The Chicago Bears took a considerable hit at linebacker this offseason. Noah Sewell was already out with an Achilles injury. T.J. Edwards broke his leg late last season, and Tremaine Edmunds was also cut as a cap-saving move. That is all three of their starters either gone or incapacitated. They began working to correct this by re-signing backup D’Marco Jackson, who’d played well in relief of Edmunds last season. Then Devin Bush arrived as one of their top free agent signing, adding some experience and speed to the mix. Now they’ve thrown another wrinkle into the mix, bringing Jack Sanborn home.
The former Bears undrafted free agent became a quality contributor for the team from 2022 through 2024. However, he chose to leave as a free agent last year, rejoining Matt Eberflus in Dallas. Unfortunately, his season was cut short by a groin injury. With Eberflus out as the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator, the linebacker decided to come home to Chicago, giving them much-needed help as they retool their defense. The interesting part is what they have planned for him.
Jack Sanborn returning sends one of two signals.
The first concerns Edwards. It is possible the team doesn’t believe the veteran linebacker will be ready for the season. He suffered an injury similar to Braxton Jones’ in 2024, which took months to recover from. Even when he returned to training camp, it was clear he wasn’t 100%. Those struggles carried into the season, where he was eventually benched. The Bears may not wish to take those risks with Edwards, who is considerably older than Jones. A trio of Bush, Jackson, and Sanborn is something they feel confident can work.
The other possibility is that this is a clear signal that the Bears have little hope for Ruben Hyppolite. They spent a 4th round pick on the Maryland linebacker last year, loving his rare speed for the position. Unfortunately, he didn’t get much playing time. Injuries slowed him during the season, and his play never really stood out. Sanborn could be a much more reliable primary backup to the three starters, relegating Hyppolite to special teams duties or the inactive list.
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Sanborn is meant to ease the Bears draft needs.
They would rather not have to spend their highest draft capital on upgrading the position. Not when they have issues on the defensive line and in the secondary. Jack Sanborn may not have the speed Dennis Allen usually covets, but he’s a highly intelligent and instinctive player who does most things well. The one uncertainty is where he will play. He could man the middle as he did a few years ago, but that feels like Jackson’s likely spot. In such a case, Sanborn would replace Sewell on the strong side.
He has experience playing both spots and can be moved around depending on the situation. His solid ability as a blitzer will appeal to Allen, who is often aggressive. If nothing else, this is a great moment for a local kid who likely never wanted to leave. He signed with the Bears because he wanted to play for Chicago. Business just got in the way. Now he has a second chance. Expect him to make the most of it.
