The Chicago Bears and quarterback Andy Dalton have agreed a $ 10 million one-year deal, with the possibility of the quarterback earning another $ 3 million in incentives, they told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Chicago made “a very aggressive chase” of Seahawks QB Russell Wilson, sources said, but the Bears were told Seattle was not negotiating him at the time.
The Bears were one of four teams that Wilson’s agent named as a place of interest.
Dalton, 33, spent 2020 with the Dallas Cowboys after a nine-year career as a Cincinnati Bengals starter.
Signed as a backup, Dalton was forced to enter when Cowboys owner Dak Prescott suffered a dislocated and compound fracture of his right ankle in Week 5 against the New York Giants.
In nine starts (11 appearances), Dalton got a 4-5 record, throwing for 2,170 yards and 14 touchdowns, with 8 interceptions. He had his best display in a Week 16 win against the Philadelphia Eagles, throwing for 377 yards and three touchdowns.
Dalton had some health issues of his own during the season, losing a game after suffering a concussion against the Washington football team. The following week, it was put on the reserve list / COVID-19.
At the end of the season, Dalton said his hope was to find a place as a starter and that coach Mike McCarthy and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore said he had shown enough to justify considering the teams.
He has this opportunity in Chicago. Although the Bears got the postseason going 8-8, the team got an uninspired game to the quarterback, as both Nick Foles and Mitchell Trubisky had a chance to start.
Trubisky is now a free agent after Chicago chose not to pick his fifth-year pick in the former No. 2 general team before last season. Foles continues on the team roster.
After the Bengals selected Joe Burrow with the No. 1 general election in the 2020 NFL draft, Dalton became expendable and was released by Cincinnati. He posted a 74-66-2 record as a Bengals starter, leading the franchise to the playoffs five times but without winning a postseason game. He was also nominated three times for the Pro Bowl.
ESPN’s Todd Archer contributed to this report.