The Chicago Bears have looked to undrafted free agency plenty of times over the years. While it rarely produces a massive hit, this approach can often yield capable backups or, at the very least, decent starters. The Bears have made good use of it over the past few years. Probably their biggest success story is Jack Sanborn. A standout linebacker at Wisconsin, he didn’t get any buzz leading up to the draft. However, the Bears liked him early on in the process, and he helped his case at their local pro day that year. Sure enough, they landed him as an undrafted rookie, and he quickly became a starter.
It might be happening again. While the Bears hosted several players at their local pro day this month, one name generated some smoke. That was Mac Uihlein. A 6’1″, 230 lbs linebacker, it’s not hard to see why he might’ve been overlooked going into this draft. He is somewhat undersized for his position and played for a struggling program. Still, that didn’t stop Uihlein from making an impact. Over two seasons as a starter, he gobbled up 185 tackles, 9.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks, and four interceptions.
Uihlein mirrors what made Jack Sanborn good.
He may not have the ideal size or electric speed, but he has instincts for days and couples it with both toughness and strength. His leadership became apparent almost immediately, and he often worked hard to set the tone for his teammates on and off the field. Perhaps the biggest surprise was how good he is in coverage. For somebody who lacks speed, he always seems able to get his hands on the football. Guys like that find their way onto a roster. Sanborn proved it could be done. Uihlein is made of the same stuff.
He also grew up right in the Bears’ backyard. He was born in Lake Forest, the same location as Halas Hall. He’s been in close proximity to the franchise for decades. There is no question he would love the opportunity to play for his hometown team. The obvious question is whether he gets drafted. Right now, it looks like he’ll go the Sanborn route. His limited size and speed usually lead to going unselected. If that happens, one can imagine the Bears will be happy to bring him to training camp. They have depth concerns at linebacker. He would be allowed to compete for a spot.
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It will be interesting to see what he can accomplish.
Players with his speed often don’t find their way onto the field. Not with how speed-obsessed today’s coaches are. It’s possible, but the climb will be difficult. In truth, Uihein’s best path to a true career will be special teams. He certainly has the intensity and intelligence for the job. He is unselfish and willing to do anything asked of him. If he carves out a role in the third phase, he would be a valuable addition to the team. GM Ryan Poles does have a knack for finding guys like him.
Ironically, he may arrive in Chicago at the same time Jack Sanborn returned to the organization. He spent a year in Dallas playing for Matt Eberflus before deciding he wanted to come home. At the very least, he will be a primary backup. Depending on what the Bears do in the draft, he’ll have a legitimate chance to claim a starting job.
