T.J. Edwards Embraces New Beginning with Chicago Bears, Aims to Uphold Defensive Legacy

The Chicago Bears have welcomed a new addition to their linebacker corps: T.J. Edwards, who brings a wealth of experience and a burning desire to make an impact.

In a recent interview on SiriusXM NFL Radio, Edwards expressed his excitement about joining the Bears, emphasized the importance of building strong relationships with his new teammates, and acknowledged the storied legacy of the franchise’s great defenses.

Listen to T.J. Edwards’ full interview on the SXM App now

Bears Defense

Edwards, who had an impressive 159 tackles last season as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, has wasted no time in embracing his new team and city.

Reflecting on his transition, Edwards expressed gratitude for the opportunity to be a part of the Bears organization. The linebacker room, he noted, is particularly exciting, with players like Tremaine Edmunds and Jack Sanborn. Edwards looks forward to building a strong bond with his fellow linebackers and is eager to contribute to the team’s success.

“It’s a high standard here and it’s something that you want to be a part of because the defenses here are built strong.” Edwards continued, “It’s a really good group, a lot of different personalities, but also guys that are just in there to try to be the best players they can be and that’s first and foremost what you want out of the people in your room.”

Style of Play

As Edwards delves into his role as a Bear, he commends the team’s tenacious style of play, which he witnessed firsthand when facing them last season. Edwards is impressed by the team’s commitment and highlights the collective buy-in from the players, making it evident that this mentality has become the cornerstone of the Bears’ identity.

“You can tell [Matt Eberflus is] definitely a linebacker coming through. He’s got a huge passion for it,” expressed Edwards. “I think that’s exciting when the head man is listening to kind of what our job description is for certain plays and he’s giving us input on how he how he sees things.”

Justin Fields

Drawing from his experience with Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia, Edwards draws parallels between Hurts and Bears quarterback Justin Fields. Both quarterbacks possess a calm and composed demeanor that translates to effective leadership. Edwards praises Fields’ ability to remain unfazed and notes his impressive performance during offseason practices. The linebacker is optimistic about Fields’ potential and the impact he can make for the Bears.

“The one thing with Jalen [Hurts] was he was always just kind of calm and collected and that’s why we looked to him so much just because he’s always [was] that calming factor. You do see similarities with Justin Fields.” Edwards continued, “Just from what I’ve seen… just throwing the ball, the dude’s got such a strong arm and he’s been very accurate through this entire OTA mini camp.”

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