Chicago Bears announce five free agency signings

CHICAGO (WGN) — On the first day of offseason workouts, the Chicago Bears announced five free agency signings.

One of the five was restricted free-agent defensive tackle Chris Williams, while the other four were exclusive rights free agents—defensive linemen Jonathan Ford and Daniel Hardy, offensive lineman Bill Murray and defensive back Ameer Speed.

Williams will return to the Bears after joining Chicago via trade ahead of the start of the 2024 season. Williams has appeared in 30 career games (one start) with the Indianapolis Colts (2021-22), Kansas City Chiefs (2023), Cleveland Browns (2023-24), and the Bears last season.

In 2024, Williams played in all 17 games for Chicago, a single-season career-high, where he totaled 23 tackles, three sacks, and seven QB hits.

Hardy is back after playing in all 17 games for the Bears last season. He has appeared in 23 career regular-season games with the Los Angeles Rams (2022-23) and Chicago (2024). Hardy, best known for his performances on special teams, blocked a punt that was returned for a touchdown in the 2024 season opener against the Tennessee Titans.

Ford returns to the Bears after joining Chicago in 2024. He appeared in each of the team’s last four games. Originally a seventh-round selection by the Green Bay Packers, Ford spent each of his first two professional seasons with Green Bay before signing to Chicago’s practice squad last season.

Over his four games played, Ford totaled nine tackles and one tackle for loss.

Murray is also set to return to the Bears, where he appeared in three games for Chicago during the 2024 season before going on Injured Reserve.

Speed rejoins the Bears after appearing in two games for Chicago in 2024. Over his career, Speed has appeared in 15 career games for the New England Patriots (2023), Colts (2023-24) and Bears (2024). He has six special teams tackles across his career. Defensively, Speed has three solo tackles and one tackle for loss.

Chicago’s offseason workout program began Monday. Other dates to keep an eye on are April 21-23 (voluntary minicamp), May 20-22, 27-30 and June 9-11 (OTA offseason workouts) and June 3-5 (mandatory minicamp).