The Chicago Bears have seen one of their former tight ends land with a division rival at the start of the 2026 NFL offseason. Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell and his staff reached into Chicago’s depth pool to add a young player to their roster.
Per the NFL’s official transaction log, Detroit signed tight end Thomas Gordon to a reserve/future contract on Thursday, January 29. Gordon spent time with the Bears during the 2025 season but will now continue his development in Detroit.
An undrafted rookie out of Northwestern in 2025, Gordon participated in Bears training camp and preseason but failed to make the final 53-man roster. He later returned to Chicago on the practice squad in late December after the team placed Qadir Ismail on practice-squad injured reserve. Despite that stint, Gordon never appeared in a regular-season game.
Chicago appeared to move on from Gordon earlier this month. Following their season-ending loss to the Los Angeles Rams, the Bears handed out most of their reserve/future contracts between January 20 and 21 — Gordon was not among those retained. That opened the door for the Lions to step in and take a closer look at his potential.
With Detroit now holding his rights for 2026, Chicago no longer has the option of bringing him back for further evaluation.
Bears Already Stocked at Tight End
Losing Gordon is unlikely to disrupt Chicago’s offseason plans, as the team has already secured multiple tight ends for the upcoming year.
The Bears have signed Nikola Kalinic, Stephen Carlson, and Qadir Ismail to reserve/future contracts. All three spent time on the practice squad during the 2025 season. Carlson and Kalinic each appeared in two games as elevations, contributing primarily on special teams.
Chicago’s tight end room is also anchored by Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet, both of whom remain under contract for 2026. That gives the Bears at least five tight ends heading into the offseason program.
Loveland emerged as one of the team’s most productive offensive weapons as a rookie, pacing the Bears with 58 catches and 713 receiving yards while tying for the team lead with six touchdown receptions. Kmet provided veteran stability, finishing with 30 receptions for 347 yards and two scores.
Given that depth, Chicago can afford to be patient — though changes are still possible.
Tough Decisions Loom for Chicago’s Tight End Group
Loveland enters 2026 firmly entrenched as the team’s top tight end, but the rest of the depth chart could shift before next season begins.
Kmet currently occupies the No. 2 role, but his contract may prompt discussion. If the Bears opt to release him before the new league year, they could free up approximately $8.4 million in cap space, a consideration as they look to remain flexible financially.
Another decision centers on Durham Smythe, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent. Smythe played on a modest $2.5 million deal in 2025 and may be open to returning at a similar price. Still, Chicago could choose to elevate one of its younger futures-contract tight ends into that role instead.
The Bears could also address the position in the 2026 NFL Draft. While a first-round investment is unlikely after selecting Loveland in 2025, Chicago may target a developmental tight end on Day 2 or Day 3 if the right value presents itself — especially if Kmet is no longer on the roster by draft weekend.
