Ex-Bears Defensive Standout Comes Out of Retirement, Joins Falcons
Title: "Eddie Goldman Returns to NFL, Rejoins Falcons for 2024 Season"
Former Chicago Bears nose tackle Eddie Goldman is making a comeback to the NFL, once again coming out of retirement to join the Atlanta Falcons for the upcoming 2024 season.
Reported by NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Falcons have plans to ink Goldman to a new contract for the 2024 season after releasing him from their exempt/left squad list on April 2nd. This marks Goldman's second NFL return within two years.
Goldman, aged 30, initially signed with the Falcons during the 2022 offseason after departing from the Bears but retired merely 13 days later. Despite resuming his career eight months later with the Falcons, he retired once more shortly after the onset of training camp in July.
Despite the anticipation surrounding Goldman's potential impact, there remain uncertainties regarding his performance, particularly given his recent inactivity and underwhelming statistics in his last season with the Bears. Nevertheless, if the contract terms are favorable, the Falcons stand to benefit from his presence on the team.
Goldman's departure from the Bears aligns with the restructuring strategy initiated by Ryan Poles, who assumed the role of general manager during the 2022 season. Poles swiftly initiated a series of veteran cuts, including Goldman, as part of a comprehensive roster overhaul.
Looking ahead, the Bears face questions regarding their defensive line composition heading into the 2024 NFL draft. While the focus may primarily be on acquiring a new quarterback with their top overall pick, the possibility of addressing the interior defensive line cannot be discounted, especially considering recent departures and the need for depth in that area.
Options for potential defensive tackle selections in the draft include top prospects such as Illinois' Jer'Zhan Newton and Texas' Byron Murphy II, or the Bears may opt for selections in later rounds to bolster their defensive line rotation.
As the NFL draft approaches, the Bears remain focused on strategic roster improvements as they navigate the path towards contention.
Jordan J. Wilson is a sports reporter covering the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Chicago Cubs, and St. Louis Cardinals for Heavy.com, with extensive experience in sports journalism.
| POLL | ||
3 AVRIL | 79 ANSWERS Ex-Bears Defensive Standout Comes Out of Retirement, Joins Falcons Do you believe multiple retirements affect an athlete's performance? | ||
| Yes | 64 | 81 % |
| No | 15 | 19 % |
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