The Chicago Bears have made one of the offseason’s most closely watched moves official, as the team has announced its release of kicker Cody Parkey.
Parkey, who made 23-of-30 field goals during the regular season with the Bears, missed a potentially game-winning kick in the NFC Wild Card Game against the Philadelphia Eagles, and his handling of the aftermath soured the Bears’ brass on the kicker.
Parkey’s release will be effective June 1, according to the team. The decision comes just one year into the four-year contract that he signed with the team over the 2018 offseason, and means that the Bears will have to pay a cap hit of $5.2 million for the 2019 season, even with him off the roster.
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The Bears have signed several kickers this offseason to compete for Parkey’s job, including Redford Jones and Chris Blewitt.
The Bears also announced that offensive lineman Rashaad Coward, linebacker Isaiah Irving, and defensive end Roy Robertson-Harris have been tendered contracts, meaning they will return to the team next season.
