Montez Sweat grasping 2023 roller-coaster ride that brought him to Bears: ‘It’s a favoring to be here’
ORLANDO, Fla. — Montez Sweat posted 72 quarterback weights along side a career-high 12.5 sacks in 2023 to gain his to begin with Professional Bowl choice.
He played for two groups. He was exchanged once.
His previous coach was terminated. His unused head coach was on the hot situate.
In the midst of it all, the Chicago Bears standout secured a four-year, $98 million expansion. It was barely a boring year for the 27-year-old edge rusher, but he’s grasped the turns and turns.
“Man, it’s been a roller coaster,” Sweat told NFL.com Friday at Professional Bowl Recreations hone. “A roller-coaster ride. Fair gotta appreciate the ride. A few inclines gonna be kinda intense, in some cases it’s gonna be dropping and some of the time it’s gonna be fun. I’ve fair been grasping it. It’s a favoring to be here.”
As of now, Sweat’s in Orlando, Florida, as a part of the NFC Master Bowl Diversions group. On Sunday at the all-star finale, he’ll wrap up his whirlwind fifth season. It started with him playing a few of the finest ball of his career for the Washington Commanders and head coach Ron Rivera. Sweat’s time in Washington finished suddenly for him when he was dispatched to Chicago ahead of the exchange due date.
Looking back, Sweat accepts he’s presently where he ought to be, but he concedes it was a intestine punch when he was traded.
“I was certainly disheartened, disillusioned when I got exchanged,” he said. “No one needs to urge exchanged; fair an resource, a bond, a esteem.”
The trade driven to his previously mentioned extension, though. The pay day advertised easing and, in Sweat’s intellect, way better play.
“Definitely, rather like any competitor who needs to urge paid and get that cash secured, it was a huge alleviation,” he said. “I think it permitted me to play more free and more free.”
Rivera, who started coaching Sweat in his moment professional season, was let go as Commanders head coach at season’s conclusion. Sweat’s new head coach in Chicago, Matt Eberflus, remains and he’s bounty upbeat around it.
“I like coach Flus. He’s a player’s coach,” Sweat said. “He puts his playmakers in a position to create plays. And he’s a clever fellow.”
After his to some degree shocking disclosure around “Flus,” Sweat chuckled. In spite of the fact that his feet are in Orlando at the minute, he realizes he’s found the proper spot in Chicago after one insane 2023 season.
“Do I see back on it, definitely,” Sweat said of the exchange working out in his favor in spite of his beginning debilitation. “I feel like it was what God needed.”
