(670 The Score) There were more lucrative offers waiting for safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix in free agency by way of length and salary than what the Bears had on the table.
But the 26-year-old Clinton-Dix understands that he's in his prime and was given an opportunity to be a major contributor for a championship contender. Because of that, he chose a lesser deal of one year and $3.5 million to sign with the Bears.
What's his goal in Chicago?
"Prove that I'm one of the best and go out and win a championship," Clinton-Dix said by teleconference Friday. "I think that's the perfect opportunity, coming into something great that coach (Matt) Nagy has created there in Chicago and I'm excited about my opportunity.
"No. 1 defense, man. It's a special defense, it's a special core. I wanted to come in and prove myself and be a part of something special. So many alpha dogs on this defense. That's rare, man. And they're having fun doing it."
One of the most important players of the Bears' core is fellow safety Eddie Jackson, whom Clinton-Dix helped recruit to Alabama. They will now line up next to each other in the Bears' secondary as teammates. Jackson was at Halas Hall to greet Clinton-Dix as he officially signed with the team Thursday.
Clinton-Dix was a first-round pick of the Packers in 2014 and earned Pro Bowl honors two years later. He has never missed a game over five NFL seasons, starting all 16 games in each of the past four years and recording 14 career interceptions.
Clinton-Dix was traded from the Packers to the Redskins late last October, playing his final nine games of 2018 in Washington. He will replace Adrian Amos, whom the Packers signed to a four-year, $37-million deal earlier this week.
Having played parts of five seasons with the Packers, Clinton-Dix is thrilled to now be with the Bears.
"Just to come over to the other side and be part of something special, it's something I'm grateful for," he said.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
