Bears release veteran LB Amen Ogbongbemiga

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 18: Amen Ogbongbemiga #45 of the Chicago Bears stands on the field during the fourth quarter of an NFL divisional playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams at Soldier Field on January 18, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Bears released linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga on Thursday. The team made the announcement official in a tweet from their Communications Department.

Ogbongbemiga signed with the Bears on a one-year deal in 2024, and he was extended on a two-year, $5 million contract in 2025. This past season, he played in eight games and started in one, tallying 17 total tackles and a pass deflection. He was used primarily as a special teamer in Chicago, and while he had seven special teams tackles in 2024, he only had one in a 2025 season shortened by a knee injury.

According to OverTheCap, the move will free up a little over $2 million with a dead cap hit of $375,000. In an offseason where cap space is needed wherever it can be found, it makes sense the Bears are looking for additional financial flexibility.

Heading into the 2026 offseason, the Bears have the likes of Noah Sewell and Ruben Hyppolite II under contract as linebacker depth. Players like D'Marco Jackson and Jalen Reeves-Maybin are impending free agents. There's a chance Chicago will still need to bring in more linebacker help, especially if they release Tremaine Edmunds in a larger cap casualty-type of move. That said, their current roster provides necessary depth for cheaper than Ogbongbemiga's salary.

This marks the first move the Bears have made to get themselves out of the red for the upcoming free agency period. The negotiation period starts on Monday, March 9 at 11:00 a.m. CST, and the actual start of free agency begins on Wednesday, March 11 at 3:00 p.m. CST.