Picking up Darnell Wright’s fifth-year option could be a first step toward a long-term extension, but in the meantime it keeps him in place through 2027.

The Chicago Bears conducted the first day of their offseason program Monday at Halas Hall. Here are three things we learned. 1. Coby Bryant shares more than a few similarities with his famous namesake.

Talk of where the Chicago Bears will build a new stadium has dragged on for years, but could this week be the most critical yet? According to NBC Chicago Political Reporter Mary Ann Ahern, there is talk that the House in Springfield could vote Wednesday on a so-called “PILOT” (payment in lieu of taxes) bill that would give the Bears much-needed property tax certainty on their proposed stadium site in Arlington Heights.

“We need to make sure that if the Bears go to Arlington Heights, that my vote means that we support all of Illinois, but we also support Chicago,” State Rep. La Shawn Ford said. “That means that the property at Soldier Field, there should be some type of support for what happens at that spot.”

Despite trading for an experienced center earlier this offseason, Ryan Poles seems interested in a long-term option.

The message the Bears had on Monday is one the team has echoed for months as the new league year has begun, and the NFL Draft starts in days.

Ben Johnson wanted Caleb Williams to get away from football. That was the Chicago Bears coach’s message to the second-year quarterback in the frigid January days after the loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional round of the playoffs.