Linebacker Jack Sanborn’s rise from undrafted free agent to key player on the Bears‘ defense for three seasons was one of the team’s best success stories under former coach Matt Eberflus. Sanborn will rejoin Eberflus after agreeing to a one-year deal with the Cowboys, a source said.
Eberflus is the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator, and former Bears linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi is there as well. Both were hired after being fired by the Bears last season.
Sanborn, 24, starred at Lake Zurich High School and Wisconsin before making the Bears’ roster in 2022. In three seasons, he played 48 of a possible 51 games (including 19 starts) and totaled 164 tackles, one interception and one fumble recovery. He also was a core special teams player under coordinator Richard Hightower.
The Bears still have starting linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards, as well as backups Amen Obongbemiga and Noah Sewell. They also signed former Chiefs linebacker Swayze Bowman last month.