Noah Sewell Bio
Noah Pele Tupua Sewell (born April 26, 2002) is an American Samoan professional football linebacker for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and listed at 246 pounds, he plays the linebacker position wearing jersey number 44 for the Bears, where he has been a member of the active roster since being drafted in 2023.
A native of Malaeimi in American Samoa, Sewell moved with his family to Utah in 2012 and later starred at Orem High School before playing college football at the University of Oregon. He earned Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year honors in 2020 and was selected by the Bears in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL draft. He is the younger brother of fellow NFL players Penei and Nephi Sewell, continuing a family tradition shaped by his father’s early coaching.
Early Life and Background
Noah Pele Tupua Sewell grew up in the village of Malaeimi in American Samoa, where he was one of four brothers. Their father, Gabriel, became a football coach and introduced his sons to the sport at a young age. The brothers grew up playing American football together in their home community, and Gabriel’s vision for his children to reach the NFL shaped the family’s path.
Believing that better opportunities awaited in the United States mainland, Gabriel moved the family to St. George, Utah, in 2012. Sewell attended Desert Hills High School before transferring to Orem High School in Orem, Utah. During his high school career, he recorded 224 tackles, 8.5 sacks, and five interceptions as a linebacker, while also contributing 2,316 rushing yards and 40 touchdowns as a running back. As a senior in 2019, he was named the Utah Valley Football Player of the Year and emerged as a five-star recruit.
Path to American Football
Sewell committed to the University of Oregon to play college football, signing with the Ducks as one of the most decorated linebacker recruits in the country. His development was shaped early by his father Gabriel’s coaching and reinforced by the example of his older brother Penei, who was selected seventh overall by the Detroit Lions in the 2021 NFL draft.
At Oregon, Sewell quickly moved from a promising recruit to a productive Pac-12 defender. His combination of size, instincts, and football pedigree made him an immediate contributor for the Ducks, and his family ties to the NFL helped motivate his transition toward the next level.
Noah Sewell Career
Early Career (2020-2022)
Sewell played college football at the University of Oregon from 2020 through 2022. As a freshman in 2020, he was named the Pac-12 Conference Defensive Freshman of the Year, an award that established him as one of the conference’s top young defenders and signaled his future professional potential.
He followed that debut with a first-team All-Pac-12 selection in 2021 and a second-team All-Pac-12 nod in 2022, solidifying his status as a multi-year starter and a reliable presence in the Ducks’ front seven before declaring for the NFL draft.
NFL Breakthrough (2023-2024)
The Chicago Bears selected Sewell in the fifth round, 148th overall, of the 2023 NFL draft, adding him to a defensive group being reshaped under the team’s new direction. As a rookie in 2023, he appeared in 13 games, finishing the season with nine total tackles and a forced fumble while adjusting to the speed of the professional game.
In the 2024 season, Sewell appeared in nine games and primarily contributed on special teams, continuing to develop his body and understanding of the Bears’ defensive schemes. His limited defensive snaps did not diminish his trajectory, as the organization continued to view him as a long-term piece at linebacker.
Chicago Bears Era (2025-Present)
Sewell entered the 2025 season as a starting linebacker for the Bears and took on a much larger role within the defense. He appeared in 13 games with nine starts and finished sixth on the team with 59 tackles, showcasing the run-stopping ability and physicality that had marked his college career.
His 2025 campaign, however, was cut short on December 31, 2025, when he was placed on injured reserve after suffering an Achilles injury in Week 17 against the San Francisco 49ers. Despite the late-season setback, Sewell’s expanded role confirmed his place in the Bears’ defensive plans heading forward.
Driving Style and Strengths
At 6 feet 1 inch and 246 pounds, Sewell brings a compact, physical frame to the linebacker position, with strength at the point of attack and the ability to play downhill against the run. His instincts and tackling form, refined through years of high-volume production in high school and at Oregon, allow him to fit comfortably in run-heavy game plans while he continues to expand his pass-coverage responsibilities.
Notable Events and Milestones
Sewell’s signature early milestone was his 2020 Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year award, a rare honor that highlighted his immediate impact at Oregon. He added first-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2021 before becoming a fifth-round NFL draft pick in 2023 and eventually earning a starting linebacker role with the Bears in 2025.
Noah Sewell Career Wins
Although linebacker statistics are measured in tackles, sacks, and team achievements rather than traditional win counts, Sewell’s career has been marked by steady progression at every level. He collected personal accolades at Oregon and steadily grew his role with the Chicago Bears, transitioning from a rotational rookie and special-teams contributor into a starting linebacker by 2025.
College Highlights
At Oregon, Sewell earned Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2020, first-team All-Pac-12 in 2021, and second-team All-Pac-12 in 2022, completing a three-year run of conference recognition. He was a five-star recruit coming out of Orem High School, where his Utah Valley Football Player of the Year award in 2019 capped a two-way prep career.
NFL Performances
In the NFL, Sewell has totaled 72 career tackles and 3 forced fumbles as of the 2025 season, with his biggest leap coming in 2025 when he posted 59 tackles across 13 games. His progression from nine tackles as a rookie to a top-six tackler on the Bears in 2025 illustrates his growing impact in Chicago.
Noah Sewell Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Sewell comes from a football family shaped by his father Gabriel, who introduced his sons to the sport as a coach in American Samoa. Three of Noah’s brothers have pursued football at high levels, with Penei Sewell starring at Oregon before becoming a top-10 NFL draft pick and Nephi Sewell playing in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints. A third brother, Gabriel, has also played college football, continuing the family’s deep ties to the game.
Personal Life
Sewell is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He resides in St. George, Utah, the city where his family settled after relocating from American Samoa in 2012, and he continues to maintain close ties to his parents and brothers as he builds his NFL career.
2025 Season Performance
Sewell’s 2025 season represented his most significant opportunity yet with the Chicago Bears, as he was elevated into a starting linebacker role. Over 13 games, including nine starts, he tallied 59 tackles, finishing sixth on the team and validating the organization’s decision to expand his defensive responsibilities.
His season was interrupted on December 31, 2025, when an Achilles injury suffered in Week 17 against the San Francisco 49ers led to a placement on injured reserve, ending his year. The injury came at the close of a campaign in which Sewell had become a consistent presence in the Bears’ defensive front seven.
Looking ahead, Sewell’s 2025 production and the trust shown by the Bears’ coaching staff point to a continued starting role once he recovers. His combination of youth, pedigree, and on-field production suggests he remains a central part of Chicago’s long-term plans at linebacker.
