The Chicago Bears on Thursday announced that the club has re-signed defensive lineman Daniel Hardy to a two-year contract, defensive back Elijah Hicks to a one-year contract, linebacker D'Marco Jackson to a two-year contract, quarterback Case Keenum to a two-year contract and offensive lineman Jordan McFadden to a one-year contract.
Hardy returns to Chicago in 2026 after spending the last two years as a member of the Bears. Hardy has appeared in 40 career games (one start) with the Los Angeles Rams (2022-23) and the Chicago Bears (2024-25) since entering the league in 2022. A primary contributor on special teams, Hardy led the Bears with a career-high 19 special teams tackles in 2025, helping Chicago win the NFC North Division title and reach the NFC Divisional Round. Hardy's 11 total special teams tackles in 2024 tied for the most by any Bears special teams contributor. A native of Portland, Ore., Hardy played collegiately at Montana State (2018-21), earning Second-Team All-American and First-Team All-Big Sky honors in 2021 after registering 24.5 tackles for loss, including 16.5 sacks.
Hicks returns to the Bears in 2026 after spending the first four seasons of his career with the franchise (2022-25). Hicks has appeared in 61 regular-season games (15 starts) and has had a pair of postseason appearances in his NFL career. Hicks has recorded 91 tackles (52 solo), three passes defended, a forced fumble, and three fumble recoveries on defense, along with 31 total special teams tackles. A primary contributor on special teams in 2025, Hicks registered a career-high 12 special teams stops, as well as two special teams tackles and a forced fumble in the postseason for Chicago. A Long Beach, Calif., native, Hicks prepped collegiately at Cal (2017-21), where he played in 54 games (46 starts). A First-Team All-ACC honoree following his final season (2021), Hicks totaled 213 career tackles (144 solo), 14.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, 19 passes defended, six forced fumbles and five interceptions, including one interception returned for a touchdown.
Jackson returns to Chicago in 2026 after joining the Bears in 2025. Last season, Jackson appeared in 16 regular-season games for the Bears, starting four at linebacker, and saw action in each of Chicago's postseason bouts. Jackson finished the season with 34 tackles, including one sack, as well as one fumble recovery and one interception, along with nine special teams tackles, for the NFC North Division-champion Bears. Jackson was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week after registering an interception and a sack in Chicago's Week 15 win over Cleveland. In Chicago's Week 12 victory over Pittsburgh, Jackson registered a career-high 15 tackles. A native of Spartanburg, S.C., Jackson played collegiately at Appalachian State University (2017-21). Following his final season at Appalachian State (2021), Jackson was named Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year after amassing 120 tackles, including 19 tackles for loss.
Keenum, a 14-year NFL veteran, returns to the Bears after spending the 2025 season with Chicago. Last season, Keenum contributed to a quarterback group that helped lead the Bears to an NFC North Division title and to the NFC Divisional Round, as QB Caleb Williams set the franchise's single-season passing record (3,942 yards). Keenum has appeared in 80 career regular-season games (66 starts) for the Houston Texans (2012-13, '14, '23-24), St. Louis / Los Angeles Rams (2014, '15-16), Minnesota Vikings (2017)and Denver Broncos (2018), as well as with Washington (2019), the Cleveland Browns (2020-21) and the Buffalo Bills (2022). Over his career, Keenum has completed 1,392-of-2,233 passes (62.3 pct.) for 15,175 yards, with 79 touchdowns, with a passer rating of 84.6. In 2017, after leading Minnesota to an NFC North Division title, Keenum led the Vikings to a win in the NFC Divisional Round to advance Minnesota to the NFC Championship Game. A native of Brownwood, Texas, Keenum appeared in 57 career games at Houston (2007-11), concluding his career as the NCAA's all-time leading passer with 19,217 yards and 155 touchdowns. Keenum continues to hold the NCAA passing yard record, while his 155 touchdowns are now tied for the most in NCAA history (Dillon Gabriel, 2019-24). Keenum earned the Sammy Baugh Trophy, awarded to the NCAA's most outstanding passer, twice (2009, 11), one of just two players to receive the honor more than once.
McFadden returns to Chicago in 2026 after joining the Bears in 2025. Appearing in seven games in the regular season for Chicago last season, McFadden started at guard in the NFC Divisional Round for the Bears. Entering the league as a fifth-round selection (156th overall) by the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023, McFadden has appeared in 20 career regular-season games (two starts), adding two appearances in the postseason, including last season's start in the NFC Divisional Round for Chicago. A Spartanburg, S.C., native, McFadden prepped collegiately at Clemson (2018-22), totaling 59 career games played, starting each of his final 39 appearances for the Tigers. A team captain in 2022, his final season at Clemson, McFadden earned First-Team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors.
