Chicago Bears' training camp is inching closer to the start, with some fascinating storylines to monitor throughout.
The team will be looking at their new signings to see who can step up in 2026 and get them past the NFC Divisional Round, where they finished last year. New pieces like Devin Bush, Coby Bryant, Dillon Thieneman, and more will be the biggest names to have everyone's attention.
One Bears veteran free agent signing, though, has an interesting journey back to Chicago to run it back for a second term with the team. This time, he's going to prove that the team was wrong in letting him walk in the first place.
Jack Sanborn has a chance to prove Ryan Poles wrong for not bringing him back
Sanborn started his NFL career as an undrafted free agent with the Bears, slowly proving that he could do it all for the team. More of a special teams ace, Sanborn did start 19 games over three years with the Bears, racking up 164 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, six quarterback hits, five pass deflections, 4.5 sacks, one interception, and one fumble recovery in 48 games.
Last offseason, he joined the Dallas Cowboys, but a groin injury cut his season much shorter than he wanted. In six games with five starts, he finished with 34 tackles, one pass deflection, and one tackle for loss.
This time around, Sanborn has the respect of the Bears as a key piece to a linebacker room that saw all kinds of injuries throughout the 2025 season. That led to some changes, including letting Tremaine Edmunds go, adding Devin Bush and Sanborn, re-signing D'Marco Jackson, and drafting Keyshaun Elliott in the fifth round.
At the top of the Bears' depth chart, it's going to be T.J. Edwards and Bush, with Jackson potentially in the mix as well if there are three linebackers on the field. Where Sanborn will have a tough time is battling for jobs among Noah Sewell, Ruben Hyppolite II, and Elliott.
Sanborn has proven himself to be a reliable starter when he is on the field and can help in other areas on the team. Some believe that he might actually have a tough time making the roster and could be closer to the exit than fans think.
Read more: Overlooked free agent should continue to be overlooked by Bears
One thing that Sanborn has shown in his NFL career: don't count him out. He might be a surprise and could play more than expected.
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