The Chicago Bears were a changed team when they brought defensive end Montez Sweat aboard at the trade deadline last year.
Coming from the Washington Commanders to a Bears team that was struggling to do anything defensively, the five-year veteran became an immediate impact player and helped turn the team into a Top 10 defensive unit for the remainder of the season.
Sweat would earn his first Pro Bowl recognition in 2023, leading both the Bears and Commanders in sacks. The four-year, $98 million extension signed upon joining the Bears proved to be money well spent for a player who would jump start the entire defense.
But the talented pass rusher wasn’t all that pleased when he first heard that he was being traded to Chicago.
Montez was Shocked and Disappointed at Being Traded to the Chicago Bears
“I was shocked,” he told Dan Pompei in a recent interview for The Athletic. “In disbelief.”
“I was very emotional,” he continued. “I was angry and probably said some things I wanted to take back. Maybe.”
“It felt like somebody kind of gave up on you, like you aren’t good enough anymore.”
But it didn’t take long for Sweat to realize that destiny had put him in the perfect spot to shine. In Chicago, he was given the kind of leadership role he couldn’t assume in Washington, on a team and in a scheme where he was expected to be one mere cog in a larger machine.
Allowed to Shine in Chicago
“[In Chicago] It’s kind of based around me,” Sweat said. “In Washington, everyone was kind of like an alpha male and they are great players, but it was hard for guys to make sacrifices for all of us to be of one accord. In Chicago, we don’t have that problem. We all work together.”
Sweat was given a voice on things that ranged from the location of practices to the calling of the plays and he adapted to his new leadership role well, earning the respect of teammates and the coaching staff. It didn’t take long for him to start playing like captain, motivating other players by example.
Security Fostered Excellence
Once traded and extended, Sweat seemed to become extra motivated. He bucked the stereotype of players becoming jaded and lazy after signing a big, fat multi-year guaranteed deal. In Sweat’s case, the security opened up his game.
“I’m playing more free, not worried about getting hurt,” he asserted. “I thought it would happen in Washington, but that’s not how it played out, and I have no regrets about how it did. This is where God wanted me to be, in Chicago.”
The big question surrounding Sweat as he enters his first full season with the Bears is whether he can repeat or even partially replicate his performance from last season. The 27-year-old is coming off a career year and, unless a big acquisition happens before the start of the season, he’ll be the only guaranteed elite-level pass rusher on the team.
Given the high expectations many have of the Bears after drafting quarterback Caleb Williams and bringing several other new faces aboard, there will be increased pressure on Sweat to once again be a defensive leader.
Time will tell if he can fully carry over the excellence from last season. But, based on what everyone saw in his nine games as a Bear, it’s clear that he not only has the talent to do so, but also the strength of character to carry the team on his shoulders in spots when the going gets tough.
