Dayo Odeyingbo
Getty
Dayo Odeyingbo of the Chicago Bears.
The Chicago Bears shelled out $48 million on Dayo Odeyingbo’s contract last offseason in the hopes he could help take the pass rush to another level opposite Montez Sweat.
But his first season in Chicago never really found its footing. Odeyingbo suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in early November during the Bears’ 47–42 win over the Cincinnati Bengals and was placed on injured reserve for the remainder of the year.
He wound up playing in eight games (all starts), and he finished with 21 total tackles (two for loss), four QB hits and just a lone sack. That lack of production coupled with his injury status has left many fans wondering if there’s a way Chicago can get out of his contract.
Odeyingbo’s three-year deal has $29.5 million fully guaranteed, per Over The Cap, which lists his 2026 cap hit at $20.5 million — but there may be one option for the Bears when it comes to getting that deal off the books.
Could an Injury Settlement Possibly Get the Chicago Bears Out of DE Dayo Odeyingbo’s Contract?
Dayo Odeyingbo
GettyDayo Odeyingbo (#55) played just eight games for the Chicago Bears in 2025. Could the team get out of his contract with an injury settlement?
Windy City Gridiron’s Bill Zimmerman floated one idea that the Bears might be able to explore when it comes to getting out of Odeyingbo’s contract: an injury settlement, which usually arises when a player is waived while injured. Said player negotiates a payment based on the projected length of his recovery.
Teams and players agree on how long the player is expected to be unable to play because of the injury, and the settlement is based directly on that estimate. The player is paid for that period, and then outright released instead of remaining on injured reserve. After the settlement window expires, the player may sign elsewhere.
“I think if the Bears can get an injury settlement with Dayo Odeyingbo, they will do that and get him off the roster,” Zimmerman wrote on February 13. “He didn’t play well last year. Who knows how much he’s going to play in 2026? Whatever he does play, he’s going to be compromised coming off that injury, and he has no guaranteed money in 2027. It makes very little sense to keep him, but that depends on what they can accomplish, since he has plenty of guaranteed money coming his way in 2026.”
Odeyingbo’s Recovery This Offseason Will Be Key
Here’s where it gets a tad murky: Injury settlements are most often used on fringe roster players or short-term injuries. They’re not really designed to erase major guarantees. Any settlement large enough to meaningfully reduce Odeyingbo’s cap figure would require his cooperation and willingness to forfeit guaranteed income.
That could make a settlement with him difficult, but the Bears may be motivated to explore every possible option. It’s possible, but it feels like a long shot.
On defense, Chicago finished with 35 sacks in 2025, which ranked 22nd out of 32 teams. They’re going to have to address their pass rush this offseason, regardless of how Odeyingbo’s recovery goes.
Achilles tears are among the most challenging injuries for pass rushers to rehab from — even with modern technology and advancements, recovery can be unpredictable. If Odeyingbo can get back to top form this offseason, Chicago will probably keep him and hope for the best. But if his injury lingers, a settlement could be the one option the team has to get out of his contract.