Bears bring back LB Jack Sanborn

The Bears have signed linebacker Jack Sanborn, the team announced on Wednesday.

Rumors on social media surfaced when an account called Chunkyard Sports tweeted on Tuesday that Sanborn would be returning to Chicago after a one-year stint with the Cowboys. Now, it's official that the former Wisconsin linebacker and Lake Zurich native has signed with the Bears, though the team hasn't announced the length of the deal yet.

Sanborn, 25, signed with the Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2022. He spent three years with the team under then-head coach Matt Eberflus, playing in 48 games and starting in 19. In his time with the organization, he combined for 164 tackles, 14 tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks, an interception, and five pass deflections.

When the Bears changed head coaches, Sanborn's contract was not tendered, thus making him a free agent. He signed a one-year deal with the Cowboys, where Eberflus served as the defensive coordinator last year. Though he hasn't played enough on defense the last two seasons to be eligible, he graded as a top-65 linebacker by PFSN's LB Impact Metric in both 2022 and 2023.

Chicago brings the fan favorite back after a one-year stint in Dallas after some movement at the linebacker position. Tremaine Edmunds and Amen Ogbongbemiga are no longer on the team, D'Marco Jackson was extended to a two-year deal, and the Bears also added Devin Bush as one of their bigger free agent signings. Sanborn figures to compete with the likes of Jackson, Noah Sewell, and Ruben Hyppolite II for special teams playing time and a spot on the 53-man roster.