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  "path": "/bears/2026/02/19/bears-cut-linebacker-amen-ogbongbemiga-2026-offseason-special-teams-ben-johnson-ryan-poles-nfl",
  "publishedAt": "2026-02-19T22:54:43.608Z",
  "site": "https://chicago.suntimes.com",
  "textContent": "<p>The <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears\" target=\"_blank\" >Bears</a> cut linebacker and special teams stalwart Amen Ogbongbemiga on Thursday and saved more than $2 million in the process.</p><p>Ogbongbemiga, who signed a two-year, $5 million deal with the Bears last year, will cost the <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/02/18/bears-make-4-coaching-hires-official-ben-johnson-press-taylor-eric-studesville-will-lawing-isaiah-ford-nfl\" target=\"_blank\" >Bears</a> merely a $375,000 dead cap charge next year. He would have counted $2.4 million against the salary cap.</p><p>He was limited to just eight games last year after starting the season on injured reserve because of a knee injury. He played 133 special teams snaps and 82 more at linebacker.</p><p>He played a whopping 84% of the Bears’ special teams downs the year before, however. Ogbongbemiga played 25 games for the Bears in two years after joining the team following a three-year stint with the Chargers.</p><p>The 27-year-old had one start for the Bears. His best defensive game came in Week 12 against the Steelers, when he had 14 tackles after replacing the injured Ruben Hyppolite.</p><p>The Bears currently sit about $3 million above the 2026 salary cap. They must be under it by the start of the league year next month.</p><p>To get there, the Bears could consider cutting Tremaine Edmunds, who had four interceptions last year, the second-most of any NFL linebacker. The savings would be massive — $15 million. In the past, Bears general manager Ryan Poles has released such veterans before the NFL Scouting Combine out of courtesy. The Combine starts Monday.</p><p>Edmunds is due a $1 million roster bonus on the fifth day of the league year.</p><p>The Bears could also simply restructure the contracts of a few veteran players to get under the cap. </p>",
  "title": "Bears cut LB Amen Ogbongbemiga",
  "updatedAt": "2026-02-19T23:07:04.096Z"
}