Former Oregon Ducks defensive back Dontae Manning was waived by the Chicago Bears from injured reserve Monday with an injury settlement, ending his brief second stint with the club and putting the Kansas City product back on the open market, per ESPN’s NFL transaction log.
Manning, a five-star recruit out of Raytown High School who spent five seasons in Eugene, never became a full-time starter for the Ducks.
He was something more durable and, for Oregon fans who watched him through two coaching staffs, more familiar: a reliable depth piece who stayed healthy, contributed on special teams, and made plays when his number was called.
He appeared in 54 games from 2020 through 2024, totaling roughly 80 tackles, two interceptions, and 14-plus passes defended.
His most memorable moment as a Duck came in the 2024 Big Ten Championship Game, when he intercepted a pass and returned it 24 yards against Penn State in Oregon’s first season in the conference. That pick was his second career interception and a snapshot of the coverage skills that first made him a high-profile recruit.
Manning arrived as part of the Mario Cristobal era and finished under Dan Lanning. He started a handful of games across his career but spent most of his time as a rotational corner and special-teams contributor while Oregon cycled through higher-profile transfers and younger talent at the position.
That longevity itself became part of his story in Eugene: five years, two staffs, one program that kept winning.
Undrafted in 2025, he signed with the Atlanta Falcons, was waived at the end of camp, and landed on the Bears’ practice squad. Chicago signed him to a reserve/future contract in January 2026.
He showed flashes in the preseason but was waived with an injury designation when the Bears trimmed to 53 players on Aug. 30. After reverting to injured reserve, the club reached a settlement and released him Sept. 7.
For Oregon followers, the move is another reminder of how thin the line is between a long college career and an NFL roster spot.
Manning was never the headliner in a secondary that featured names like Christian Gonzalez, Khyree Jackson, and Jabbar Muhammad. He was the guy who stayed, played, and produced enough to keep getting opportunities.
Now 24 and a free agent after the settlement, Manning can sign with any team.
Whether that next stop leads to a practice squad or something more, Ducks fans who watched him through the Pac-12-to-Big Ten transition will recognize the same profile: tough, experienced, and still chasing the next snap.
