Montez Sweat

Washington Redskins / Football Team / Commanders

At the 2019 NFL Combine, Montez set a combine record for a defensive lineman running the 40 yard dash at 4.41 seconds.^[7] At the same time, Sweat was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy at his combine health physical.^[8] However, it was soon discovered to have been a misdiagnosis due to an improper measuring of his heart.^[9] Sweat was eventually selected by the Washington Redskins in the first round, 26th overall, of the 2019 NFL draft.^[10] The team traded back up into the first round to select him after using their original pick on Dwayne Haskins.^[9] He signed his four-year rookie contract on May 29, 2019,^[11] worth $11.6 million, including a $6.4 million signing bonus.^[12] Before the start of the 2019 season, Sweat was named one of the starting outside linebackers along with Ryan Kerrigan.^[13] In Week 3 against the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football, Sweat recorded his first career sack in a 31–15 loss.^[14] In Week 17 against the Dallas Cowboys, Sweat sacked Dak Prescott twice, one of which was a forced fumble that was recovered, during a 47–16 loss.^[15]

During the 2020 offseason, Sweat switched back to the defensive end position after new defensive coordinator, Jack Del Rio, implemented a 4–3 defense.^[16] In a game against the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving in 2020, Sweat intercepted a pass thrown by Dalton late in the fourth quarter and returned it 15 yards for a touchdown that led to a 41–16 Washington victory.^[17][18] The following week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sweat tipped a pass late in the fourth quarter that led to an interception by Jon Bostic to help secure a 23–17 win over the then-undefeated Steelers.^[19] In Week 15 Sweat batted a pass by Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson which was then intercepted by Daron Payne.^[20]

Sweat suffered a jaw fracture during a Week 8 game against the Denver Broncos in 2021 and was placed on injured reserve.^[21][22] After testing positive, he was placed on the COVID-19 reserve list on December 8, 2021.^[23] On December 18, he was taken off the COVID-19 list and placed back on the active roster two days later.^[24][25] In the Week 15 against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sweat recorded a sack and forced a fumble, which was recovered by Landon Collins, on quarterback Jalen Hurts.^[26]

On April 27, 2022, the Commanders exercised the fifth-year option in Sweat's contract.^[27] In Week 5, Sweat accounted for two of the five sacks the Commanders' had against the Tennessee Titans.^[28] He contributed another two sack performance against the Houston Texans in Week 11.^[29]

Chicago Bears

On October 31, 2023, Sweat was traded to the Chicago Bears for a second-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft.^[30][31] Four days later, he signed a four-year contract extension worth $98 million, including $72 million guaranteed.^[32][33] He recorded his first sack as a Bear in Week 11 against the Detroit Lions in their 31–26 loss. On January 3, 2024, Sweat was named a Pro Bowler for the first time.^[34] He finished the season a career-high 12.5 sacks across two teams in 2023, collecting 6.5 while with the Commanders before adding another 6 with the Bears.^[35] He became the first player in NFL history to lead two teams in sacks during a single season.^[35] Matt Eberflus, the Bears head coach, referred to Sweat's impact as the "'Tez effect", which allowed the other players around him to generate more sacks, quarterback pressures, and turnovers.^[35][36]

NFL

College

More information Season, Team ...

Season	Team	GP	Tackles					Fumbles
			Solo	Ast	Cmb	TfL	Sck	FR	Yds	TD	FF
2014	Michigan State	1	2	2	4	0.5	1.0	1	0	0	0
2015	Michigan State	0	Redshirted
2016	Copiah–Lincoln	9	32	7	39	—	5.0	1	0	0	2
2017	Mississippi State	13	21	27	48	15.5	10.5	1	0	0	0
2018	Mississippi State	13	27	26	53	14.5	12.0	0	0	0	1
Total		36	82	62	144	30.5	28.5	3	0	0	3

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