Before the 2025 season, Chicago Bears fans would probably say that linebacker Noah Sewell was more of a special teams ace who didn't have a place on the defense. That tone has certainly changed this season.
It became apparent that something was different with Sewell when he entered training camp. Everyone noticed after his stellar preseason debut against the Miami Dolphins, with his excellent fourth-and-goal goal line stand, that he was the real deal.
With T.J. Edwards' lingering injury through two games, Sewell got more playing time on defense than he has ever seen in his three-year NFL career. He even got his first-career start in Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings, where he led the team in tackles with nine.
Through two games, Sewell is tied for the team lead in tackles with 14 and has one tackle for loss. PFF ranks him as the eighth-best graded run-stopping linebacker in the NFL out of 112, with 85.4.
Sewell has caught the attention of his head coach in Chicago
Bears fans aren't the only ones who have caught wind of how good Sewell has been in 2025. Head coach Ben Johnson told the media how he sees Sewell as an old-school linebacker.
“He’s the epitome of a linebacker,” Johnson said via ProFootballTalk's Michael David Smith. “He’s a little bit of a throwback in this era, too, really physical, not afraid to see ball get ball. He strikes with aggression, gets off blocks. He’ll shoot a gap if he sees it open. I think he’s been a guy that really from the spring time, to camp, I’ve been pleased with how he’s progressed.”
“Noah’s really taken the right approach. The confidence has just grown steadily as well. He’s a guy that takes a lot of pride in what he does. He’s a guy that goes out there, plays hard, and plays the game the right way.”
Noah Sewell's brother, Detroit Lions star offensive lineman Penei Sewell, usually catches the attention of everyone from the Sewell family. There's an argument to be made now that Noah Sewell has worked his way up to his brother's level.
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With Edwards inactive for Chicago's Week 3 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, Sewell will be called upon once again to start, and he has already shown that he is ready to be a starter on defense.