Travis Homer Bears News Bears Free Agency Bears Running Backs
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Bears general manager Ryan Poles.
The Chicago Bears have allowed another one of their veteran free agents to jump ship for a new deal in the AFC in the second wave of 2026 NFL free agency.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, former Bears running back Travis Homer signed a free-agent deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 2026 season on Monday, March 23.
Homer appeared in 36 games for the Bears over the past three seasons, taking far more snaps on special teams (582) than offense (87). He carried the ball just seven times for 21 yards for Chicago’s offense while recording 23 total tackles as a special teams ace.
The Bears have now seen most of their significant unrestricted free agents land with new teams for the 2026 season, including linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (New York Giants) and safeties Jaquan Brisker (Pittsburgh) and Kevin Byard III (New England). Backup offensive lineman Ryan Bates stands as their most notable unsigned free agent.
Travis Homer Added Little on Offense in 3 Seasons
Homer is a notable departure as someone who occupied a key special teams role for the past three years in Chicago, but he hardly qualifies as a loss for Ben Johnson’s offense.
Homer brought little to the table on offense during his two seasons with Matt Eberflus as the team’s head coach. He saw his most action out of the Bears’ backfield in 2024, taking six carries for 23 yards and catching three passes for 11 yards over three games.
Chicago re-signed him to a new contract in the 2025 offseason, but Johnson’s offense found no new uses for Homer. While he started the season on injured reserve and was not activated to the 53-man roster until October 18, the Bears deferred to their other backs and did not hand him a single carry, even when injuries limited their ranks.
Ultimately, the Bears entered 2026 with clarity about one thing: that re-signing Homer would have purely been to retain a special teams asset. But with Homer due to turn 28 before the start of next season, the writing was on the wall in clear and bold-printed ink.
How Will Bears Continue to Add to 2026 RB Room?
The Bears remain well-stocked at the running back position for 2026 with D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai — their standout 2025 rookie — both set to return next year. They also have Roschon Johnson, Brittain Brown and Deion Hankins under contract.
Even still, expectations are that, at some point, the Bears will add more juice to their running back room to improve the strength of the group behind Swift and Monangai.
If the Bears want another veteran, they should have options between now and the start of 2026 NFL training camp in late July. Veterans Najee Harris and Austin Ekeler offer them a few experienced-but-injury-troubled options in the free agency pool. They could also probe the situation between the New Orleans Saints and Alvin Kamara, who many suspect could be cut or traded after the Saints paid big money to Travis Etienne Jr.
More likely, though, the Bears will turn their attention toward the 2026 draft class when it comes to finding more rushers for their offense. An early-round investment might not make sense with all of the team’s defensive needs, but options that fall into Day 3 could appeal to Johnson — who seems happy to prioritize offensive playmakers.
The Bears should feel at least somewhat good about their ability to scout later-round running back talents after hitting on Monangai in the seventh round in 2025. As for which one will catch their eye, it could take until Day 3 on April 25 for it to crystallize.