Bears sign veteran linebacker to two-year extension |
The Chicago Bears on Thursday signed veteran linebacker T.J. Edwards to a two-year extension through 2027.
"Our entire organization is excited for T.J. and his family," said general manager Ryan Poles. "T.J. has had a positive impact on our organization over the last two years, both on and off the field. We are grateful to have T.J. as a member of the Chicago Bears Family, and we look forward to his continued leadership on our team." "We are happy that T.J. and his family will remain members of the Chicago Bears," said head coach Ben Johnson. "It is hard not to notice the positive influence that T.J. has in our building, and we are excited to have his leadership as we work to build our team." Edwards has spent the last two seasons leading Chicago's defense, securing a team-high 153 total tackles in his first season with the Bears in 2023, before amassing a career-high four sacks and 12 tackles for loss last season (2024). Since entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2019, Edwards has amassed 652 total tackles (375 solo), including 11.5 sacks and 40 tackles for loss, along with six interceptions, 23 passes defensed, four forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries in 95 regular-season games played (81 starts) for the Bears (2023-24) and Philadelphia Eagles (2019-22). Edwards arrived in Chicago in 2023 after totaling a career-high 159 tackles (99 solo) for the Eagles, helping lead Philadelphia to an NFC Championship and an appearance in Super Bowl LVII. Over the last three seasons (2022-24), Edwards, who has started all 17 regular-season games each of the three years, has recorded 441 total tackles – the second-most among all NFC defenders over the last three years (Bobby Wagner, 455). Edwards' 153 tackles in his first season with Chicago (2023) were the third-most by a Bears defender in franchise history. A native of nearby Lake Villa, Ill., Edwards prepped collegiately at the University of Wisconsin, starting 52-of-53 career games played, finishing his career with the second-most starts by any player in program history. Edwards totaled 367 career tackles for the Badgers over his career, along with 10 interceptions, which are the most by any player at his position in school history. A First-Team All-America selection in 2017, Edwards, a team captain in 2018, capped his career with First-Team All-Big Ten Conference honors following each of his final two seasons.
