The recent news about Jaire Alexander heading to the Ravens got me thinking: how often do teams let go of stars fans love — and actually get it right? The Chicago Bears front office has made plenty of boneheaded decisions over the years — but not every fan-favorite getting shown the door was one of them. Sometimes, the team gets it right, even when it stings in the moment. Here’s a look at five players whose exits pissed off Bears Nation, but in hindsight, were absolutely the right calls.
1. Kyle Fuller (CB)
When the Bears cut Kyle Fuller in March 2021, fans were livid. Here was a homegrown first-round pick, a two-time Pro Bowler, and arguably the most dependable member of the secondary. But while the emotional reaction made sense, the cold truth was this: Fuller was overpriced, aging, and trending down.
The Financial Reality
Fuller was due to count a ridiculous $20 million against the cap in 2021 (Spotrac). For a 29-year-old cornerback, that’s Monopoly money. The Bears were already playing a dangerous game with their cap sheet, and cutting him freed up much-needed space.
The Decline Was Real
Denver scooped Fuller up for a one-year, $9.5 million deal (Spotrac), but he turned into toast in Vic Fangio’s defense:
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
Started just 10 of 16 games
Zero picks, 4 pass breakups
Burned repeatedly in coverage
Flagged 5 times, including 4 DPIs
By season’s end, he was riding the bench. Baltimore gave him a last shot in 2022, and he barely made a dent. Fuller was done, and the Bears avoided getting stuck paying for a name instead of production.
Sep 11, 2022; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Baltimore Ravens cornerback Kyle Fuller (23) reacts after an injury during the second half against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
2. Brandon Marshall (WR)
Trading Brandon Marshall for a fifth-round pick in 2015 felt like daylight robbery at the time. The guy had been a beast in Chicago, putting up over 3,500 yards and 31 touchdowns in three years. Fans lost their minds. But once you peeled back the curtain, the writing was on the wall.
Locker Room Cancer
Marshall was a walking headline — and not the good kind. Between public spats with teammates, an infamous locker room meltdown, and challenging fans to fights on social media, he was exhausting. Oh, and he had a weekly TV gig that rubbed everyone the wrong way.
The Jets paid him $12 million over three years, $9 million guaranteed (Spotrac). What did they get?
Falling Apart Physically
He was 30 and coming off a season that ended with fractured ribs and a punctured lung. The Jets got one last hurrah out of him (1,502 yards in 2015), but he cratered after:
2016: 788 yards
2017: 154 yards in 5 games
2018: 136 yards in 7 games
Marshall burned bright and flamed out quick. The Bears dodged a bullet by dealing him before the collapse.
3. Matt Forte (RB)
Matt Forte was a damn warrior. One of the most versatile backs in franchise history. So when the Bears let him walk after 2015, fans were gutted. But running backs age in dog years, and Forte’s odometer was busted.
Heavy Mileage, Wrong Side of 30
By the time he hit free agency, Forte had over 2,000 touches on his legs and had just turned 30, per StatMuse. That’s red flag city for an NFL back.
Not Worth the Dough
2016: 813 rush yards, 263 receiving yards (3.7 YPC)
2017: 381 rush yards (3.7 YPC)
He retired after 2017. The Bears made the smart move letting someone else pay for his decline.
4. Charles “Peanut” Tillman (CB)
This one hurt on a different level. Peanut Tillman wasn’t just a player — he was a legend. The king of the strip. A fan-favorite and a leader. But legends age too, and by the end of 2014, Tillman was 34 with a pair of bum triceps.
Old and Busted
Tillman played just 18 games over his last two seasons in Chicago. The Panthers gave him a one-year, $2 million deal in 2015 (Spotrac). He gave them a torn ACL and missed the Super Bowl run. That was it. He never played another down.
The Bears did right by letting him go instead of watching him fall apart on their dime.
Nov 2, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers cornerback Charles Tillman (31) complains to the referee about offensive pass interference as Indianapolis Colts score during the second half of the game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
5. Alshon Jeffery (WR)
Jeffery looked like the next big thing in 2013-14, but by 2016 he was unreliable, often injured, and carrying a PED suspension on his record. When the Bears let him leave in free agency, fans cried foul. He went on to win a ring in Philly — but his body betrayed him just like Chicago predicted.
Built From Glass
Jeffery missed 11 games in his last two Bears seasons. In Philly, he had one strong year (2017) and one decent one (2018). After that?
2019: 490 yards in 10 games
2020: 115 yards in 7 games
Philly paid him $52 million over four years (Spotrac), and he barely finished two of them. The Bears avoided that anchor.
Final Verdict
Football is a business, and these moves prove the Bears were capable of making tough — but correct — calls. Fans love to scream about loyalty and heart, but GMs are paid to see the cliff before the fall. Fuller, Marshall, Forte, Tillman, and Jeffery were all beloved in Chicago, but every one of them was on the verge of falling off when the team cut bait.
In the moment, it felt cold. In hindsight? It was just smart.