2024 Chicago Fire in Review: Wyatt Omsberg

Wyatt Omsberg’s 2024 season had its ebbs and flows, but the center back reminded everyone why he’s a valuable defender when he was able to get on the pitch for the Chicago Fire in his seventh MLS season.

Omsberg, 29, made 12 MLS appearances and 11 starts for the Fire, operating largely as a backup to Rafael Czichos and Carlos Terán when the two missed time due to various injuries. The Dartmouth graduate's first two starts of the 2024 season came for Chicago Fire II in their U.S. Open Cup wins over amateur side Chicago City and USL League One’s Forward Madison.

The veteran center back’s first MLS appearance of the season finally came in Toronto when the Fire defeated TFC 4-1 in mid-June, and his first start was a few weeks later when Chicago overcame a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Philadelphia Union 4-3 at Soldier Field. He reminded everyone why he’s a valuable part of the lineup when he made a bone-crunching tackle on Quinn Sullivan in the fourth minute that set the tone for the entire match (and earned Omsberg a yellow card).

Omsberg, when healthy, is the kind of center back that can fit in any MLS locker room and has shown the ability to compete for a starting role in a backline. Injuries have hampered his progress over the last few years but he still has moments that reinforce why he’s valued in the organization.

Omsberg is out of contract but the Fire said they're actively negotiating a new deal with him for next year under new director of football and head coach Gregg Berhalter. MLS free agency opens on Dec. 12 so it'd behoove the Fire to get that done before the rest of the league can get involved.