T. J. Edwards
refer to caption
Edwards with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2021
No. 53 – Chicago Bears
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1996-08-12) August 12, 1996
Lake Villa, Illinois, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:242 lb (110 kg)
Career information
High school:Lakes Community High School (Lake Villa, IL)
College:Wisconsin (2014–2018)
Undrafted:2019
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Total tackles:544
Sacks:7.5
Forced fumbles:3
Fumble recoveries:4
Pass deflections:20
Interceptions:5
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

T. J. Edwards (born August 12, 1996) is an American football linebacker for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Wisconsin.

High school

Edwards played quarterback at Lakes Community High School in Lake Villa, IL. His senior year, he also played three games at Safety. In his three games on defense, he posted 20 tackles, 2 TFLs, 2 sacks and an interception.[1]

Recruiting

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.[2]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight 40‡ Commit date
T.J. Edwards
LB		 Lake Villa, IL Lakes Community 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 215 lb (98 kg) - Dec 2, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:3/5 stars   Rivals:3/5 stars   247Sports:2/5 stars    ESPN:2/5 stars   ESPN grade: 68
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 46   Rivals: NR
  • ‡ Refers to 40 yard dash
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height, weight and 40 time.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Wisconsin Football Commitment List 2014". Rivals.com. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  • "Wisconsin Football Recruiting Commits 2014". Scout.com. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  • "Wisconsin Badgers Commits 2014". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  • "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  • "2014 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  • "247sports.com 2014 Wisconsin Football Commits". 247sports.com. Retrieved January 11, 2016.

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.[3] 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."[4]

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.[5]

In his redshirt freshman year Edwards started all 13 games.[6] 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.[7]

For the season Edwards led the team in tackles, recording 84, 6.5 tackles-for-loss and one forced fumble.[8] At the end of the season Edwards was named to the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-American team.[9] He was also named honorable mention All-Big Ten by the coaches.[10]

College statistics

Season Team Games Tackles Int & Fum
GPGSSoloAstCmbTfLYdsSckIntPDFFFR
2014Wisconsin 00Redshirted
2015Wisconsin 13134143846.5110.00410
2016Wisconsin 13124841898.5343.03510
2017Wisconsin 141453288111322.041100
2018Wisconsin 1313734011311.5333.03501
Career535221515236737.51108.0102521

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 0+3⁄8 in
(1.84 m)		 230 lb
(104 kg)		 31+1⁄4 in
(0.79 m)		 9+3⁄8 in
(0.24 m)		4.87 s1.74 s2.75 s4.28 s7.06 s32.5 in
(0.83 m)		9 ft 4 in
(2.84 m)		16 reps
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[11][12]

Philadelphia Eagles

After going undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft, Edwards signed with the Philadelphia Eagles on May 9, 2019.[13] After making the Eagles final roster to begin 2019, he played in all 16 games with four starts.

On October 8, 2020, Edwards was placed on injured reserve after suffering a hamstring injury in Week 4.[14] He was activated on October 31, 2020.[15] 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.[16] 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.[17]

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.[18]

Following a strong performance in their Week 11 game against the New Orleans Saints, in which Edwards recorded both an interception and a fumble recovery, the Philadelphia Eagles and Edwards agreed to a one-year extension worth $3.2 million.[19]

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.[20]

Chicago Bears

On March 15, 2023, Edwards signed a three-year, 19.5 million dollar contract with his hometown team, the Chicago Bears.[21] 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.

NFL career statistics

Year Team Games Tackles Fumbles Interceptions
GPGSCmbSoloAstSckFFFRYdsTDIntYdsAvgLngTDPD
2019PHI 1643015150.00000000.0000
2020PHI 12127037332.0200011313.01301
2021PHI 161413064661.00100111.0105
2022PHI 171715999602.00100000.0007
2023CHI 121212773542.01100221.0203
Career73595162882287.033004164.013016

Personal life

Edwards is a Christian.[22] He got engaged to Kelly Jo.[23] They got married in 2023. [24]

References

  1. ↑ "Football - Wisconsin Athletics". Uwbadgers.com. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Lakes grad T.J. Edwards getting first-team LB snaps with Badgers - Lake County News-Sun". Chicagotribune.com. April 14, 2015. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  3. ↑ Bonato, Jeff (April 14, 2015). "Lakes grad T.J. Edwards getting first-team LB snaps with Badgers". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 12, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Badgers football: Redshirt freshman T.J. Edwards embraces switch to linebacker | College football". host.madison.com. August 11, 2015. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  5. ↑ Temple, Jesse (May 4, 2015). "Athletic LB T.J. Edwards transitioning into 'natural' position for Wisconsin Badgers". FOX Sports. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Football - Wisconsin Athletics - T.J. Edwards named Freshman All-American". Uwbadgers.com. January 11, 2016. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Big Ten Football Players of the Week Big Ten Conference Official Site". Bigten.org. Archived from the original on October 21, 2015. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  8. ↑ "2015 Wisconsin Badgers Tackles". cfbstats.com. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Badgers football: Wisconsin linebacker T.J. Edwards named FWAA Freshman All-American | College football". host.madison.com. January 12, 2016. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  10. ↑ "View 2015 All-Big Ten Defensive Team & individual award winners « Big Ten Network". Btn.com. November 30, 2015. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  11. ↑ "T.J. Edwards Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  12. ↑ "T.J. Edwards, Wisconsin, ILB, 2019 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  13. ↑ McPherson, Chris (May 9, 2019). "Eagles sign entire 2019 draft class and 10 undrafted free agents". PhiladelphiaEagles.com.
  14. ↑ McPherson, Chris (October 8, 2020). "Eagles sign LB Dante Olson to the practice squad; place LB T.J. Edwards and S Rudy Ford on Injured Reserve". PhiladelphiaEagles.com.
  15. ↑ McPherson, Chris (October 31, 2020). "Roster Moves: Eagles activate LB T.J. Edwards, S Rudy Ford, TE Dallas Goedert, T Jason Peters, and WR Jalen Reagor from Injured Reserve". PhiladelphiaEagles.com.
  16. ↑ "Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles - November 1st, 2020". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Washington Football Team at Philadelphia Eagles - January 3rd, 2021". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  18. ↑ "T.J. Edwards is the NFC special teams player of the week". October 13, 2021.
  19. ↑ Bowman, Paul (November 22, 2021). "TJ Edwards Signs Extension". SportsTalkPhilly.com. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Super Bowl LVII - Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs - February 12th, 2023". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  21. ↑ Hajduk, Gabby (March 15, 2023). "Roster Move: Bears agree to terms with LB T.J. Edwards". Chicago Bears. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  22. ↑ Mercer, Kevin (February 10, 2023). "T.J. Edwards after breakout year helps Eagles to Super Bowl: 'Everything I do is for Him'". Sports Spectrum. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  23. ↑ Aldecoa, Kayla (February 5, 2023). "Meet the Super Bowl LVII Wives and Girlfriends: Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs WAGs". Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  24. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp_aE7krYKz/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
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