Former Riders LB Jerrell Freeman Has A New NFL Home

The Bears on Saturday bolstered their defense by agreeing to terms on a three-year contract with inside linebacker Jerrell Freeman.

Freeman spent the past four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, starting all 57 games he played in and recording 478 tackles, 12 sacks, four interceptions and eight forced fumbles.

Last year the 6-foot, 240-pounder registered 112 tackles, three sacks and one interception he returned 23 yards for a touchdown in 13 games.

Attending the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Texas, Freeman was a two-time Division III All-American and Division III Defensive Player of the Year in 2007 and left as the school's all-time leading tackler.

Freeman, who will turn 30 on May 1, signed with the Tennessee Titans in 2008 as an undrafted free agent, but he was waived before the regular season.

The Waco, Texas, native then spent three seasons in the Canadian Football League with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. He played mostly on special teams in 2009, helped lead the Roughriders to the Grey Cup title game in 2010 and led the CFL in tackles in 2011.

Freeman signed with the Colts in 2012 and made his NFL debut against the Bears at Soldier Field in the season opener, intercepting a pass and returning it four yards for a touchdown less than four minutes into the game.

Freeman is the second inside linebacker to join the Bears in free agency. On Wednesday, Danny Trevathan agreed to a four-year contract after helping the Denver Broncos win Super Bowl 50. Last season Trevathan led the NFL's No. 1 defense with 109 tackles.

(Chicago Bears)