Getty Former Bears defensive tackle Akiem Hicks is signing with the Bucs.
Akiem Hicks will have a shot to finally get that Super Bowl ring.
Hicks has spent the last six seasons as the anchor of the Chicago Bears defense, his longest tenure with any team, and now, he’s inking a one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as first reported by NFL insider Adam Schefter.
The 32-year-old has been bitten by the injury bug quite a bit in recent years, playing in 29 out of a possible 49 games over the last three seasons. He’ll likely replace veteran defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh, who is also a free agent, on the interior of Tampa Bay’s D-line.
ALL the latest Bears news straight to your inbox! Subscribe to the Heavy on Bears newsletter here!
Hicks Established Himself as One of All-Time Great Bears
It is six years in the Windy City, Hicks Became a fan favorite and established himself as one of the team’s all-time great players. He was named to The Chicago Tribune’s list of 100 best Bears players after playing just three seasons with the team, and he earned the respect of teammates, media members and fans alike with his play on the field.
“’Kiem is the energy for the entire defense,” safety Eddie Jackson told the Tribune’s Dan Wiederer about Hicks back in 2019. “He brings that dog mentality. When he bucks, everybody bucks. You feed off that.”
In his six seasons with the Bears, Hicks started 77 games, racking up 247 total tackles (51 for loss), 88 quarterback hits, five forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, eight passes defensed and 31.0 sacks, per Pro Football Reference. He leaves Chicago with his 31 careers sacks ranking 19th all-time in franchise history, and his 88 QB hits ranking 1st overall.
With the Buccaneers being a perennial Super Bowl contender, Hicks will finally have a chance to win his first Super Bowl championship. He got as far as the AFC Championship after his lone season with the New England Patriots in 2015.
Follow the Heavy on Bears Facebook page, where you can weigh in on all the latest Bears-related breaking news, rumors, content and more!
Bears Twitter Reacts to Hicks’ Departure
Upon hearing the news the veteran defensive end was signing with Tampa Bay, Bears fans and analysts alike took to Twitter to wish Hicks the best.
Former #Bears’ DL Akiem Hicks reached agreement today on a one-year deal worth up to $10 million with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, per @AdamSchefter
We’ll miss you @The_Dream99, all of #BearsNation wishes you nothing but the best. 🐻⬇️
Many noted they hoped Hicks would finally get to hoist the Lombardi Trophy:
We all knew Akiem Hicks wasn’t coming back to the #Bears, but it still stings seeing him ‘officially’ leave. The Buccaneers got much better today. Cheers to Hicks and his chase for a Super Bowl.
Good for Akiem Hicks. He gets a big payday and signs with a contender.
He deserves his chance to get a ring with the Buccaneers. Such a major part of the #Bears defense over the last few years.
Others noted that Hicks’ health remains key. He didn’t miss a game his first three years with the Bears, but he has missed 20 contests over the last three seasons.
Akiem Hicks was at his best when Eddie Goldman was playing well. Now he’s lining up next to arguably the best NT in the league in Vita Vea. Could be a huge bounceback season for him if he’s healthy.
And many simply celebrated “The Dream’s” time in Chicago:
We loved watching Akiem Hicks sack quarterbacks over the years.
Hicks’ deal with the Bucs is worth up to $10 million, according to Schefter, with incentives likely attached to his health. That’s far more than the Bears’ new regime was ever going to pay the veteran D-lineman, who will now play for his fourth NFL team in 11 years.
Former Bears offensive lineman Kyle Long, who used to go up against Hicks every day in practice from 2016-19, may have had the best reaction to his former teammate signing with Tom Brady’s squad:
Akiem Hicks and Vita Vea on the same pirate ship will cut a biblical swath through the seas
READ NEXT: Justin Fields Failed to Meet ‘Reliable Barometer’ for Bears Rookies