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Bears make first big move of 2025 NFL offseason with release of veteran tight end

The Chicago Bears made their first big move of 2025 free agency by releasing a high-priced veteran tight end.
Bryan Perez|
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

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Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears made their first big move of 2025 NFL free agency on Friday after informing veteran tight end Gerald Everett that he will be released.

The move will save the Bears $5.5 million in salary cap space, adding to Chicago's spending power to land a big-ticket offensive lineman like Kansas City Chiefs guard Trey Smith or Atlanta Falcons center Drew Dalman.

Everett signed a two-year, $12 million contract with the Bears last offseason but was miscast in then-offensive coordinator Shane Waldron's system. He ended the 2024 season with just eight catches for 36 yards,

Everett's release leaves Cole Kmet as the only Chicago Bears tight end under contract for 2025, which will push the position group higher on Ryan Poles' list of offseason needs.

The Chicago Bears' decision to release Everett isn't much of a surprise, as he represented one of several misses by Poles and the front office last season.

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Bryan Perez
BRYAN PEREZ

Bryan Perez founded and operated Bears Talk, a Chicago sports blog. Prior to that, he covered the Bears for USA Today’s Bears Wire and NBC Sports Chicago. In addition to his Chicago Bears coverage, Perez is a respected member of NFL Draft media and was a past winner of The Huddle's Mock Draft competition. Bryan's past life includes time as a Northeast scout for the CFL's Ottawa Redblacks.

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