It’s been a while since the Chicago Bears were a winner -- 2018, in fact.
Montez Sweat hasn’t really been part of those Chi-Town struggles, but he most certainly knows about the ill effects of suffering through losing season after losing season.
Sweat’s time -- four-plus seasons -- with Washington saw the franchise go a combined 28-45-1.
It can take its toll, but Sweat believes he’s in the right spot with a Bears team many believe is on the rise.
“It was a toxic, heavy toll, just losing and people around you being kinda OK with losing,” said Sweat, via the Chicago Sun-Times’ Jason Lieser. “It could sometimes rub off on you. You’ve gotta stay hungry and know that you want to win.”
As a new regime took hold of the Commanders in 2023, Sweat was dealt at the trade deadline to the Bears. He’s admitted in the past he was “discouraged,” but ultimately it was a “blessing.”
Heading into a promising second campaign in Chicago, Sweat feels the same, perhaps with even more conviction, as he looks to follow up his first Pro Bowl campaign.
“I definitely made a transition to a better spot for me,” said Sweat, who posted six sacks over nine games for the Bears last season. “[Shoot], this was my first Pro Bowl and first double-digit sack year and all those types of things. I reached some accolades that I always had aspirations of getting, but never reached in Washington. You could definitely say it worked out better for me.”
In 17 games with Washington and Chicago, Sweat’s 2023 totals saw him generate a career-high 12.5 sacks to go along with 57 tackles, three forced fumbles, 25 QB hits and 14 tackles for loss.
He also proved to be a catalyst in the Bears turning things around. Chicago went 5-4 after Sweat joined the cause with the Bears defense holding opponents to 20 points or fewer in its final six games. It wasn’t overwhelming success, but the Bears began trending in the right direction ahead of a seismic offseason.
Chicago has most notably overhauled its offense, adding No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams at quarterback, running back D'Andre Swift and wide receivers Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze.
As much as anyone on the roster, Sweat’s ready to move past losing seasons -- whether they’re in the nation’s capital or the Windy City.
However, he cautions that nothing’s been won yet.
“We’ve still got something to prove,” Sweat said. “We’ve still gotta win.”
Sweat and the Bears kick off the season Sept. 8 against the visiting Tennessee Titans. Seven weeks later, the pass rusher has a return trip to play against the host Commanders on Oct. 27.