When discussing the greatest eras of Chicago Bears defense, three come to mind. There were the elite units of the early 1960s, culminating in their 1963 champions. There were, of course, the 1980s groups, made famous by the unforgettable 1985 defense. Last but not least, the defenses from 2005 through 2012 were laden with elite players. Brian Urlacher is considered the cornerstone of that group. Charles Tillman might’ve been the most unique. However, not enough people remember Lance Briggs.
He was the unquestioned third ace of those defenses. The guy was a heat-seeking missile to the football, constantly making tackles and never seeming out of position. Every time the Bears needed a big play, he was part of it. If those teams had won a Super Bowl, Briggs would be an unquestioned future Hall of Famer. Sadly, he remains somewhat forgotten outside of Chicago. Former scout Greg Gabriel was part of that entire run. So it was interesting to hear him say the team has found the next version of Briggs in linebacker T.J. Edwards.
“The Bears Will linebacker is T.J. Edwards, who, like Edmunds, was signed as a UFA a year ago. Edwards’ physical traits are very similar to Lance Brings in terms of size and speed, and like Briggs, Edwards has great instincts. In the Bears scheme, it is imperative that the Will be a playmaker, and that is exactly what Edwards is. Last year, he led the Bears in total tackles with 155 and recorded three interceptions. Again, his numbers are very similar to what Briggs put up.”
Edwards did his best Lance Briggs impression last year.
The guy was literally everywhere. Opponents couldn’t escape him if they tried. He finished with 155 tackles, 2.5 sacks, three interceptions, and seven passes defended. It is a crime he wasn’t selected for the Pro Bowl. How the Bears got him for $6.5 million per year remains a mystery. An even bigger one is how the Philadelphia Eagles chose to let him go in the first place. It was so obvious he was the heart and soul of their defense in 2022. It isn’t a coincidence they went from 2nd to 26th last season. The unit never seemed cohesive. His absent leadership was a big part of that.
Conversely, the Bears benefitted from his presence countless times. They were among the league’s best against the run and became by far the most opportunistic. Lance Briggs would’ve been proud. It was the exact style of defense Chicago played during his peak years. If that is what the organization can expect over the next few years, this team could return to contention. After all, unlike Briggs’ defenses in the 2000s, this one appears to have a far better situation at quarterback.
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