With both the UFL and NFL in their offseason lulls, it's the perfect time to dive into some offseason content. As the UFL awaits the next wave of NFL signings for the 2026 player acquisition cycle, we're taking a look back at how each NFL team has utilized spring football as a developmental pipeline during the modern era of spring football since 2022. We continue the series with the Chicago Bears, highlighting every spring league player the organization has signed over the past four years.
2022 Cycle:
The Bears would sign LB DeMarquis Gates (Birmingham Stallions) fresh off the Stallions USFL championship. Gates would earn two accredited seasons with the Bears, before his release in January of 2024. Gates would rejoin the Birmingham Stallions for the 2024 and 2025 season.
With the hiring of HC Ben Johnson from the Detroit Lions, WR Maurice Alexander (Philadelphia Stars), would join him in Chicago after three seasons with the Lions. Alexander spent the 2025 season on the practice squad (with an elevation), and now goes into his 5th season of his NFL career, since the USFL.
2023 Cycle:
In 2023, after kicker John Parker Romo (San Antonio Brahmas) was released by the Detroit Lions, the Bears would sign Romo to their practice squad. Romo would be released after several weeks with Chicago eventually joining three other franchises.
2024 Cycle:
In 2024, the Bears signed LB Javin White (Michigan Panthers) during training camp, who would eventually be released. In 2025, EDGE Jonathan Garvin (Birmingham Stallions) would sign to Chicago’s practice squad in October. Garvin remained with Chicago for the duration of the 2025 season, and now remains with the team going into training camp in 2026.
2025 Cycle:
In 2025, TE Thomas Gordon (San Antonio Brahmas) would earn an opportunity with the Bears only to be released at the conclusion of training camp. Gordon would be resigned to the Bears practice squad in December, eventually signing a futures deal with the Lions for the 2026 season.
In total, the Chicago Bears have signed eight players with spring football ties since 2022. During the 2026 signing the Bears have signed wide receiver/kick returner Kaden Davis (Houston Gamblers) who was with HC Ben Johnson in Detroit. The team also has brought in LB Tony Fields who was one of the UFL’s top tacklers. With NFL training camp set to begin this week, more UFL players are projected to earn NFL opportunities for the 2026 UFL to NFL signing cycle.