The clock has struck midnight on Alshon Jeffery and the Bears.
Friday's deadline for franchise players to sign long-term contract extensions with their respective clubs has passed and the Bears and Jeffery failed to reach a long-term agreement. Jeffery will play the 2016 season under the $14.6 million franchise tag and become an unrestricted free agent in 2017.
Jeffery ranks 10th in Bears franchise history in receptions (252), seventh in receiving yards (3,728) and has 24 touchdowns in just 51 career games.
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On Thursday night, Jeffery expressed his desire to win a Super Bowl with the Bears in an interview for CSNChicago.com.
"Hopefully we're together [Jeffery and Bears kicker Robbie Gould] and we can bring a championship to the Chicago Bears," Jeffery said. "I watched the '85 Bears and that inspired me to win a championship this year. That's my main goal. To win a championship, beat the Packers twice, don't lose any division games and bring the title home."
Jeffery wasn't the only player with a franchise tag that couldn't reach a long-term extension before the deadline. Eric Berry (Chiefs), Trumaine Johnson (Rams) and Kirk Cousins (Redskins) will all play under the franchise tag in 2016.