In 2016 season, Mears continued to established himself in the first team as a right-back position despite suffering from injury at the start of the season. Shortly after recovering from a hamstring, Mears made his first appearance for the club this season on 12 March 2016, in a 2–1 loss against Real Salt Lake. Mears went on to make 32 league appearances despite missing out 1 match, due to tactical changes at one point against FC Dallas on 14 July 2016. Mears then helped the club reach the final of the MLS Cup to play against Toronto FC and played the whole 120 minutes throughout extra time as a right-back and win the Cup after beating Toronto 5–4 in the penalty shootout. Just one day after winning the Cup, Seattle Sounders declined Mears' contract option for 2017.