Bears Eyeing Unconventional Move With Arena Football WR Star

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Bears head coach Ben Johnson.

The Chicago Bears may not be done searching for wide receiver help just yet. Their latest rumored target is coming from a place few fans expected.

According to Windy City Gridiron’s Jacob Infante, the Bears have shown interest in Arena Football One standout wide receiver Aakiel Greer as the team continues looking for competition ahead of training camp.

“Heading into the summer, the Bears are looking far and wide for talented players to compete for a roster spot,” Infante posted on X. “They’ve shown interest in arena league star WR Aakiel Greer, I’m told. A few weeks into the AF1 season, he’s in the top 10 in receiving.”

That report immediately raised eyebrows around Chicago. 

After trading DJ Moore earlier this offseason, the Bears are entering 2026 with far more uncertainty at receiver than many expected. Rome Odunze and Luther Burden headline the room and both possess massive upside. However, neither have fully proven they can consistently carry an NFL passing attack yet.

Behind them, Chicago is relying heavily on younger and largely unproven depth pieces like Jahdae Walker and rookie speedster Zavion Thomas, while veterans Kalif Raymond and Scotty Miller profile more as complementary options. 

Even head coach Ben Johnson recently hinted the team could continue searching for more competition.

“It’s a group that really complements each other,” Johnson said, via Chris Emma of The Score. “We’re always looking to add competition.”


Bears Reportedly Searching ‘Far and Wide’ for Receiver Help

If the reported Greer interest proves legitimate, it would certainly qualify as an unconventional move by Ryan Poles and the Bears front office.

Greer currently plays for the Washington Wolfpack in Arena Football One and has quickly become one of the league’s more productive receivers early in the 2026 season. 

Through the opening stretch of the year, he has totaled 22 receptions for 209 yards and three touchdowns while ranking among the AF1 leaders in catches.

At 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, Greer brings intriguing size that Chicago’s current receiver room lacks outside of Odunze. He has also reportedly run a 4.51-second 40-yard dash and has built a reputation in arena football for his leaping ability and vertical-ball skills.

“My best skillset is my size,” Greer previously said. “Being tall and fast, I feel that I have an advantage that most receivers don’t.”

The Mississippi native has bounced around several levels of football during his career. This includes stops at Delta State, Coahoma Community College and Saint Augustine’s University before eventually earning an NFL tryout with the Las Vegas Raiders after college.


Aakiel Greer Could Become Interesting Summer Camp Flier for Bears

While Greer remains a long shot to make an NFL roster, this is exactly the type of low-risk summer addition teams often explore before training camp.

The Bears do not necessarily need Greer to become a major contributor immediately. What they likely need is more size, more competition and another developmental option in a receiver room that suddenly feels much thinner after moving on from Moore.

Arena football success obviously does not guarantee NFL production. However, Greer’s physical profile alone makes him an intriguing name to monitor if Chicago eventually brings him in for a workout or signing.

At the very least, the report signals the Bears are still aggressively searching for help at wide receiver, even if it means looking in very unexpected places.

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Bears Eyeing Unconventional Move With Arena Football WR Star

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