A day after selecting two two safeties on Day 3 of the NFL draft, the Bears released veteran safety Antrel Rolle on Sunday.
The Bears signed Rolle to a three-year, $15 million contract last year, which included $4.9 million guaranteed in the first year.
“I appreciate the Chicago Bears and the organization for the opportunity,” Rolle said on Twitter. “Blessed as always. Looking forward to what is next!”
Rolle’s 2015 season was a disappointment. He appeared in only seven games because of a high-ankle sprain and a sprained knee. Rolle, who was placed on injured reserve on Dec. 14, made 45 tackles (per coach reviews) and broke up only one pass last season.
Rolle did provide leadership during the Bears’ culture change under coach John Fox. Rolle was voted a team captain and helped Adrian Amos blossom as a starter in his rookie season.
The Bears drafted two safeties on Saturday: Miami’s Deon Bush (No. 124) and William & Mary’s DeAndre Houston-Carson (No. 185). Bush said he was looking forward to playing with Rolle, who also attended Miami. Bush called him a mentor.
At the NFL owners meetings in March, general manager Ryan Pace said it was difficult evaluating Rolle’s 2015 campaign. Rolle went five consecutive seasons without missing a game before joining the Bears, but he also turns 34 in December.
“It’s hard to pinpoint exactly the evaluation on him with him being injured, but we were satisfied,” Pace said then.
