Just 1 Hour After Learning He's No Longer in the Plans, Bears' $110 Million WR Ready to Restructure Contract — All for One More Chance to Play in Chicago Blue.

Chicago, Illinois – December 27, 2025

Just one hour after internal signals confirmed he was no longer a top priority in the long-term plan, DJ Moore made a decision that quieted the locker room of the Chicago Bears. Not a trade request. Not frustration. Instead, a willingness to restructure a $110 million contract — all in exchange for one more chance to keep fighting for Chicago.

According to multiple team-adjacent sources, Moore proactively reached out to Bears leadership later that afternoon, expressing his desire to adjust financial terms to ease the salary-cap burden and create flexibility for a roster being reshaped around quarterback Caleb Williams. The move wasn’t tactical posturing; it was a clear statement of commitment.

Moore’s 2025 season wasn’t a disappointment. He remained one of the team’s most reliable targets, delivered game-defining moments, and played a meaningful role in key wins. But in the bigger picture, Chicago is entering a transition — prioritizing a long-term development timeline, financial flexibility, and expanded roles for younger players. At that intersection, Moore’s sizable contract became a strategic question.

Moore understood the reality. And he chose to confront it head-on.

“If the team no longer sees me as the No. 1 priority, I accept that,” Moore told those close to him.
“I can step back, restructure the deal, and accept any role — as long as I still get to take the field and fight for Chicago. The Bears didn’t just give me an NFL opportunity; they gave me belief. And wherever that belief still exists, that’s where my heart belongs.”

Inside the locker room, the reaction wasn’t loud — it was quiet respect. Moore has long been viewed as a consummate professional, someone willing to put the team ahead of himself even when it requires personal financial sacrifice. For the coaching staff, the message was unmistakable: this was a veteran choosing alignment over leverage.

From a strategic standpoint, a restructure could allow Chicago to retain a proven veteran to support Williams while avoiding a rushed separation that might leave gaps both on the field and in the locker room. It also sends a broader signal that the Bears’ rebuild isn’t driven solely by draft capital, but by players willing to sacrifice for a shared vision.

No final decision has been made by the front office. But the speed of Moore’s response — acting within an hour — speaks volumes. In a league where money often dictates direction, DJ Moore chose belief and opportunity.

And sometimes, moments like this become the true starting point of a new chapter — not just for a player, but for a franchise rediscovering its identity.