The most direct path from Detroit to Chicago is along Interstate 94, but there may be a quicker route if you’re a member of the Detroit Lions or the Chicago Bears. Ben Johnson’s departure from the Motor City has created a football expressway for players and coaches to swap sides of the NFC North rivalry, and things could continue as both teams gear up for free agency next month.
The latest player that should be on the Lions’ radar is linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga. Released by the Bears last week, Ogbongbemiga could help Detroit fill out its suddenly empty depth chart at the position and give them a boost as they prepare for the 2026 season.
Lions Could Add Special Teams LB Amen Ogbongbemiga After Bears Release
The Lions’ depth chart at linebacker looks a lot like a blank page after last season. While Jack Campbell and Derrick Barnes are under contract, there is no depth behind them, as Malcolm Rodriguez, Grant Stuard, and Zach Cunningham are all free agents.Â
Losing any part of that trio would hurt the Lions going into 2026, but Stuard could be a sneaky departure.
In his first season with the Lions, Stuard finished fifth on the team with seven special teams tackles and finished with the team’s second-highest special teams grade at 83.0, according to Pro Football Focus. While he played just 13 defensive snaps, Stuard was a key special teams player, which could pave the way for Ogbongbemiga to head to Detroit.
Ogbongbemiga wasn’t as good as Stuard was on special teams in Detroit, logging one tackle and a 66.9 grade on 155 snaps. But he’s also been serviceable as a depth piece throughout his career despite logging just 235 defensive snaps over his first five seasons in the NFL.
This could come in handy as Detroit prepares for next season. Rodriguez could return to Detroit as a fan favorite and a player who is now a year removed from tearing his ACL on Thanksgiving 2024. Although Stuard could return, other teams could target him to add a boost to their coverage units, which could leave him one-and-done as a Lion.
Ogbongbemiga isn’t perfect, as he was limited to eight games last season due to a knee injury, but he’s unlikely to return to Chicago. The Bears freed up $2.07 million in cap space after his release, so it's hard to imagine why they'd be interested in running things back.
The Lions will need to make splashier moves to get out of last place in the NFC North, but Ogbongbemiga could be the latest Bears import to help with that cause if he heads up the interstate next month.