Bears Signed Long Snapper Scott Daly
The Chicago Bears added Scott Daly to their active 53-man roster after poaching him from the New Orleans Saints.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Football
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The Chicago Bears signed long snapper Scott Daly to their active 53-man roster on September 16, 2026. Daly, who played for the New Orleans Saints practice squad, was acquired to replace the struggling Beau Gardner.
Why it matters
The move aims to address special teams performance issues within the Chicago Bears. The signing was made possible by NFL rules allowing clubs to poach players from other organizations if they are added directly to the active 53-man roster.
NFL regulations permit teams to sign players from rival practice squads provided the player is added to the active 53-man roster. Daly was previously utilized by the Saints during their 24-17 victory over the Baltimore Ravens.
The players
Scott Daly
He is a professional football long snapper who joined the Chicago Bears active roster.
Chicago Bears
This is a professional football team based in Chicago that competes in the National Football League.
New Orleans Saints
This is a professional football team based in New Orleans that competes in the National Football League.
Zach Wood
He is a veteran long snapper entering his 10th season with the New Orleans Saints.
Beau Gardner
He is a long snapper for the Chicago Bears who faced criticism for his recent performance.
The details
The Chicago Bears pursued this transaction following poor performance from their incumbent long snapper, Beau Gardner. The New Orleans Saints now face a vacancy after placing long-time player Zach Wood on injured reserve during Week 1 of the 2026 season.
Timeline
Week 1 2026: Zach Wood was moved to injured reserve.
September 14, 2026: Scott Daly played for the Saints in their win over the Ravens.
September 16, 2026: The Chicago Bears officially signed Scott Daly.
Season Trajectory
This roster move highlights the aggressive mid-season adjustments teams make to maintain special teams efficiency in a competitive league. It reflects the broader urgency for clubs to address positional weaknesses before the playoff picture crystallizes.
The acquisition forces an immediate change in the Chicago Bears' special teams rotation. Fantasy managers and fans should monitor how this affects the consistency of field goal and punt operations for the remainder of the season.
The takeaway
Front offices must constantly evaluate roster depth to remain competitive throughout the grueling NFL schedule. Leveraging practice squad signings remains a key strategy for teams needing to fix personnel gaps on short notice.
Further reading
For more updates on team changes, visit Football.
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