Report: Bears will release kicker Cody Parkey at start of new league year

The end is in sight for the Cody Parkey era in Chicago.

The Bears will release the maligned kicker when the new league year starts in March, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

The #Bears have decided to release K Cody Parkey at the start of the league year, sources say. A fresh start is welcomed by both parties, and the Pro Bowler will likely find work quickly. He’s still due $3.5M guaranteed on his 2019 contract.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 22, 2019

His fate may have been sealed when he appeared on NBC’s “Today” show after his missed field goal at the end of the Bears’ wild-card loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Parkey finished the regular season 23-of-30 (76.6 percent) on field goals with three missed extra points during the year.

He was set to cost the Bears just over $4 million against the salary cap for 2019, and his release will cost just under $5.2 million in guaranteed money still owed on the contract.

Chicago signed former Tulsa kicker Redford Jones to a reserve/future contract this offseason, and the release of Parkey signals they’ll bring in even more kicking competition.

The move opens the door for the potential return of Robbie Gould to the Bears — if the San Francisco 49ers let him hit free agency.