BREAKING: Patriots Edge Rusher Josh Uche Accepts Deal to Join Chicago Bears in Defensive Overhaul
June 17, 2025 โ Chicago, IL
In a surprise move thatโs already sending ripples across the NFL landscape, former New England Patriots edge rusher Josh Uche has agreed to terms with the Chicago Bears, as part of a bold defensive overhaul under new head coach Tyrone Caldwell.
Sources close to the situation confirm that Uche has signed a 3-year, \$39 million deal with the Bears, including \$24 million guaranteed.
The deal marks one of the first high-impact defensive signings of the offseason and signals Chicagoโs commitment to building a fearsome pass rush around their young core.
Uche, 26, spent his first five seasons with the Patriots after being drafted in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Known for his explosive first step and ability to disrupt quarterbacks, Uche had a breakout campaign in 2022 with 11.5 sacks and followed it up with a solid 2023 season.
Though his 2024 numbers were more modest โ 6 sacks and 2 forced fumbles โ his impact went beyond the stat sheet, often drawing double teams and freeing up teammates.
โIโm ready for the next chapter,โ Uche said in a brief statement posted on social media. โChicago is building something real, and I want to be a part of it. Letโs get to work.โ
Ucheโs addition comes just weeks after the Bears traded for veteran linebacker Lavonte David and used their first-round draft pick on standout cornerback Marcus Hill out of Alabama. The team has clearly made defense a top priority, especially after ranking 27th in sacks and 29th in total defense last season.
โWe are thrilled to add Josh to our defense,โ said GM Ryan Poles in a statement released Tuesday morning. โHis speed, versatility, and experience will be invaluable as we shape this unit into one of the leagueโs best.โ
Uche is expected to start opposite emerging edge rusher Dominique Robinson, with second-year tackle Gervon Dexter anchoring the interior. Defensive coordinator Don “Deebo” Robinson, hired from the Ravens this offseason, reportedly pushed hard for the Uche signing.
โHeโs a culture changer,โ Robinson said during a press conference. โWeโre going to unleash him in ways that people havenโt seen yet. This defense is going to be relentless.โ
Meanwhile, in New England, Ucheโs departure marks the end of an era for a player many saw as a cornerstone of the teamโs post-Brady rebuild. The Patriots, under new head coach Jerod Mayo, are expected to lean more heavily on young pass rushers like Keion White and Josh Bledsoe.
For Bears fans, the move injects excitement into a defense that has long been seeking an identity. With Uche on board, the Monsters of the Midway may finally be ready to roar again.