The Chicago Bears may have many more roster questions to answer, but fortunately for them, T.J. Edwards is not one of them. This last April saw Edwards and the Bears agree on terms for a two year, $20 million contract extension that is set to keep him in Chicago through the 2027 season.
Edwards went undrafted in the 2019 draft, but was quickly signed to a three year contract with the Eagles. Edwards made the most of his opportunity there, making appearances on special teams and serving as a backup before being named the starting linebacker for 2020 season. Unfortunately a hamstring injury limited his season to only twelve games, but Week 5 saw Edwards block a punt where he earned the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.
After Edwards and the Eagles lost Super Bowl LVII to the Kansas City Chiefs, Edwards became a free agent. The Bears signed Edwards to a three year deal only a few weeks later, and the rest is history.
T.J. Edwards quickly became a cornerstone of the Bears’ defense
Since Edwards arrived in Chicago, he's experienced a metamorphosis of the franchise. Ryan Poles has only just taken over as the general manager, and the Matt Eberflus era had only just begun. That didn't stop Edwards from making his mark, though, and he decidedly took the top spot on the Bears defense. Edwards appeared in all 17 games of the season and made 155 total tackles, 91 of which were solo. To put that into perspective, the second place player was Tremaine Edmunds, who took part in 113 total tackles, and 69 of them were solo.
The following season Edwards again too part in all 17 matchups, but only missed the top spot on the defense by a single tackle behind Kevin Byard with 129 total tackles. The season overall didn't go extremely well for the Bears, as it culminated in the Bears firing their first ever head coach during the season.
But the Bears moved into 2025, and with it, came Ben Johnson and Dennis Allen. The Bears made a dramatic turn under Johnson's leadership, but unfortunately Edwards was limited to only ten games due to a mix between a broken hand and a hamstring issue. He still took part in 67 total tackles and managed an interception that he then returned for a touchdown. It was to date, the only touchdown of his career.
Now, with Edwards healthy and locked into Dennis Allen's defensive system, he's poised for a return the the performance that secured big contracts for him before. While the Bears search for who will play opposite him come September, Edwards has ample time in Training Camp to really get down and work. As a starter, it's unlikely that we'll see him take the field during the preseason, but at thirty years old and with seven seasons under his belt, anything he'd find there is old hat.
The Bears may not know exactly what the rest of their linebacker room will look like, but they know what Edwards can provide when he is healthy. After a frustrating 2025 season, he has every opportunity to remind the Bears why they committed to him through 2027.
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