Official Site of the Bears · May 2, 2018
Ex-Bear Freeman announces retirement from NFL
Former linebacker Jerrell Freeman runs down a play against the Falcons in 2017.Former Bears linebacker Jerrell Freeman on Wednesday announced his retirement from the NFL.
Freeman, who turned 32 on Tuesday, signed with the Bears in 2016. He led the team with 127 tackles and seven tackles-for-loss despite serving a four-game suspension for violating the NFL policy on performance-enhancing substances.
Freeman then suffered a torn pectoral muscle in the 2017 season opener against the Falcons and was placed on injured reserve. He was then suspended a second time last Oct. 30, this time for 10 games for again violating the NFL policy on performance-enhancing substances.
