The Chicago Bears sent a tribute to former wide receiver DJ Moore via social media after trading him to the Buffalo Bills last week.
The sentiment of the nine-word caption on the one-minute video post was one of heartfelt thanks to Moore for his contributions to the organization over the three seasons he played in the Windy City.
“Thank you for the joy you brought to this city 💙,” the Bears’ official X account wrote Wednesday.
Moore departs Chicago after tallying 244 receptions for 3,012 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns across 51 games played (51 starts) in three regular seasons.
The 28-year-old wideout was part of the franchise’s first winning campaign in seven years in 2025. He also contributed meaningfully to Chicago’s first NFC North Division title since 2018, its first playoff appearance since 2020 and its first postseason victory — a thrilling, come-from-behind victory over the arch-rival Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field — since 2010.
DJ Moore Trade Made Sense for Bears Heading Into 2026 Season
GettyFormer Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore.
Moore joined the Bears organization as part of a trade with the Carolina Panthers that ultimately secured for Chicago the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL draft, which the team used to select quarterback Caleb Williams.
Despite Moore’s remaining talent, which renders him a viable WR2 across the league, he was an obvious trade candidate stretching back to the mid-season deadline in November. That was true for a couple of overlapping reasons.
The first was that Moore’s skill set was redundant with the young talent the Bears had on the roster already. General manager Ryan Poles selected Rome Odunze with the No. 9 overall pick the same year he landed Williams at No. 1, and Odunze had claimed the WR1 role over Moore based on targets and production before suffering a stress fracture in his foot at the backend of the 2025 campaign.
Then, last offseason, first-year head coach Ben Johnson selected tight end Colston Loveland with the 10th pick in Round 1 and slot receiver Luther Burden III with the No. 39 pick in Round 2. Johnson prefers to run more 12 personnel (two-tight end sets) than most coaches in the NFL, which renders a WR2 playing on the outside, like Moore, less important in the offensive scheme.
The second reason was Moore’s $110 million contract extension, which kicks in this year. Had Moore remained on the team, he would have represented the highest salary cap hit on the Bears’ roster in 2026, which made little sense given his somewhat redundant skill set and lack of scheme fit.
Moving on from Moore saved Chicago $16.5 million against the cap this year and tens of millions moving forward, making it an easy and sensible decision.
Bears’ Acquisition of Extra 2nd-Round Pick in DJ Moore Trade Could Result in Renewed Talks for Maxx Crosby
GettyDefensive end Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders.
Moore, who was the Bears’ No. 1 WR in 2023 and 2024, also gave the team a gift on his way out of town.
Poles garnered applause from the NFL media community for landing a second-round pick (No. 60 overall) from the Bills in exchange for Moore and a fifth-round selection.
The deal sends Chicago into April with pick Nos. 25, 57, 60 and 89 through the first two days (top three rounds) of the draft. That kind of capital could also result in the Bears earnestly re-entering trade conversations for Las Vegas Raiders edge-rusher Maxx Crosby after the Baltimore Ravens backed out of a deal for the five-time Pro Bowler earlier this week.
Bears Send Video Message to DJ Moore After Trade to Bills