(670 The Score) Veteran linebacker T.J. Edwards and the Bears reached an agreement on a two-year contract extension worth up to $20 million, a source said Wednesday evening.
Edwards' deal includes $16.65 million fully guaranteed. The Bears haven't yet made the contract extension official.
The 28-year-old Edwards will be signing his third NFL contract, including a three-year deal signed with the Bears in March 2023. He has played in all 34 games over two seasons with the Bears, logging a team-best 284 tackles along with 6.5 sacks and four interceptions in that time.
An undrafted free agent out of Wisconsin, Edwards broke into the NFL with the Eagles in 2019. He secured a roster spot in Philadelphia while playing a reserve linebacker role and working on special teams.
During four years with the Eagles, Edwards emerged from a reliable reserve into a key figure on defense. A native of suburban Lake Villa, Edwards signed with the Bears, his childhood favorite team, and quickly became a mainstay in Chicago.
The Bears' agreement with Edwards came just one day after the team officially signed nickel cornerback Kyler Gordon to a three-year, $40-million contract extension. That deal marked general manager Ryan Poles re-signing his first ever draft pick.
By striking a deal with Edwards, the Bears have now prioritized their top free-agent addition during Poles' tenure.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.