Jack Sanborn

Jack Sanborn (born July 29, 2000) is an American professional football linebacker for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Wisconsin Badgers.

After not being selected in the 2022 NFL draft, he signed by the Bears as an undrafted free agent. He spent his first three seasons in Chicago before playing a year with the Dallas Cowboys.

Early life Sanborn grew up in Deer Park, Illinois. He was raised by his mother following the death of his father, Paul Sanborn, when he was four years old. Sanborn attended Lake Zurich High School in Lake Zurich, Illinois. As a senior, he played in the Illinois State Football Championship and after the season, was named the Pioneer Press Defensive Player of the Year after recording 120 tackles and three sacks as a senior. Sanborn had 296 tackles and 13 sacks in three varsity seasons at Lake Zurich. He was rated a four-star recruit and committed to play college football at Wisconsin over several other Power Five offers.

College career Sanborn played in 11 games as a freshman. He was Wisconsin's leading tackler in sophomore season with 80 along with nine tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. As a junior, Sanborn led the Badgers for a second straight season with 52 tackles and had four tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble and one interception and was named third-team All-Big Ten Conference. He was named first-team All-Big Ten as a senior after recording 91 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, and five sacks. Following the end of the season, Sanborn announced that he would be entering the 2022 NFL draft.

College statistics Season Team Games Tackles Int & Fum GP GS Solo Ast Cmb TfL Yds Sck Int PD FF FR 2018 Wisconsin 11 0 4 3 7 0.0 0 0.0 0 1 1 0 2019 Wisconsin 14 14 50 30 80 9.0 44 5.5 3 3 1 1 2020 Wisconsin 7 7 31 21 52 4.0 13 1.0 1 0 1 0 2021 Wisconsin 13 13 45 46 91 16.0 55 5.0 0 0 0 1 Career 45 34 130 100 230 29.0 112 11.5 4 4 3 2

Professional career

Chicago Bears

Sanborn signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent on May 6, 2022. Sanborn eventually made the Bears' 53-man roster for the 2022 season. He became the Bears' starting middle linebacker following the trade of Roquan Smith. On November 13, during his first career start, Sanborn recorded two sacks and 12 total tackles during a 31–30 loss to the Detroit Lions. On December 18, Sanborn suffered a season-ending ankle injury in the Bears' 25–20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, He made six starts for the Bears in 2022, where he recorded 64 total tackles and two sacks.

The Bears signed Tremaine Edmunds and T. J. Edwards to reinforce their linebacker corps in the ensuing offseason. Sanborn transitioned to a strong-side linebacker. He started all 17 games of the 2023 Chicago Bears season, where he registered 65 tackles, one interception, one sack, and seven tackles for loss. He was named to ESPN's 2023 ESPN "All-Youngster Team", a collection of players 24 years old and younger. In 2024, Sanborn played in all 17 games while starting in only 3. Sanborn had 35 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 2 tackles for loss. The Bears announced after the season they would not be tendering Sanborn making him a free agent.

Dallas Cowboys On March 12, 2025, Sanborn signed with the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys had hired Matt Eberflus, who was Sanborn's head coach in Chicago, as their defensive coordinator as well as former Bears linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi. He was placed on injured reserve on November 3 due to a groin injury.

Chicago Bears (second stint) Sanborn returned to the Chicago Bears on a one-year contract on March 18, 2026.

NFL statistics LegendBoldCareer high

Personal life Sanborn's father played college football as an offensive lineman for the University of Oregon. His younger brother, Bryan, also played linebacker at Wisconsin.