Just 1 Hour After Parting Ways with DJ Moore to Free Up $110 Million Contract, Bears Immediately Sign 5-Time Pro Bowl Star — Right Before the Super Bowl Race Officially Explodes.

Chicago, Illinois – December 27, 2025

Just one hour after the Chicago Bears officially moved on from DJ Moore to free up $110 million in cap space, the front office delivered a move that sent shockwaves across the NFL. There was no pause for regret. No hesitation. Chicago immediately reached a verbal agreement with Maxx Crosby — a five-time consecutive Pro Bowler and the most coveted defensive player on the market heading into the 2026 season.

This was more than a blockbuster move. It was a statement of Super Bowl intent.

Crosby arrives in Chicago with a résumé that places him among the elite defenders of the modern era. He earned five straight Pro Bowl selections from 2021 to 2025, was named Second-Team All-Pro twice, and has recorded 69.5 career sacks in just 110 games, ranking third in Raiders franchise history — a franchise synonymous with legendary pass rushers.

But the numbers that truly keep offensive coordinators awake at night are tied to pressure. Since 2019, Crosby has led the entire NFL with 324 quarterback pressures, surpassing Nick Bosa by more than 40 pressures over that span. He also led the league in tackles for loss during the 2022–2023 seasons and stands as one of only three players in the 21st century to record at least 10 tackles for loss in each of his first seven NFL seasons, joining Jared Allen and Aaron Donald — both Hall of Fame–caliber names.

As the Bears reshape their roster to enter a true championship window, prioritizing a pass rusher capable of altering game plans by his presence alone makes their direction unmistakable. Chicago intends to win with relentless pressure, discipline, and dominance at the line of scrimmage.

Head coach Ben Johnson emphasized the weight of the moment following news of the verbal agreement:

“There are players who change a position, and there are players who change the entire identity of a team,” Johnson said. “He doesn’t just bring pressure on the field — he brings a standard. A standard for how we prepare, how we compete, and how we believe we can beat anyone. When someone like that walks into your locker room, everyone understands this is no longer about potential — it’s about turning belief into real wins.”

Moving on from DJ Moore undoubtedly leaves an emotional void, but the Bears believe it was a necessary cost to step fully into legitimate title contention. With a verbal agreement now in place and Maxx Crosby poised to anchor the front, Chicago is preparing to finalize a move that could define an entire season.

The Super Bowl race has never been hotter. And in the span of one decisive hour, the Bears made it clear to the rest of the NFL: they are no longer waiting for opportunity — they are creating it.