The Chicago Bears overhauled their linebacking corps this off-season with two big-name free agents. TJ Edwards came over from the Philadelphia Eagles. Tremaine Edmunds soon followed from the Buffalo Bills. The two men might play the same position, but they couldn’t be more different. Edwards was on the shorter sign with okay athleticism and went undrafted. Edmunds is a physical freak of nature with a large body, long arms, and tons of range. Both have found success through different methods. Yet their impact can’t be understated.
Chicago boasts the #2 run defense in the NFL this season, up from 31st last year. It’s been a remarkable turnaround. Edwards leads the way with 131 tackles. Yet it goes beyond that. Edwards also set career highs with two interceptions, two sacks, six tackles for a loss, and two fumble recoveries. Much of the credit for this goes to Edwards’ evolving ability and his excellent fit in Matt Eberflus’ defense. However, he also told Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune that some of it comes from a friendly rivalry between him and Edmunds.
Borgonzi said he sees a bond between the two. Edmunds said he’s “excited” to play next to Edwards because of his work ethic, their communication and their ability to play off one another. But the bond is also a competitive one as their unit tries to foster a takeaway race, fueled by a chart of Bears leaders coach Matt Eberflus has shown more often in recent weeks, according to safety Jaquan Brisker.
“We’re competitive every day, trying to get a takeaway every day,” Edwards said. “We’re each other’s biggest supporters as well. But we also want to one-up each other because that’s how growth happens.”
The Eagles had no qualms about letting him walk this off-season despite his excellent 2022. They were hoping to make way for 3rd round pick Nakobe Dean to finally get his shot. That decision looks costly in hindsight. Dean has missed several games with injuries, and the Eagles’ defense went from #2 last year to #22 this year. Many believe the loss of Edwards’ presence is a big reason why. His ability to clean up mistakes and be a leader on the field was underappreciated. It didn’t take the Bears long to understand what he could do for them.
His influence on the locker room is hard to miss. The rivalry with Edmunds is one example. Their willingness to push each other and embrace Eberflues’ takeaway competition is one of the critical reasons guys have come together as a unit. Both men had playoff success elsewhere. It’s only natural that they’d be considered leaders when they arrived in Chicago. TJ Edwards has embraced it all. The fact he’s a hometown boy makes it even better. That signing may go down as one of the Bears’ best in the past decade.
