The Bears parted ways with wide receiver Taylor Gabriel and cornerback Prince Amukamara on Friday, two moves that will save Chicago around $13.5 million in 2020 salary cap space (via Bears Wire).
Because the players were released, they are free to negotiate potential new contracts with other teams right away. Gabriel and Amukamara won’t have to wait until the start of NFL free agency on March 18 to join new teams.
The Broncos might be interested in Amukamara, who played under coach Vic Fangio and defensive coordinator Ed Donatell with the Bears from 2017-2018. Fangio served as Chicago’s defensive coordinator and Donatell was the Bears’ defensive backs coach before they were hired by Denver.
Amukamara (6-0, 204 pounds) “would have real interest” in reuniting with Fangio, according to Ryan Koenigsberg of DNVR Sports. The 30-year-old cornerback totaled 114 tackles and three interceptions while playing under Fangio. He also broke up 19 passes from 2017-2018.
As The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala pointed out on Twitter, Amukamara compared Fangio’s even-keeled personality to that of Patriots coach Bill Belichick in 2018. Amukamara also praised Fangio’s “calculated” play-calling and said he didn’t want to see the coach leave Chicago.
“I just really hope — I know he’s going to be sought after for a lot of head-coaching jobs — I don’t know his contracts and stuff like that, but I just hope he stays as long as I’m here, selfishly,” Amukarama said in 2018.
That was before Fangio left the Bears to become the Broncos’ head coach in early 2019. A former first-round draft pick out of Nebraska, perhaps Amukamara will get to reunite with Fangio in Denver. It remains to be seen if interest between the parties is mutual.
