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Bears Receive Bad News on Myles Garrett Trade Amid Schefter Update
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CINCINNATI, OHIO - JANUARY 04: Myles Garrett #95 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates after breaking the NFL single-season sack record during the fourth quarter of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
The Chicago Bears can officially cross one blockbuster idea off their offseason wishlist.After trade speculation picked up following Myles Garrett’s contract adjustment, Adam Schefter shut down the idea of a trade entirely during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.“I called the Browns,” Schefter said. “(They said), ‘We are 100% definitely not trading him.’ They were adamant about it. Don’t even bring it up and dignify it. We’re not trading him.”
“I called the Browns and they said they’re 100% definitely not trading Myles Garrett..
They were adamant about it” ~ @AdamSchefter
#PMSLive
That’s about as clear as it gets.The timing matters for Chicago. The Bears were already connected to big-name pass rushers earlier this offseason, most notably Maxx Crosby. With Garrett’s contract tweak creating the appearance of flexibility, it briefly felt like another elite option could be in play.Instead, that door has now been firmly closed.Schefter Report Ends Bears Trade SpeculationThe speculation didn’t come out of nowhere.Garrett and the Browns agreed to adjusted contract language that pushed back key option bonus deadlines, which created more short-term cap flexibility. On the surface, that kind of move often signals a team preparing for multiple outcomes, including a potential trade.But according to Schefter, that was never the intention.“This was not done to trade Myles Garrett; this was done to gain more cap flexibility,” he explained.He also noted that Cleveland reworked option bonuses across multiple years, not just 2026. That detail matters. While it could make a trade easier at some point down the line, the Browns are not entertaining anything in the current window.For teams like Chicago that were monitoring the situation, that clarity effectively ends any realistic discussion.
Schefter: Browns said they aren’t trading Myles Garrett despite contract adjustment.
Bears Left Searching for Pass Rush AnswersFrom a Bears perspective, the appeal was obvious.Garrett is coming off a dominant 23-sack season, and remains one of the most impactful defensive players in football. Pairing that level of production with a team that already showed signs of contention would have been the type of aggressive move that shifts expectations immediately.It also would have aligned with the timeline.With Caleb Williams still on a rookie contract, the Bears have more flexibility than most teams to absorb a massive deal. That window is often when contenders take big swings.
With the Raiders committed to keeping Maxx Crosby and the Browns shutting down any Myles Garrett trade talk, the Bears are left looking elsewhere.
The front office has made it clear they are willing to explore upgrades along the defensive front, but those options now fall into a different tier. Garrett and Crosby are true game wreckers.
They will now turn to the next tier, with options like Joey Bosa, Jadeveon Clowney, Za’Darius Smith, and Marcus Davenport still available.
For now, the speculation is over. And for the Bears, the reality is simple. One of the biggest potential upgrades of the offseason was never actually available.