Bears check another box off Richard Hightower's wish list with latest offseason signing to replace parting free agent

McCloud entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2021 originally signing with the Cincinnati Bengals. After one year, McCloud found a home for 2.5 seasons with the New York Giants. After Week 9, McCloud was waived and claimed by the San Francisco 49ers.

Between the Giants and 49ers, McCloud appeared in 15 games, including making five starts in New York last season.

Defensively, McCloud recorded 96 career tackles with 1.5 sacks and 10 pass deflections. In coverage, he's allowed a career 63.7 completion percentage and seven touchdowns on 91 targets.

But, his mark in the NFL hasn't come on defense. McCloud is an experienced special teams player who totaled 213 special teams snaps between the Giants and 49ers combined in 2024.

Richard Hightower's Roster Say Gets Even Stronger

Even with a new coaching staff coming in led by head coach Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, returning special teams coordinator Richard Hightower is getting a lot of say with the roster construction in 2025.

So far, the Bears have made seven outside signings in free agency. Counting McCloud, two of those have been special teams contributors with the other being former All-Pro return man Devin Duvernay.

As for the re-signings, the Bears brought back seven pending free agents. Of those seven, five are mainly special teamers as well in players such as Josh Blackwell, Amen Ogbongbemiga, Scott Daly, Travis Homer, and Tarvarius Moore.

Hightower clearly still has a lot of pull on this staff and in the front office to build back his special teams unit that finished 5th in DVOA last season. It's an important part of the game and it's great to see the FO acknowledging that with these decisions.