The Chicago Bears have been busy retooling their roster to keep their momentum going from a strong 2025 season. Of course, several former Bears are likely monitoring what's going on in the Windy City and would've killed to enjoy that type of success.
The transition from ex-head coach Matt Eberflus to Ben Johnson made Chicago a revolving door for many players, and one who has had trouble since leaving the Windy City is wide receiver Darnell Mooney.
Signed to a big contract with the Atlanta Falcons a few years ago, Mooney’s career appeared to be taking off as he left Chicago. Like many of the Falcons’ decisions, Mooney’s time in Atlanta didn’t turn out as expected, and after signing with the New York Giants, he finds himself at a low point as the 2026 season approaches.
Former Bear Darnell Mooney’s Free Fall Continues Despite Signing with Giants
Mooney looked like a steal early in his career when he was selected as a fifth-round pick out of Tulane in 2020. After a solid rookie year with 61 catches for 631 yards and four touchdowns, he recorded his first 1,000-yard (1,055) campaign in his sophomore year with a career-high 81 catches to go with four touchdowns.
The next two seasons didn’t continue that production with 71 catches, 907 yards, and three touchdowns combined. But it didn’t stop Kirk Cousins from recruiting Mooney to join him when he left the Minnesota Vikings to sign with the Atlanta Falcons in the spring of 2024.
A three-year, $39 million contract followed, but like Cousins’ time in Atlanta, things didn’t pan out as expected for Mooney. Although he put up solid stats with 64 catches for 992 yards and five touchdowns, Cousins was benched for Michael Penix Jr., depriving Mooney of his biggest advocate on the field.
With Penix at the controls, Mooney struggled again, catching 32 passes for 443 yards and a touchdown in 15 games.
The performance led to Mooney's release this spring, resulting in a one-year, $3 million contract with the New York Giants. Even though he found a job and is projected to be the No. 2 receiver behind Malik Nabers, he could also wind up falling down the depth chart if the Giants choose to add competition in next month’s draft.
In addition, Mooney could have a hard time putting up numbers in head coach John Harbaugh’s offense.
During Harbaugh’s 18 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, only six receivers had 1,000-yard seasons, and the Ravens routinely leaned on their running game to beat up opponents. While Giants QB Jaxson Dart isn’t Lamar Jackson, he still carries significant rushing ability, which could eat at Mooney’s stats and leave him with a steeper climb to replicate his past success.
Things could be worse if Mooney were on the market, but watching the Bears develop two young receivers in Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III since his departure has to make his fall hurt a little more. Joining one of the NFC’s bottom feeders, Mooney is in a challenging position to revive his career, and it represents a low point for a player who was starting to emerge a few years ago.