Defensive end Montez Sweat and cornerback Jaylon Johnson have been voted to represent the Bears on the NFC team at the Pro Bowl Games.
Sweat enters Week 18 third in the NFC with a career-high 12.5 sacks.
Acquired by the Bears in a trade with the Commanders Oct. 31, the fifth-year pro leads both teams in sacks and would be the first player in league history to accomplish that feat.
After registering 6.5 sacks in eight games with Washington, Sweat has compiled 6.0 sacks in eight contests with the Bears.
“I am honored to be selected to my first Pro Bowl and to represent the great city of Chicago,” Sweat said.
“What makes this honor special is that the fans played a role in me being selected.
I am truly grateful for my teammates, coaches, support staff and my family for all the support this season. I wouldn’t be here without them.”
Sweat’s arrival in Chicago has fueled a defensive resurgence that has helped the Bears win five of their last seven games.
The unit enters Week 18 leading the NFL in both interceptions with 22 and run defense, yielding an average of just 84.0 yards per game.
Asked which individual on defense has benefitted most from playing with Sweat, coach Matt Eberflus said:
“I would say the Chicago Bears as a whole have benefitted from having ‘Tez on our football team.
He creates a pressure player from the front, and when you have that, you’re able to play coverage.
“Then, you can vary your coverages,” Eberflus added. “You can make them look different and disguise them.
I think that’s very hard on the quarterback.
So when you have that pressure player from the front, and you’re not bringing it from the second level, that helps out any defense.
Certainly, ‘Tez has been wonderful to have. He’s helped out the whole organization.”
