Chicago Bears release veterans Eddie Jackson and Cody Whitehair, clearing almost $22 million in salary-cap space

The Chicago Bears have released two of their longest-tenured players, safety Eddie Jackson and offensive lineman Cody Whitehair.

Both have played their entire careers with the Bears, served as team captains at different points and were entering the final year of their contracts. Whitehair, a second-round draft pick in 2016, started 118 games at center and guard in eight seasons, including 11 games in 2023. Jackson, a fourth-round pick in 2017, started 100 games in seven seasons, including 12 last season.

General manager Ryan Poles decided to cut them as he dives into a crucial offseason that ramps up in two weeks at the NFL scouting combine, followed by free agency. Cutting Whitehair will clear $9.15 million in salary-cap space, according to overthecap.com, while cutting Jackson will clear $12.56 million.

Jackson, 30, was a two-time Pro Bowl selection and was named an All-Pro in 2018 as the Vic Fangio-led Bears defense fueled an NFC North championship.

During that career season, Jackson showed off his dynamic playmaking ability with six interceptions, 15 passes defended, two forced fumbles and three return touchdowns. He had five of his six career touchdowns in his first two seasons.

“I’ve never seen anything like him,” former Bears defensive lineman Akiem Hicks said that year. “He can cover the entire field it seems like. He knows how to get the ball in his hands, and when he gets that ball in his hands he can make his way to the end zone. It’s awesome.”

After totaling just two interceptions from 2019-21, Jackson had a career resurgence in 2022, his first season under coach Matt Eberflus, with four interceptions and six passes defended. But he had just one pick in 2023.

Jackson, whom former Bears GM Ryan Pace signed to a four-year, $58.4 million extension in 2020, leaves the Bears with 15 career interceptions, 44 passes defended, 10 forced fumbles, six return touchdowns and 459 tackles. In the Tribune’s 2019 ranking of the 100 best Bears players, he came in at No. 81.

Given Poles’ rebuild of the roster, Jackson knew he could be on his way out. But he said in late December he hoped to stay with the Bears.

“God always has a plan, so I feel like I’ll always land on my feet,” Jackson said then. “I hope it’s here. I know how it works in the business. I wish I could be here my whole entire career, but we know how this thing works.

“So you have to live in the moment. … I’m guaranteed two more games as a Chicago Bear. So I’m going to live in that moment, appreciate that moment.”

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When asked about Jackson at his end-of-season news conference in January, Poles noted the foot injury that forced Jackson to miss 10 games over the last two seasons. But he also mentioned the leadership Jackson provided to second-year safety Jaquan Brisker.

“When Eddie was in, you could tell Brisker felt really, really comfortable,” Poles said. “That whole group, he really impacts the communication.”

The Bears posted thank-you notes to Jackson and Whitehair on their social media accounts Thursday, while Jackson gave an indication last week he might be on the move when he tweeted: “New Beginnings.”

As for Whitehair, the Bears gave an indication of his future at midseason. He started the first 10 games at left guard and center, but he was removed at center in the middle of a mid-October game after snapping issues.

The Bears then benched him in November in favor of Teven Jenkins, Lucas Patrick and Nate Davis on the interior of the line. Eberflus said at the time it was a “hard” conversation to have and called Whitehair “a true pro.”

Whitehair, 31, ended up starting one more game for the Bears in 2023.

It was a major change for Whitehair, a 2018 Pro Bowl selection who made 71 consecutive starts to open his career before missing a game in his fifth season in 2020.

“There were some ups and downs obviously,” Whitehair said of his season after the Bears finale. “I was asked to go in a backup role, and that’s tough. As a starter here for seven years, it was tough. But I made the best of it, and I’m going to continue to play for sure.”

Whitehair, whom Pace signed to a five-year, $52.5 million extension in 2019, then was asked if he hoped to stay with the Bears.

“If I’m fortunate enough to play here, I’ll be happy,” he said.

The moves leave the Bears in need of a new center/interior lineman — Patrick also is set to hit free agency — and a safety. Second-year pro Elijah Hicks filled in at safety for five games when Jackson dealt with issues relating to a foot injury that ended his 2022 season early.