Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Alyssa Barbieri

Montez Sweat is first player to lead 2 teams in sacks in single season

The Chicago Bears struck gold when they acquired defensive end Montez Sweat from the Washington Commanders at the trade deadline.

Sweat’s addition transformed Chicago’s defense from one of the worst into one of the best in the league. He had a career year with 12.5 sacks, earning his first Pro Bowl nod. Outside of his production, Sweat’s presence freed up opportunities for others around him.

In fact, what Sweat accomplished this season has never been done before in NFL history.

With the 2023 regular season in the books, Sweat officially ended as the team leader in sacks for both the Bears (6.0) and Commanders (6.5).

Sweat has helped revamp a Chicago pass rush that was the NFL’s worst. Behind Sweat’s 6.0 sacks, defensive tackle Justin Jones had 4.5 sacks and defensive end Yannick Ngakoue finished with 4.0 sacks.

According to Pro Football Focus, Sweat finished the 2023 season with 16.0 sacks (half-sacks count as full sacks) and 63 pressures, both career highs.

After being traded to the Bears, Sweat signed a four-year extension worth $98 million, which means he’s going to be a key part of Chicago’s pass rush for years to come.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.