When the Detroit Lions released tackle Taylor Decker, it seemed like a no-brainer for him to join the Chicago Bears. With rookie Ozzy Trapilo suffering a ruptured patellar tendon during the team's Wild Card playoff win against the Green Bay Packers, the urgency to add Decker has never been higher.
A veteran with nearly a decade of starting experience, a strong pass‑protection resume, and familiarity with Ben Johnson’s system, he checked every box for a team trying to protect Caleb Williams at least in 2026.
In fact, Ben Johnson reached out to Decker recently, which raised hope that Decker was waiting for the right opportunity, which is not unusual for a veteran like Decker to take his time.
Do the Bears have a chance to get Taylor Decker?
So why is he still unsigned? Justin Rogers of Detroit Football Network revealed in his interview with Decker that he will likely not be signing with the Bears.
“I will tell you that he’s pretty anti-playing for the Bears or Packers. That’s the Lions background in him. I know Ben Johnson did it and that was the right situation for him, but Taylor feels kind of dirty about the idea. It just isn’t interesting to him. I could see him joining a team mid-season, the further he gets away from football and games being played, injuries happening and the right offer occurs. I could also see him not playing.”
There you have it. Decker himself said that he is not interested in signing with the Bears just to stick it to his former team.
It also explains why the Bears re-signed former starter Braxton Jones, who lost his starting job to both Leo Benedict and Trapilo, and added former top 10 pick Jedrick Wills Jr., who did not play in 2025. When Johnson reached out to Decker, he probably said the same thing in an interview with Rogers.
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What once looked like the most sure-fire free agent to come to the Chicago Bears now carries a real possibility that Decker may not play again. If Decker is ready to move on, the Bears fans need to do the same.