No. 53 – Chicago Bears | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Position: | Linebacker | ||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||
Born: | Lake Villa, Illinois, U.S. | August 12, 1996||||||||||||
Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||||
Weight: | 242 lb (110 kg) | ||||||||||||
Career information | |||||||||||||
High school: | Lakes Community (Lake Villa, Illinois) | ||||||||||||
College: | Wisconsin (2014–2018) | ||||||||||||
Undrafted: | 2019 | ||||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
Roster status: | Active | ||||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
Career NFL statistics as of Week 3, 2024 | |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
Player stats at PFR |
T. J. Edwards (born August 12, 1996) is an American professional football linebacker for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Wisconsin.
Edwards played quarterback at Lakes Community High School in Lake Villa, Illinois. His senior year, he also played three games at Safety. In his three games on defense, he posted 20 tackles, 2 TFLs, 2 sacks and an interception. [1]
Despite playing quarterback in high school he recruited for college football as a defensive player. Edwards was originally committed to Western Michigan. However, in early December 2013 Edwards flipped his commitment to Wisconsin after being recruited by Wisconsin's defensive coordinator Dave Aranda. [2]
Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | 40‡ | Commit date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T.J. Edwards LB | Lake Villa, IL | Lakes Community | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 215 lb (98 kg) | - | Dec 2, 2013 |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 68 | ||||||
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 46 Rivals: NR | ||||||
Sources:
|
This section needs to be updated.(May 2019) |
Edwards attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he played inside linebacker for the Wisconsin Badgers football team.
Edwards redshirted his freshman year. [3] At the end of the season the team was preparing to play against Auburn in the Outback Bowl. The younger players on the team received extra reps and UW's defensive coordinator Dave Aranda praised Edwards, saying "He was the MVP of that period, in my opinion." [4]
With 2014 starting inside linebackers Marcus Trotter and Derek Landisch graduating and needing to be replaced Edwards was thrown in the mix to become a starter. After spring practice Edwards had earned the starting role alongside Leon Jacobs. [5]
In his redshirt freshman year Edwards started all 13 games. [6] In the season opener Edwards tallied 12 tackles against Alabama. The next three games however he only recorded ten tackles. October 19 Edwards was named Big Ten freshman of the week for his performance against Purdue where he had 16 tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss and one forced fumble. [7]
For the season Edwards led the team in tackles, recording 84, 6.5 tackles-for-loss and one forced fumble. [8] At the end of the season Edwards was named to the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-American team. [9] He was also named honorable mention All-Big Ten by the coaches. [10]
Season | Team | Games | Tackles | Int & Fum | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | GS | Solo | Ast | Cmb | TfL | Yds | Sck | Int | PD | FF | FR | ||
2014 | Wisconsin | 0 | 0 | Redshirted | |||||||||
2015 | Wisconsin | 13 | 13 | 41 | 43 | 84 | 6.5 | 11 | 0.0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
2016 | Wisconsin | 13 | 12 | 48 | 41 | 89 | 8.5 | 34 | 3.0 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
2017 | Wisconsin | 14 | 14 | 53 | 28 | 81 | 11 | 32 | 2.0 | 4 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
2018 | Wisconsin | 13 | 13 | 73 | 40 | 113 | 11.5 | 33 | 3.0 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
Career | 53 | 52 | 215 | 152 | 367 | 37.5 | 110 | 8.0 | 10 | 25 | 2 | 1 |
Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 ft 0+3⁄8 in (1.84 m) | 230 lb (104 kg) | 31+1⁄4 in (0.79 m) | 9+3⁄8 in (0.24 m) | 4.87 s | 1.74 s | 2.75 s | 4.28 s | 7.06 s | 32.5 in (0.83 m) | 9 ft 4 in (2.84 m) | 16 reps | |
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day [11] [12] |
After going undrafted in the 2019 NFL draft, Edwards signed with the Philadelphia Eagles on May 9, 2019. [13] After making the Eagles final roster to begin 2019, he played in all 16 games with four starts.
On October 8, 2020, Edwards was placed on injured reserve after suffering a hamstring injury in Week 4. [14] He was activated on October 31, 2020. [15] In Week 8 against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football , Edwards recorded a team high 13 tackles and recorded a strip sack on quarterback Ben DiNucci which was recovered and returned by teammate Rodney McLeod for a 53 yard touchdown during the 23–9 win. [16] In Week 17 against the Washington Football Team on Sunday Night Football, Edwards recorded his first career interception off a pass thrown by Alex Smith during the 20–14 loss. [17]
During a Week 5 game against the Carolina Panthers on October 10, 2021, Edwards made a crucial play when he blocked a punt as the Eagles were down 18-13 in the fourth quarter. The Eagles would go on to win the game, 21-18. Edwards was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance. [18]
Following a strong performance in their Week 11 game against the New Orleans Saints, in which Edwards recorded both an interception and a fumble recovery, the Philadelphia Eagles and Edwards agreed to a one-year extension worth $3.2 million. [19]
In 2022, Edwards helped the Eagles reach Super Bowl LVII where they lost 38-35 to the Kansas City Chiefs. In the Super Bowl, Edwards had six tackles and one pass defended. [20]
On March 15, 2023, Edwards signed a three-year, $19.5 million contract with his hometown team, the Chicago Bears. [21] In his Bears debut on September 10 against the Green Bay Packers, Edwards led the team with 14 tackles in the 38–20 loss. Edwards got his first interception as a Bear in Week 11 against the Detroit Lions when he picked off Jared Goff in the 31–26 loss.
Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Fumbles | Interceptions | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | FF | FR | Yds | TD | Int | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | PD | ||
2019 | PHI | 16 | 4 | 30 | 15 | 15 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2020 | PHI | 12 | 12 | 70 | 37 | 33 | 2.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 13.0 | 13 | 0 | 1 |
2021 | PHI | 16 | 14 | 130 | 64 | 66 | 1.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
2022 | PHI | 17 | 17 | 159 | 99 | 60 | 2.0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
2023 | CHI | 17 | 17 | 155 | 91 | 64 | 2.5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1.0 | 2 | 0 | 7 |
Career | 78 | 64 | 544 | 306 | 238 | 7.5 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 18 | 4.0 | 13 | 0 | 20 |
Edwards is a Christian. [22] He got engaged to Kelly Jo. [23] They got married in 2023. [24]
Brandon Lee Graham is an American professional football defensive end for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Eagles in the first round of the 2010 NFL draft with the thirteenth selection in the draft and the first from the Big Ten Conference. He was an All-American college football player at the University of Michigan.
Alacce O'Brien Schofield is a former American football linebacker. He was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL draft and played for them for three seasons. He was also a member of the Seattle Seahawks during their Super Bowl XLVIII championship season and the Atlanta Falcons. He played college football at Wisconsin.
Jordan Hicks is an American professional football linebacker for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He has also played for the Philadelphia Eagles, with whom he won a Super Bowl ring in 2018, the Arizona Cardinals, and the Minnesota Vikings. He played college football for the Texas Longhorns.
Christopher Randall Borland is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers, and was selected by the 49ers in the third round of the 2014 NFL draft. He was one of the first NFL players to retire early in his career due to potential concerns of mid-term brain damage from football.
Leonard Cornilus Floyd is an American professional football defensive end for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs and was selected by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft.
Corey Joel Clement is an American professional football running back who is a free agent. He played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers, and was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He won Super Bowl LII with the team his rookie season, catching a touchdown in the game and helping execute the Philly Special.
Joseph Robert Schobert is an American professional football linebacker who is a free agent. He was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL draft. Schobert played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers, winning the Jack Lambert Trophy in 2015, as the nation's best linebacker.
The 2016 Wisconsin Badgers football team represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Badgers, led by second-year head coach Paul Chryst, were members of the West Division of the Big Ten Conference and played their home games at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.
Vincent James Biegel is an American former professional football linebacker. He played college football at Wisconsin.
Nick Kwiatkoski is an American football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football at West Virginia. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL draft.
Nathan Gerry is an American football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football at Nebraska and was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL draft. He has also been a member of the San Francisco 49ers and Washington Commanders.
Trent Jordan Watt is an American professional football linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers before being selected by the Steelers in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft.
Haason Samir Reddick is an American professional football linebacker for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Temple, and was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft. He has also played for the Carolina Panthers and the Philadelphia Eagles.
Zack Baun is an American professional football linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Wisconsin and was selected 74th overall by the Saints in the 2020 NFL draft.
Terrell Lewis is an American professional football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football at Alabama.
Nakobe Rashod Dean is an American professional football linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia, winning the 2021 Butkus Award before being selected by the Eagles in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft.
Nicholas Bolton is an American professional football linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Missouri Tigers, and was selected by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft. Bolton has won two Super Bowl titles, LVII and LVIII, having been a starter in the 2022 and 2023 Chiefs teams. He also scored a defensive touchdown from a fumble recovery in the first win.
Marlon Tuipulotu is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at USC.
Leo Chenal is an American professional football linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers.
Jack Sanborn is an American professional football linebacker for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Wisconsin.