on april 30, 2016, hoyer agreed to a one-year, $2 million contract with the chicago bears. after an injury to starting quarterback jay cutler in week 2, he started the week 3 game against the dallas cowboys and threw for 317 yards and two touchdowns in a 31–17 loss. the following week, he threw two touchdowns for 302 yards in a 17–14 victory over the detroit lions. a week later in a 29–23 loss to the indianapolis colts, he threw for a career-high 397 yards, the most by a bears quarterback since jim miller threw for 422 yards in 1999 and the fifth-most in bears history. hoyer also joined josh mccown as the only bears quarterbacks to throw for at least 300 yards in three straight games and later became the first to do so in four consecutive games after throwing for 302 yards in a loss to the jacksonville jaguars. hoyer broke his left arm during the second quarter of a game against the green bay packers on october 20, 2016. he was placed on injured reserve on october 24, 2016 after having surgery on his left arm, and was reported to be out at least eight weeks.