NFL free agency is off and running, and we’re keeping track of every major signing, trade and release of the 2026 offseason, with analysis from our NFL nation reporters and grades from our experts.
The new league year begins Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET, which means free agent signings can be made official after that. The first round of the 2026 NFL draft begins April 23 on ESPN.
The Bears moved quickly after the surprising retirement of Drew Dalman and sent a 2027 fifth-round pick to the New England Patriots in exchange for center Garrett Bradbury.
Here’s a breakdown of every 2026 NFL free agent signing by the Chicago Bears and how each will impact the upcoming season:
3 years, $30 million ($21M guaranteed)
What it means: The Bears gained speed for the middle of their defense. Bush is one of the fastest linebackers in the NFL, evidenced by the 20.23 MPH he clocked while returning a 97-yard pick-six in Week 18 last season.
Bush was the only player to have multiple pick-sixes in 2025 and ranked third among all linebackers with three interceptions. After a quiet few years following a knee injury in 2020, Bush re-emerged as one of the NFL’s most efficient linebackers. He started all 17 games for the Browns and finished with 125 tackles, seven tackles for loss, three interceptions, two sacks, two forced fumbles and eight passes defensed. The Bears entered the day thin at linebacker and have now solidified several spots by adding Bush and retaining D’Marco Jackson.
Two years, $12 million, a source told Courtney Cronin.
What the signing means: Defensive tackle is a significant need in Chicago, and the Bears now have a new nose tackle to replace Andrew Billings, who will hit free agency.
Gallimore bounced back from an underwhelming season with the Rams in 2024 to record 3.5 sacks and 38 tackles in his lone season with the Colts in 2025. While he’s known primarily for his strengths as a run defender, the Bears strengthened their defensive front with a 29-year-old veteran whose presence along the interior should aid the play of DTs Gervon Dexter Sr. and Shemar Turner. Notably, Gallimore is durable and missed only four games over his last four seasons.
2 years, $7.5 million
What it means: To move on from Tremaine Edmunds, who was released late last week, the Bears had to feel strongly about Jackson’s ability to handle a bigger role long-term.
After filling in for Edmunds last season and earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors twice, Jackson is now in line to start opposite T.J. Edwards and become the new middle linebacker in Dennis Allen’s defense.
Chicago is still thin at linebacker, so this re-signing only solves one spot for now. Edwards is recovering from a fractured fibula while Noah Sewell is out indefinitely with a torn Achillies, and the Bears still aren’t sure what they have in former fourth-round pick Ruben Hyppolite II, who only appeared in seven games last year with most of his snaps coming on special teams.
2 years, $5 miillion
What it means: The Bears retain one of their top special-teamers and depth assets at defensive end. After joining Chicago’s practice squad in 2023, the former seventh-round pick has appeared in all 34 games the last two seasons while logging 725 snaps on special teams.
Hardy played everywhere in 2025 — linebacker, defensive end, even two snaps at fullback — and provides the Bears with a versatile reserve up front. After being tied for the team lead with 11 special teams tackles in 2024, Hardy earned the lead outright in 2025 with 19.
3 years, $40 million per ESPN’s Brady Henderson
What it means: Safety is one of the biggest areas of focus for the Bears in free agency. With the status of multi-year starters Kevin Byard III and Jaquan Brisker up in the air, Chicago went after Bryant, a Super Bowl champion, who has the man coverage skills to be a chess piece in Dennis Allen’s secondary.
Bryant started 15 regular season games and recorded 66 tackles, four interceptions and a forced fumble. During Seattle’s three playoff games, Bryant amassed 10 tackles. The Bears upgraded one of their safety spots during the first few hours of free agency. Now they’ll have to determine who they can afford to bring back between Byard and Brisker to play opposite Bryant.
