Montez Sweat
Montez Sweat is an American professional football defensive end for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) and listed at 270 lb (122 kg), Sweat has emerged as one of the league’s most productive edge rushers since entering the NFL in 2019. Selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft by the Washington Redskins, he was traded to the Bears midway through the 2023 season and earned his first Pro Bowl selection that same year. Shaquan Montez Sweat, born on September 4, 1996, in Richmond, Kentucky, has built his reputation on speed, power, and a relentless motor off the edge.
Early Life and Background
Montez Sweat was born on September 4, 1996, in Richmond, Kentucky, and later moved to Georgia, where he attended Stephenson High School in Stone Mountain. At Stephenson, he was rated as one of the top defensive ends in the country, drawing attention from several college programs for his combination of size and athleticism. He committed to Michigan State to play college football, beginning a winding college journey that would take him across three programs.
Sweat was raised by his grandparents as a child, a foundation that shaped his work ethic and discipline. His path to the NFL was later marked by profound personal loss when both his mother and his older brother died in 2021, the latter killed at age 27 in a shooting in Henrico County, Virginia. These experiences helped drive his focus on the field and reinforced his commitment to family.
Path to American Football
Montez Sweat played in two games for the Michigan State Spartans in 2014, recording one sack, before redshirting the 2015 season. Seeking a fresh start and more playing time, he left Michigan State in 2016 and enrolled at Copiah–Lincoln Community College in Mississippi, where he suited up for the Wolves football program. The junior college stop proved crucial in his development, allowing him to refine his pass-rushing technique and add strength.
In 2017, Sweat transferred again, this time to Mississippi State, where he joined the Bulldogs of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). His first season with the Bulldogs was a breakout, as he registered 10.5 sacks and earned a spot on the 2017 All-SEC football team. As a senior in 2018, he followed up with 12 sacks, again making the All-SEC team and earning First-team All-American honors, cementing his status as a top NFL prospect.
Montez Sweat Career
Early Career (2019–2020)
At the 2019 NFL Combine, Montez Sweat set a combine record for a defensive lineman by running the 40-yard dash in 4.41 seconds, though he was briefly diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy during his physical before it was corrected as a misdiagnosis. The Washington Redskins traded back into the first round and selected him 26th overall in the 2019 NFL draft, and he signed a four-year rookie contract worth $11.6 million, including a $6.4 million signing bonus. As a rookie, he was named a starting outside linebacker and recorded his first career sack in Week 3 against the Chicago Bears.
In 2020, Sweat switched back to defensive end under new defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio, who installed a 4–3 defense. He enjoyed a memorable Thanksgiving game against the Dallas Cowboys, intercepting a pass and returning it 15 yards for a touchdown in a 41–16 Washington victory. The following week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he tipped a late fourth-quarter pass that was intercepted, helping secure a win over the previously undefeated Steelers.
Washington Commanders Era (2021–2023)
The 2021 season was personally and physically challenging for Montez Sweat. He suffered a jaw fracture during a Week 8 game against the Denver Broncos and was placed on injured reserve, then later spent time on the COVID-19 reserve list in December. Despite the setbacks, he produced key plays, recording a sack and forced fumble against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 15 that was recovered by Landon Collins.
On April 27, 2022, Washington exercised the fifth-year option on Sweat’s contract, signaling his long-term value to the franchise. He responded with a strong season, including two-sack performances against the Tennessee Titans in Week 5 and the Houston Texans in Week 11. Heading into the 2023 campaign, he was a central piece of Washington’s defensive front before the team decided to reshape its roster.
Chicago Bears Era (2023–Present)
On October 31, 2023, the Washington Commanders traded Montez Sweat to the Chicago Bears for a second-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft. Four days later, he signed a four-year contract extension worth $98 million, including $72 million guaranteed, locking him in as a foundational defender for the franchise. He recorded his first sack as a Bear in Week 11 against the Detroit Lions and finished 2023 with a career-high 12.5 sacks across two teams, becoming the first player in NFL history to lead two teams in sacks in a single season.
Bears head coach Matt Eberflus credited Sweat’s impact as the “Tez effect,” highlighting how his presence elevated the production of those around him in pressures and turnovers. On January 3, 2024, Sweat was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time, validating his midseason move to Chicago. He continued to anchor the Bears’ defensive line into 2025, serving as the centerpiece of their pass-rushing unit.
Driving Style and Strengths
Montez Sweat combines rare straight-line speed for a player of his size with long-arm technique and the ability to convert speed to power at the point of attack. His 4.41-second 40-yard dash time illustrates the athletic tools that allow him to threaten the edge against offensive tackles, while his length and motor make him effective on stunts and pursuit plays. His skill set pairs naturally with a complementary scheme, allowing him to thrive both as a primary rusher and as a finisher created by teammates.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Montez Sweat’s signature moments is his 2020 Thanksgiving interception return for a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys, which sealed a lopsided Washington victory. In 2023, he became the first player in NFL history to lead two different teams in sacks during the same season, an unprecedented feat. That same year, he earned his first Pro Bowl nod and signed a $98 million extension with Chicago, underscoring his value as a franchise cornerstone.
Montez Sweat Career Wins
Montez Sweat’s career has been defined more by individual production than by team victories, with his pass-rushing totals serving as the headline numbers. Across his time with Washington and Chicago, he has consistently ranked among the top defensive ends in the league in pressures and sacks.
NFL Highlights
Sweat’s most notable single-season output came in 2023, when he posted a career-high 12.5 sacks across Washington and Chicago, earning his first Pro Bowl selection in the process. His first career sack came in Week 3 of the 2019 season against the Chicago Bears, and he has since built a reputation for delivering in prime-time and divisional matchups. Through the 2025 season, he had accumulated 57 career sacks, 307 total tackles, 21 pass deflections, one interception, 15 forced fumbles, and one defensive touchdown.
Other Wins & Performances
Before the NFL, Montez Sweat earned First-team All-SEC honors in both 2017 and 2018 at Mississippi State and was named a First-team All-American in 2018. He also appeared in Old Spice television commercials as a rookie, an early marker of his rising profile. These off-field and collegiate accolades complemented his growing reputation as one of the NFL’s premier edge defenders.
Montez Sweat Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Montez Sweat was raised by his grandparents as a child, a family foundation that shaped his discipline and drive. The loss of his mother and his older brother in 2021 marked a deeply personal chapter that influenced his outlook on football and life.
Personal Life
Details about Montez Sweat’s immediate family life beyond his grandparents, mother, and late brother are not widely confirmed in public records. In June 2021, he publicly expressed his disinterest in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine and stated he would forgo vaccination, a personal decision he has spoken about openly. He continues to focus on his NFL career with the Chicago Bears.
2025 Season Performance
Montez Sweat entered the 2025 season as the unquestioned leader of the Chicago Bears’ defensive front and the highest-paid player on the roster following his 2023 extension. His ability to set the edge against the run while generating consistent interior pressure remained central to Chicago’s defensive identity under Matt Eberflus. Through his early-season production, Sweat continued to anchor a Bears pass rush that leaned heavily on his disruptive presence.
His role as a veteran tone-setter influenced younger defenders around him, reinforcing the “Tez effect” that the Bears’ coaching staff has frequently cited. Chicago’s defensive scheme continued to deploy him in situations designed to maximize his speed-to-power conversion and length. As the 2025 campaign progressed, Sweat’s consistency off the edge remained a key storyline for a Bears team building around its defensive cornerstone.
