Getty
SANTA CLARA, CA - FEBRUARY 07: Super Bowl MVP Von Miller #58 of the Denver Broncos celebrates after winning Super Bowl 50 at Levi's Stadium on February 7, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. The Broncos defeated the Panthers 24-10. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
The Chicago Bears have been connected to splashy pass-rush moves all offseason. But as the dust settles, a more realistic option may be coming into focus.
In a recent “1 Free Agent on the Market Who Can Help Each NFL Team in 2026” breakdown from Bleacher Report, the Bears were paired with veteran edge rusher Von Miller as a potential solution to their biggest remaining need.
“Von Miller may no longer be the player who went to eight Pro Bowls over his first nine seasons and was named the MVP of Super Bowl 50,” Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport wrote. “But last year in Washington, Miller had nine sacks in just 420 snaps. He is likely looking to land with a team that has a legitimate shot at a long postseason run.”
That combination of production and timing is what makes this worth watching.
Chicago already showed its hand earlier this offseason with reported interest in Maxx Crosby. The Bears know they need more off the edge. They just haven’t found the right way to address it yet.
Now, a veteran with Super Bowl pedigree is starting to make more sense.
Von Miller Emerges as Logical Pass Rush Fit for Bears
The Bears’ pass rush remains one of the biggest questions on the roster heading into 2026.
Chicago finished last season with just 35 sacks, tied for 28th in the league. Montez Sweat led the way with 10, but the consistency behind him never fully developed. Gervon Dexter chipped in from the interior, but that doesn’t solve the need on the edge.
That’s where Miller comes in.
Even at 37, he showed last season that he can still produce in a limited role. Nine sacks in just 420 snaps is the kind of efficiency Chicago is missing right now. The Bears don’t need a 1,000-snap player. They need someone who can win in obvious passing situations, take attention away from Sweat and help close out games when it matters.
Even at his age, Miller still checks those boxes.
There’s also the experience factor, and this is where his value really stands out. Miller was the MVP of Super Bowl 50 back in 2016. That kind of postseason experience is extremely important in a young locker room like Chicago’s.
Bears’ Cap Reality Makes This Move Make Sense
If this were purely about talent, Chicago likely would have already made a bigger move for a star in its prime.
But the reality is the Bears are operating with one of the tightest cap situations in the league. Big contracts are difficult to absorb, and trading for a high-priced edge rusher is even more complicated.
That’s why a move like Miller stands out.
He wouldn’t command a long-term deal, and Spotrac projects his next contract around one year and $5.8 million. That’s the kind of short-term, flexible addition the Bears can realistically make without sacrificing future flexibility.
It also fits where this roster is right now. Chicago is coming off an 11-win season and a playoff appearance. This isn’t a rebuilding team. It’s a team looking for complementary pieces to push it forward.
And if the Bears still plan to target a young edge rusher in the draft, bringing in a veteran like Miller could give them exactly what they need right now.