Defensive end Akiem Hicks was Ryan Pace’s best free-agent signing as the Bears’ general manager. But he was never a part of the plan under new GM Ryan Poles.
Hicks, who played at a Pro Bowl level throughout his six-year run with the Bears but missed 20 games because of injuries over his last three seasons, agreed to terms Tuesday with the Buccaneers on a one-year contract with incentives that sources said could be worth up to $10 million.
Hicks’ departure was not unexpected. He anticipated that his days in Chicago were numbered after the Bears rebuffed efforts for a contract extension as his four-year, $48 million deal entered its final season in 2021.
The 32-year-old Hicks, who made the Pro Bowl in 2018, still was a productive player. But his impact had diminished since 2020, when he had 3½ sacks in the Bears’ first three games and none in the final 14, including the playoffs.
Wear-and-tear was a bigger factor. Hicks missed 11 games with an elbow injury in 2019. He was slowed by a groin injury in 2020. And he missed eight games with groin and ankle injuries in 2021. After playing 52 consecutive games with the Bears in 2016-19, he missed 20 of his final 47 games.
With the Bears transitioning to a 4-3 defense under new coach Matt Eberflus, Hicks’ role was unclear. After four seasons as a 4-3 defensive end with the Saints and Patriots in 2012-15, he blossomed in Vic Fangio’s 3-4 defense with the Bears. And with the Bears seemingly in rebuild mode under Eberflus, Hicks was no longer a sure thing.
Still, Hicks will be fondly remembered in Chicago, where he was a fan favorite as an emotional leader who played a key role in the rise of Fangio’s defense with stellar play as a pass rusher and run stopper.
After finishing the 2015 season with the Patriots, he turned down a personal plea from Bill Belichick to sign a two-year, $10 million contract with the Bears, who were coming off a 6-10 season under John Fox. After an impressive first season in 2016, Hicks signed a four-year, $48 million extension before the 2017 season. He played at an even higher level under the new deal — with 8½ sacks in 2017 and 7½ sacks in 2018 — as the Bears’ defense improved from 24th in points allowed in 2016 to ninth in 2017 and first in 2018.
But by the end of last season — after not getting another extension — he saw the end coming.
“If I do end up leaving, I’ll miss it here,” he said after a 17-9 loss to the Vikings on “Monday Night Football” in December. “I truly love my time.”
Patrick Finley contributed to this story.
