BOURBONNAIS, Ill. (670 The Score) -- Well before the Bears claimed the NFC North crown and established themselves as a championship contender, veteran linebacker Aaron Lynch could sense there was something special about this team.
Lynch joined the Bears during the 2018 offseason and was drawn to the culture that coach Matt Nagy was putting into place, fascinated by the close nature inside the locker room and eager to see how it would combine with such talent. The Bears put the pieces together for a 12-4 record and berth in the playoffs.
When it was over so suddenly in early January, Lynch wasn't ready to leave it. He had hopes of landing a long-term contract on the open market, but being back with the Bears -- even on a one-year deal -- was something he couldn't pass up.
"We're the Chicago Bears," Lynch said after the Bears' first padded practice of training camp Sunday. "This is the best team to play for right now. After what we did last year, who doesn't want to build on that?"
The 26-year-old Lynch landed back with Chicago in early April after his market fell flat. Lynch considered himself between the top and second tiers of pass rushers, which he believes prevented him from securing a multi-year contract.
Lynch produced three sacks in 13 regular-season games in 2018, overcoming an offseason marred by multiple injuries to carve out a key role in the Bears defense. He missed the Thanksgiving Day game in Detroit with a concussion and the final two games of the regular season with a wrist injury. He had a combined 12.5 sacks in his first two seasons in the NFL but just a combined 2.5 sacks in the two years that followed, so the Bears weren't sure what they had in initially signing him.
Lynch would go on to prove his value and earn a second contract with the team.
"Obviously, who doesn't want to get a long-term deal," Lynch said. "I'm disappointed about not getting a long-term deal with a lot of money. But I'm also super happy I got to stay back in Chicago.
"I had a pretty decent year. I could've done way freaking better. Let's be honest. I could've stayed healthier, taken care of myself a little more. I mean, it was cool. I just want to excel on that. We have a huge opportunity this year. I just want to be better than I was last year."
Like last season, Lynch is projected as the Bears' third outside linebacker and valuable veteran depth behind Khalil Mack and Leonard Floyd.
Lynch was drawn to the Bears in the 2018 offseason in part because of his relationship with then-defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. He found so much more with the Bears. They would dance in "Club Dub" and let their personality shine as Nagy had hoped. Lynch felt a group of teammates who genuinely care for each other and a "brotherhood" that went beyond football.
It has Lynch striving for a Bears future beyond his latest one-year deal.
"I'm going to try to fight my hardest to try to get a long-term contract here," Lynch said. "Hopefully it works out. But you got to take into effect that there's a bunch of other people they got to pay on this defense and offensive side. But especially on the defense. It happens if it happens. It's not going to stop me from working my ass off."
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
