The Chicago Bears terminated the contract of 23-year-old running back Coleman Bennett on this week, waiving the undrafted rookie just days after his NFL debut.
The move came as part of a series of roster transactions that also included signing veteran defensive end Marcus Davenport and defensive back Deantre Prince.
Bennett, born Oct. 3, 2002, signed with Chicago as an undrafted free agent in May following the 2026 NFL Draft. The Bears gave him a three-year, $3.12 million deal that included $145,000 in guarantees and a $20,000 signing bonus—among the more substantial packages for their undrafted class.
He joined a backfield already featuring D’Andre Swift, Kyle Monangai, and Roschon Johnson.
The Florida native took a winding college path. He played at Bucknell from 2021 to 2023, earning First-Team All-Patriot League honors as a return specialist in 2023, then spent 2024 at Rice before transferring to Kennesaw State.
In 14 games for the Owls in 2025, Bennett rushed for 764 yards and four touchdowns on 157 carries (4.9 yards per attempt) while adding 27 receptions for 314 yards and three more scores. He was noted for his contact balance and ability to break tackles.
Bennett saw limited action in the Bears’ preseason opener, a 34-10 win over the Cleveland Browns. He entered late and finished with four carries for 10 yards, including a 3-yard touchdown run that capped a short drive.
The score came with an awkward collision involving a sideline microphone operator as he stretched for the pylon. Head coach Ben Johnson had previously praised Bennett’s vision and instinctive running style during minicamp, but the young back did not appear to separate himself in camp or the exhibition game.
The waiver created roster space as Chicago continues to shape its 53-man roster ahead of the regular season. Bennett will become an unrestricted free agent if he goes unclaimed on waivers. At 5-foot-11 and roughly 200 pounds, he possesses the versatility as a rusher and receiver that teams often seek in depth pieces, along with special-teams experience from his college days.
For a player who earned a master’s degree with a 4.0 GPA at Kennesaw State after graduating from Bucknell in three years, the next opportunity may come quickly. Several clubs typically look to add young, inexpensive running backs after the first wave of cuts.
Whether Bennett lands elsewhere or waits for practice-squad opportunities, his brief Bears tenure ended as quickly as it began.
The Bears’ running-back competition remains crowded, with veterans and holdovers expected to handle the primary workload.
Bennett’s release underscores how quickly evaluation can change in training camp even for a player who received notable guaranteed money as an undrafted signee.
