IRVING, Texas -- Henry Melton spent the first five years of his career with the Chicago Bears. He made his first Pro Bowl as a Bear.

Melton was given the Bears' franchise tag for 2013 because they viewed him as being that valuable. But three games into the season, he tore his anterior cruciate ligament, and the Bears did not attempt to keep him as a free agent in the offseason.

“That’s how it goes,” Melton said. “You know, it’s a business: One day you’re a franchise player, and the next year you’re gone. It’s no hard feelings, but it’s a business.”

When Melton signed a one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys (with a three-year option), he knew the Bears were on the schedule. He gets the chance to see his old team Thursday at Soldier Field.

I don’t want to say it’s been circled, but I’ve been looking forward to it,” Melton said.

Melton’s return to Chicago isn’t the only reunion. Dallas defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli was with the Bears from 2009-12. The Bears have four players (Jeremiah Ratliff, Danny McCray, Terrance Mitchell and Dante Rosario) and four coaches (Joe DeCamillis, Reggie Herring, Paul Pasqualoni and Skip Peete) with ties to the Cowboys.

“Sometimes it happens when someone goes there and then they know a lot of guys, and then maybe a couple of coaches will go there and then sometimes players follow, because when you’re looking for players, 'Yeah, I had that guy in Dallas. He’s a good player. He can fit for us,’” coach Jason Garrett said. “Sometimes that happens, and that adds a little momentum to the flow of players there.”