick to a two-year contract and announced he would be Chicago’s starting center.
• March 17 – Released punter Patrick O’Donnell, making Winslow the team’s starter and holder.
• March 18 – Signed Chargers DT Justin Jones to a two-year deal.
• March 18 – Signed Colts DE Al-Quadin Muhammad to a two-year contract. Muhammad provided insight at his introductory presser as to what it’s like to play for Coach Eberflus.
• March 18 – Signed WR Equanimeous St. Brown, formerly of the Packers, to a one-year deal.
• March 18 – Signed Raiders linebacker Nicholas Morrow to a one-year contract.
• March 18 – Rescinded the Ogunjobi contract after the defensive tackle failed his physical.
• March 19 – Signed Chiefs WR Byron Pringle to a one-year deal. Pringle could earn a starting position.
• March 20 – Announced the return of defensive back DeAndre Houston-Carson on a one-year deal. Houston-Carson is entering his seventh season with the Bears,
• March 21 – Signed Titans fullback Khari Blasingame to a one-year contract.
• March 24 – Tendered an offer sheet to Buffalo guard Ryan Bates. The Bills have until March 29 to match the offer or Bates will be awarded to the Bears. Because Bates was an original-round tender as an undrafted free agent, Buffalo is not entitled to compensation if he is acquired by Chicago.
• March 25 – Signed Saints backup quarterback Trevor Siemian to a two-year deal, which opens the door for a possible Nick Foles trade.