LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) -- After all 32 teams passed on Lake Zurich native Jack Sanborn in the NFL Draft, he had the chance to pick for himself.
The 22-year-old Sanborn had plenty of factors to evaluate in deciding his NFL future, but ultimately the Bears had what no other team could offer. He would be at home.
“It was kind of where I wanted to be, and it kind of felt comfortable,” Sanborn said.
An undrafted linebacker out of Wisconsin, Sanborn is now taking advantage of his opportunity. After the Bears traded linebacker Roquan Smith to the Ravens on Oct. 31, Sanborn was moved into a starting role at middle linebacker and hasn’t looked back. He posted 12 tackles and two sacks in the Bears' 31-30 loss to the Lions on Sunday at Soldier Field.
Sanborn and third-year tight end Cole Kmet are a pair of local products who have come into their own with the Bears in recent weeks. Kmet has five touchdown receptions in the past three games, including two Sunday.
“Being able to have a guy like Justin (Fields), like you don’t know run or pass, that’s a big deal for me,” Kmet said. “All the blocking I do in-line and being able to release off of that and do some things kind of off of the runs we have, you know, have really helped me out a lot too. And then you just get good matchups against guys. You know I’m 6-foot-6, going up against a (defensive back) body. That’s usually going to turn out pretty well.”
Unlike Sanborn, the 23-year-old Kmet didn’t choose his NFL destination. The Bears selected him of Notre Dame in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. A Lake Barrington native and Saint Viator product, Kmet has blossomed in his third NFL season. He had two touchdowns as a rookie in 2020, then none until Chicago's loss at Dallas on Oct. 30. He has 23 catches for 274 yards and five touchdowns this season.
The pressure has been high on Kmet since he was drafted by the Bears. There weren’t any expectations on Sanborn, who was a longshot since being signed as an undrafted free agent in early May.
Now, both are playing key roles for their hometown team.
“Everyone is very fortunate to be where they are,” Sanborn said. “And I think (reflecting) is something that you’ve got to do from time to time. Because everyone’s so focused on getting better, winning the game and everything that comes, because it’s so challenging. So, I think taking those three seconds, five seconds to really kind of breath, soak in the moment, is something that’s important, is something that you can take when you look back and be like, ‘Man, I remember that moment.’ It’s something that I don’t know if a lot of people do, but it’s something that’s sometimes important. But at the same time you’re focused on so much more.”
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
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