Dmarco Jackson re-signs with Bears on two-year deal before tampering window
dmarco jackson is returning to the Chicago Bears on a two-year, $7. 5 million contract worth up to $10. 5 million, a move completed mere hours before the NFL’s tampering period begins. As of Monday at 9: 00 a. m. ET, the re-signing keeps a key linebacker and special teams contributor in Chicago after his most productive season.
Dmarco Jackson contract terms land ahead of the NFL tampering period
The Bears moved early in the week to retain one of their top free agents before the league’s negotiating window opens. Linebacker D’Marco Jackson agreed to a two-year deal valued at $7. 5 million, with the contract able to reach $10. 5 million through incentives.
Jackson’s path to Chicago has been recent and direct. The New Orleans Saints drafted him in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, signing him to a four-year, $3. 9 million contract. After the Saints released him last training camp, the Bears claimed him off waivers, putting him in position to earn a larger second contract after a strong season.
Chicago Bears point to 43 tackles and a Week 15 NFC honor
Last season marked the best stretch of Jackson’s NFL career. Over 16 games, including four starts, he totaled 43 tackles, three pass deflections, two tackles for loss, one quarterback hit, one sack, and one interception.
His peak moment came in the Bears’ win against the Cleveland Browns, when he delivered seven tackles, one interception, and one sack. The performance earned him NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for Week 15, a recognition that underscored his impact when given expanded snaps.
Beyond the defensive production, the Bears also value his special teams role. The team described Jackson as a threat on defense who also plays a big part in that phase, an element that can weigh heavily in roster decisions when depth is being shaped ahead of offseason additions.
Dennis Allen connection and post-Edmunds depth picture in Chicago
The re-signing arrives as the Bears look to stabilize the linebacker room after Tremaine Edmunds was released. The team needed more depth at the position, and Jackson’s late-season role grew when the defense dealt with injuries to Edmunds and T. J. Edwards.
Jackson’s familiarity with Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen also factors into the fit. Allen previously served as Jackson’s head coach with the Saints and later brought him to Chicago, giving the coaching staff a direct history with the player’s development and usage.
With Edmunds no longer on the roster, Jackson is expected to compete for a starting spot on the defense in 2026. Another layer could be added if the Bears pursue additional linebacker help: Jeremy Fowler said Chicago could target Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone, which would introduce competition for Jackson and Edwards.
The next league milestone on the calendar is the NFL tampering period, set to begin Monday, with the Bears’ move on dmarco jackson completed just hours before that window opens.
