The Bears on Wednesday agreed to terms with linebacker T.J. Edwards on a three-year contract, pending a physical.
Edwards, 26, spent his first four NFL seasons with the Eagles, originally signing with Philadelphia in 2019 as an undrafted free agent out of Wisconsin.
In four years, Edwards appeared in 61 regular season games with 47 starts, accruing 370 tackles – 206 solo – 20 tackles-for-loss, 17 quarterback pressures, nine quarterback hits, five sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
The 6-1, 242-pound linebacker registered a team-high 159 tackles through 17 starts in 2022 which ranked seventh in the league and are the second most in Eagles history.
Edwards added 10 tackles-for-loss, two sacks and seven pass breakups last season while assuming the green dot responsibilities for one of the league's top defenses. He also started in all three playoff games and totaled 13 tackles, including six in the Super Bowl.
In 2021, Edwards started 14 of the 16 games he played and totaled 125 tackles which ranked second on the team. He was one of just five NFL players to finish the season with at least 125 tackles, one interception and one fumble recovery.
Despite missing four games in 2020, Edwards totaled 64 tackles and secured his first career interception. In 2019 as a rookie, Edwards played just 11 percent of the Eagles' defensive snaps, but was on the field for 74 percent of special teams snaps – the second-most on the team.
By signing with the Bears, Edwards returns home as he grew up in Lake Villa, Ill., and attended Lakes Community High School.
"It's hard to pass up when your hometown team calls and you just want to find a way to get it done as fast as possible," Edwards told 670 The Score Monday.
He and linebacker Jack Sanborn – a Lake Zurich native – were teammates at Wisconsin. The pair played one season together in 2018 when Edwards was a senior and Sanborn was a freshman. Edwards and Sanborn were also coached by the same high school coach: Luke Mertens.
Edwards played in 53 games at Wisconsin with 52 starts at inside linebacker. His 367 career tackles ranked ninth all-time for the Badgers program and his 10 interceptions are the most by a linebacker in school history.
"I just want to get in there and get straight to work," Edwards told 670 The Score Monday. "I think I'm a guy who's still, I still think there are so many things I can be better at, so many things I can do to improve my game. I think I'm just scratching the surface. I'm excited about where my game is headed. Again, to be a part of this organization is an absolute dream. I can't wait to get to work."
Take a look at new Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards in action. The Chicagoland native and Wisconsin product has recorded 389 tackles and 20 tackles-for-loss in 61 career games, all with the Eagles.
