T. J. Edwards

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 for the Wisconsin Badgers.

Early life 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, two TFLs, two sacks and an interception.

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.

College career Edwards attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he played inside linebacker for the Wisconsin Badgers football team.

2014 Edwards redshirted his freshman year. 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."

2015 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.

In his redshirt freshman year Edwards started all 13 games. 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.

For the season Edwards led the team in tackles, recording 84, 6.5 tackles-for-loss and one forced fumble. At the end of the season Edwards was named to the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-American team. He was also named honorable mention All-Big Ten by the coaches.

College statistics 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

Professional career

Philadelphia Eagles Edwards went undrafted in the 2019 NFL draft. On April 28, 2019, the Philadelphia Eagles signed Edwards to a three-year, $1.76 million contract that includes a signing bonus of $12,500.

Throughout his first training camp, Edwards competed for a roster spot at linebacker against Nate Gerry, Zach Brown, L. J. Fort, Alex Singleton, and Asantay Brown. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz named Edwards the primary backup middle linebacker, behind starter Nigel Bradham, to start his rookie season.

On September 9, 2019, Edwards made his regular season debut in the Eagles' home-opener, appearing only on special teams during a 27–32 win against the Washington Redskins. On October 13, 2019, Edwards earned his first playing time on defense, making four solo tackles in a 20–38 loss at the Minnesota Vikings. In Week 8, Edwards made his first career start at outside linebacker due to a recurring ankle injury to Nigel Bradham, finishing the Eagles' 31–13 victory at the Buffalo Bills with a season-high five combined tackles (two solo). He finished his rookie season in 2019 with a total of 30 combined tackles (15 solo) in 16 games and four starts.

The Philadelphia Eagles finished the 2019 NFL season atop the NFC East, clinching a playoff berth with a 9–7. On January 5, 2020, Edwards made his official postseason debut in the NFC Wildcard Game, making two combined tackles in a 17–9 loss against the Seattle Seahawks.

Edwards entered training camp in 2020 as a possible candidate to be the starting middle linebacker, competing against Jatavis Brown and Davion Taylor, after Nigel Bradham became a free agent. Head coach Doug Pederson named Edwards the starting middle linebacker to start the regular season, alongside outside linebackers Nate Gerry and Duke Riley.

On October 8, 2020, Edwards was placed on injured reserve after suffering a hamstring injury in Week 4. He was activated on October 31, 2020. 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. 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.

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.

In Week 11 against the New Orleans Saints, Edwards recorded both an interception and a fumble recovery.

On November 22, 2021, the Philadelphia Eagles signed Edwards to a one-year, $2.20 million contract extension that includes $2.15 million guaranteed upon signing and a signing bonus of $1.18 million.

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.

Chicago Bears On March 13, 2023, Edwards' hometown team, the Chicago Bears, signed him to a three-year, $19.50 million contract that includes $7.90 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $4.50 million. 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.

In the 2024 season, Edwards started all 17 games and recorded 129 tackles during the season. While playing the Tennessee Titans in Week 1, Edwards tied a single-game career-high with 15 tackles and was tied for first in the league in tackles. In Week 17 against the San Francisco 49ers, Edwards intercepted Brock Purdy's first pass attempt of the game, returning it 34 yards for a touchdown. Edwards fractured his fibula in the Bears' wild card win, ending his season.

NFL career statistics Legend Bold Career high Regular season Year Team Games Tackles Fumbles Interceptions GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck TFL 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 0 2020 PHI 12 12 70 37 33 2.0 5 2 0 0 0 1 13 13.0 13 0 1 2021 PHI 16 14 130 64 66 1.0 5 0 1 0 0 1 1 1.0 1 0 5 2022 PHI 17 17 159 99 60 2.0 10 0 1 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 7 2023 CHI 17 17 155 91 64 2.5 8 1 2 0 0 3 4 1.3 2 0 7 2024 CHI 17 17 129 79 50 4.0 12 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 2025 CHI 10 10 67 33 34 0.5 2 0 0 0 0 1 34 34.0 34 1 5 Career 105 91 740 418 322 12.0 42 4 6 0 0 7 52 51.4 34 1 28 Postseason Year Team Games Tackles Fumbles Interceptions GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck TFL FF FR Yds TD Int Yds Avg Lng TD PD 2019 PHI 1 0 2 2 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 2021 PHI 1 1 6 4 2 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 2022 PHI 3 3 13 10 3 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 1 2025 CHI 1 1 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 Career 6 5 21 16 5 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 1

Personal life Edwards is a Christian. He got engaged to his girlfriend Kelly Jo in January 2022. They got married in March 2023 at Pueblo Bonito Pacifica, Cabo San Lucas.