The Chicago Bears’ bold all-in move for a Super Bowl run left a fan-favorite edge rusher without a spot.
On Thursday, the team waived defensive end Jamree Kromah to clear a 53-man roster spot for newly acquired All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons.
The next day, the Miami Dolphins claimed the 26-year-old off waivers and waived veteran edge Robert Beal Jr. to make room.
Kromah’s path with the Bears was one of persistence. An undrafted free agent out of James Madison in 2024 after earlier years at Rutgers, he spent most of his first two NFL seasons on practice squads (including a brief stop with the Patriots).
He finally cracked the initial 53-man roster this summer after a standout training camp and preseason.
In the Week 1 preseason win over the Browns, he posted six tackles, three for loss, two sacks, two quarterback hits, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.
Head coach Ben Johnson praised the improved technique and effort: “You could feel his presence every single snap.” Kromah, who had slimmed down in the offseason, looked quicker and more explosive.
In the regular season he appeared in two games (Weeks 6 and 7 against the Falcons and Patriots), logging 28 defensive snaps and two tackles, including one for a loss.
Those snaps came during a period when the Bears needed depth along the edge. While the production was limited, he earned praise as a hard-working rotational piece who had earned his opportunity after years of grinding.
The waiver was a pure numbers game tied to the blockbuster deal that brought Simmons from the Titans. Chicago sent its 2027 and 2028 first-round picks plus a 2027 fourth-rounder for Simmons and a 2028 fifth-round pick.
The 5-2 Bears, sitting second in the NFC North, signaled they believe they have a championship-caliber roster now with Caleb Williams and a defense that already ranked among the league’s better units.
Simmons, a four-time Pro Bowler coming off a first-team All-Pro season with 11 sacks, instantly upgrades the interior. Opening a spot for him meant moving on from a depth edge who had just begun to contribute.
For Bears fans, the move is bittersweet. Kromah was the kind of underdog story that resonates—undrafted, persistent, and capable of impact plays when given the chance. His departure is a reminder of the cold math of roster construction when a team is pushing for a title.
Miami gains a young, athletic edge with upside as a rotational pass rusher. Chicago gains a transformative interior force.
In the end, the Bears chose the bigger swing, and Kromah heads to South Beach with the respect of those who watched him earn every snap in navy and orange.
