Chicago Bears

Brandon Marshall says Bears' objection to his TV appearances triggered trade to Jets

Published Oct. 20, 2016 4:36 p.m. ET

Cameron DaSilva

Brandon Marshall’s tenure with the Chicago Bears came to an end last March when the team traded him and a seventh-round pick to the New York Jets for a measly fifth-rounder. All Marshall did in New York was set multiple franchise records and became the first player ever to have 1,000-yard seasons with multiple teams.

The Bears probably regret trading him for a mid-round selection, but they didn’t move him for his on-field production. According to Marshall, there were two reasons for him wanting to get out of Chicago: Jay Cutler and the desire for a TV gig.

Marshall told Albert Breer of the MMQB that he asked general manager Ryan Pace and head coach John Fox about making television appearances during the season on Showtime’s “Inside the NFL.” They were unhappy with his request and so the end of his era in Chicago came to an end.

“When I sat down with (GM) Ryan Pace and coach John Fox, we met, and I asked, ‘What do you guys think about this?’ It was a big topic,” Marshall said. “And Ryan Pace said, ‘Well, we can do that in the offseason.’ So I was like, ‘Well, what about half the season?’ ‘No.’ ‘What about once or twice?’ ‘No.’ ‘What about bye week?’ ‘No, you can do that in the offseason.’

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Marshall said at that very moment he came to the realization that he didn’t want to play in Chicago any longer.

“Right then, I knew I wouldn’t be a Bear anymore, because I think that the business of the NFL is growing every single day, and players are being told to stay in a box and just play football, and we’re missing out on a lot of opportunities, not only to grow as men and businessmen but to experience different things.”

AP Photo/Seth Wenig

Marshall said he “loved” being a television personality and believes it will help him in his post-football career. Josh Norman will be doing the same this season, and Marshall applauds him for it.

It was previously known that the end of Marshall’s days in Chicago were problematic, but this adds another layer to the split between the two sides.