Chicago

Bears

The Bears already have plenty of cap space. This move plus Gerald Everett’s release will put them above $70 million in cap space as free agency approaches. Walker signed a three-year, $21 million contract in Chicago two offseasons ago. He totaled seven sacks with the Bears and started all 17 games last year. Walker will have some takers in free agency, though he will likely be resigned to a one or two-year deal this time around.

The move is hardly a surprise. Everett was brought in as one of OC Shane Waldron’s guys. The two had worked together for five years before 2024. Everett held a part-time role early in the season but quickly fell out of the mix on offense. Waldron was fired well before the end of the season. Everett ended the year with eight catches for 36 yards. His release will save the Bears $5.5 million in cap space. Soon to be 31 years old, Everett will look for work as a backup tight end in 2025.

Cunningham currently holds the title of assistant general manager in Chicago. The Jags previously conducted a virtual interview with Cunningham and have him in Jacksonville for an in-person interview today. Previous reports have named him as one of five finalists for the job. Cunningham has been with the Bears since 2022 after successful stints with the Ravens and Eagles. Both teams hoisted the Lombardi Trophy while he was on the staff. All signs point to Cunngimham landing the job, though the other finalists will meet with owner Shad Khan and interim GM Ethan Waugh over the next week or so.

Everett, as our last blurb on him lays out succinctly, caught eight passes all season. The Bears can save $5.5 million against the cap by releasing Everett, and Cole Kmet is obviously Chicago’s No. 1 option at the position. Everett will likely be looking elsewhere for a stay-in-the-league role in 2025.

Breer adds that Cunningham is considered “a strong candidate ... to land the job.” Cunningham interviewed with the Titans twice this offseason and also appeared to be a finalist for the Commanders job last year. The Jaguars took a surprising amount of time to get interviews started on this search given they officially hired Liam Coen on January 24. The goal appears to be to get a general manager in place in the next few weeks, before the NFL Scouting Combine starts on February 27.

The oldest child of Bears founder/owner George Halas, McCaskey’s passing comes a month after her 102nd birthday. The principal owner of one of the oldest franchises in the league, McCaskey oversaw two Super Bowl-winning teams during her tenure and was the oldest owner in all major American sports following Ralph Wilson’s passing in 2014. She passes away as the longest-tenured owner in the league after inheriting the Bears following her father’s death in 1983. McCaskey’s son, George McCaskey, has served as the Bears’ Chairman since 2011 and has since been the second-highest ranking member of the organization. He will presumably step into an ownership role following his mother’s passing.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler was the first to report the hiring. Waldron barely spent a season as the Bears offensive coordinator, coaching in just nine games before being fired after a 19-3 loss to the Patriots in Week 10. Before being hired by the Bears, Waldron had previously served as the Seahawks offensive coordinator (2021-2023) but spent three seasons as the Rams passing-game coordinator before heading to Seattle. This is a good landing spot for Waldron, who spent three seasons with head coach Liam Coen during his time with the Rams. Waldron should provide a good veteran presence to one of the youngest coaching staffs in the league while mostly staying away from offensive play-calling, which will be Coen’s responsibility.

Bieniemy joins Ben Johnson’s staff in Chicago amidst a complete retool of the coaching ranks. He coached for the UCLA Bruins in 2024 after a one-year stint as the offensive coordinator for the Commanders and a five-year stint with the Chiefs during the early portion of Patrick Mahomes’ career. The hiring appears to be a leap of faith by the Bears after Bieniemy was fired after just one season in each of his previous two positions across multiple levels, with Bieniemy now looking to reestablish a coaching presence in the NFL.

The long-time Doug Pederson understudy spent the 2013-2020 seasons with the Eagles and the 2022-2024 seasons with the Jaguars, with a 2019 Colts stint in between. The former quarterbacks coach will now help mold Caleb Williams as he enters year two.

The Jets and Jaguars are interviewing Blough for their quarterback coach vacancies while the Bears want him as a pass game coordinator. Blough only joined the coaching ranks a year ago following the end of his playing career. His success working with superstar rookie Jayden Daniels has obviously earned him a promotion.