Tag: Jack Sanborn

WATCH: Former Wisconsin linebacker’s tip leads to interception vs. Colts

WATCH: Former Wisconsin linebacker’s tip leads to interception vs. Colts

Former Wisconsin Badgers linebacker Jack Sanborn wreaked some havoc against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

Following his two-tackle, one-sack performance in Week 2 against the Houston Texans, Sanborn highlighted his Week 3 by tipping a pass from Colts’ quarterback Anthony Richardson in the red zone. The play resulted in an interception by Bears linebacker Tremaine Edmunds.

After not recording a statistic in his first game of the season against the Tennessee Titans, Sanborn has elevated his play for a strong Bears defense. While rookie quarterback Caleb Williams has certainly struggled thus far, Chicago’s linebacker core has been impressive through three games.

Here is the full sequence:

The former UW mainstay tallied 65 tackles and an interception for the Bears in 2023. He, alongside T.J. Edwards, T.J. Watt, Andrew Van Ginkel and Leo Chenal command a powerful contingent of UW linebacker alumni in the NFL this season.

Sanborn’s Bears will square off against the Los Angeles Rams at home on Sept. 29.

WATCH: Former Wisconsin linebacker registers first sack of 2024 season

WATCH: Former Wisconsin linebacker registers first sack of 2024 season

Former Wisconsin linebacker Jack Sanborn registered his first sack of the 2024 season for the Chicago Bears on Sunday.

The play arrived towards the beginning of the fourth quarter of Chicago’s Sunday Night Football battle against the Houston Texans. Lined up outside the right hash, Sanborn sprinted down the middle of Houston’s offensive line to take down quarterback C.J. Stroud.

The sack pinned Houston back several yards and moved a long second-down play into an even longer third-down sequence. Houston eventually punted, and Sanborn’s play proved to be the difference.

The Bears ultimately lost the game 19-13 after failing to capitalize on multiple offensive opportunities down the stretch. Sanborn finished the game with two tackles, a pass deflection and the one sack.

The former Badger notched 65 tackles and an interception for the Bears in 2023. He is one of several star UW alumni to play linebacker in the NFL. T.J. Watt, T.J. Edwards, Andrew Van Ginkel and Leo Chenal are among the most notable.

Chicago plays Indianapolis on Sunday, Sept. 22 in its next bout.

Wisconsin football boasts significant recent success at one defensive position

Wisconsin football boasts significant recent success at one defensive position

Wisconsin’s recruiting department offers an enticing message to incoming college prospects at the linebacker position.

In a recent X video, the Badgers highlight their professional success stories at the linebacker position. Eight active UW alumni will star at linebacker for a combined six NFL squads this season.

The list includes T.J. Edwards (Bears), Jack Sanborn (Bears), Maema Njongmeta (Bengals), Leo Chenal (Chiefs), Andrew Van Ginkel (Vikings), Zack Baun (Eagles), Nick Herbig (Steelers) and T.J. Watt (Steelers).

Similar to what Wisconsin’s program provides its incoming recruits at offensive line and running back, its linebacker legacy is no joke. The pitch is simple: if you need a blueprint of how to reach the NFL at the position, play for the Badgers.

UW’s 2024 linebacker class includes OLB Thomas Heiberger, ILB Landon Gauthier and OLB Anelu Lafaele. All rank No. 3 or No. 4 on UW’s depth chart at the position at this stage. Heiberger was already showing signs of future stardom before a knee injury halted his progress.

Wisconsin’s 2025 LB class includes several high-profile high school products. Four-star Mason Posa, three-star Samuel Lateju, three-star Brenden Anes and three-star Cooper Catalano are all currently committed to the class with time remaining before it is finalized.

Bears LBs coach Dave Borgonzi named defensive coordinator for East-West Shrine Bowl

Dave Borgonzi joins Bears special teams coordinator Richard Hightower’s staff at this year’s East-West Shrine Bowl.

Another Chicago Bears coach is joining the staff for the East-West Shrine Bowl. Bears linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi will be the defensive coordinator for the East team. Borgonzi joins Bears special teams coordinator Richard Hightower’s staff for the game, who will serve as the East’s head coach. Arizona Cardinals passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach Drew Terrell will serve as Hightower’s offensive coordinator.

Borgonzi joined the Bears in 2022, coming over from the Indianapolis Colts with head coach Matt Eberflus, where he held the same role. Borgonzi has played a role in developing young linebackers such as Shaq Leonard and Bobby Okereke with the Colts and Jack Sanborn with the Bears. Under his tutelage this past season, linebackers TJ Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds excelled in their first season with the Bears.

The East-West Shrine Bowl is one of college football’s postseason all-star games that dates back to 1925. Since 2017, the game has pulled assistant coaches from the NFL to serve as coaches for each side. This year’s game takes place Thursday, February 4th, at 7 p.m. CT at the Ford Center at the Star in Frisco, TX.

Former Wisconsin defenders were all over the NFL front pages this weekend

Former Wisconsin defenders were all over the NFL front pages this weekend

Former Wisconsin defenders had yet another memorable day in the NFL yesterday.

The weekend started with former Badger defensive lineman Beau Allen leading the Badgers on the field on Saturday night. It then continued with several Wisconsin products making game-changing plays on Sunday.

Two of those players had the Bears in position to pull an upset in Detroit, and one future Hall Of Famer continued his absolute dominance of a division foe.

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First, an interception by Chicago Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards:

Edwards finished with nine tackles and the one interception. He’s up to 121 tackles on the season.

Next, a sack by Bears LB Jack Sanborn in the same contest:

That was Sanborn’s first career NFL sack.

And finally, future Hall of Famer T.J. Watt with another sack against the Browns:

8 takeaways from the Bears’ familiar loss to the Vikings

The Bears are who we thought they were after the 19-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Here were our takeaways from the game.

It’s back to reality for the 2023 Chicago Bears. After an exciting victory over the Washington Commanders in Week 5, the Bears followed it up with a stinker on the lakefront, losing 19-13 to the Minnesota Vikings to fall to 1-5.

Chicago had 10 days to prepare for their divisional opponent, but apparently that wasn’t enough time to recognize Minnesota’s numerous blitz packages that thwarted the offense on the first play from scrimmage. Quarterback Justin Fields had a rough outing, completing just 6-of-10 passes for 58 yards and an interception before exiting the game with a dislocated thumb.

Backup undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent entered in relief and didn’t fare much better, committing two turnovers that thwarted any sort of comeback. The offense totaled just 275 yards and failed to capitalize when they had excellent field position, which they had often thanks to a strong defensive performance.

The Bears defense contained the Vikings offense for much of the day. Minnesota scored 12 offensive points, totaled 220 yards, and converted just 2-of-13 third-down conversions. With a (mostly) healthy secondary back and improved play from the linebackers, the defense played well enough for the team to win. That wasn’t the case, though, and now the Bears have to navigate an uncertain immediate future with key injuries sidelining players such as Fields.

Here were our takeaways from Sunday’s all-too-familiar loss.

Good, bad and ugly from the Bears’ Week 3 loss to the Chiefs

The Bears were humiliated by the Chiefs in a 41-10 loss. We break down the good, bad and ugly from the game.

It’s times like these that Chicago Bears fans need to stick together.

The Bears were embarrassed 41-10 by the Kansas City Chiefs in a game that wasn’t even as close as the final score indicated. Chicago has now lost 13 consecutive games dating back to last season, head coach Matt Eberflus has utterly failed to rally his team following a tumultuous week, and many fans are close to coming to the bleak reality that Fields is not the team’s quarterback of the future.

Even though we’re only just approaching Week 4, the Bears have reached one of their lowest points as a football franchise, as have their loyal fans.

Let’s do it. Let’s take the plunge into the… good (?), bad and ugly from the Bears’ Week 3 loss to the Chiefs.

WATCH: Jack Sanborn comes up with his first career interception

The former Badger comes up with his first career pick

While there were few bright spots for the Chicago Bears this week or over the past three weeks, former Wisconsin Badger Jack Sanborn came up with his first career interception.

Blaine Gabbert came in after the Chiefs built up a massive lead, and threw a pair of interceptions in relief. Sanborn was one of the only positives for the Bears on a tough day for Chicago in Kansas City.

The former Badger returned the pick 42 yards to help set up the Bears with a chance to get on the board. On the year, Sanborn has 11 total tackles and the lone interception.

3 key matchups to watch as Bears battle the Packers in Week 1

The Bears will look to get the upper hand in three key matchups against the Packers in Week 1.

The Chicago Bears kick off the 2023 NFL season by hosting their long-time rival Green Bay Packers Sunday at Soldier Field, and both teams are looking drastically different than they have in year’s past.

Chicago now boasts a star wide receiver in DJ Moore, a scary running back group and tenacious linebacker unit. The Packers, on the other hand, have turned over the offense to former first-round pick Jordan Love, who now carries the fanbase’s expectation of being the next great Green Bay quarterback.

The two teams both have strengths and weaknesses that the opposing squad can exploit, so let’s discuss those matchups that will inevitably come into play on Sunday. Here are three key matchups to watch for in Week 1.

Bears stars to attend autograph and photo event in Schaumburg

Bears players, including Justin Fields and DJ Moore, will appear at the Elite Icons Autograph and Sports Card Show in October.

The Chicago Bears will be making their grand return to historic Soldier Field in just over a week, kicking off a 2023 season that is sure to be a rollercoaster of highs and lows. And while Chicago fans enjoy the festivities week in and week out, they’ll have the chance to meet the team’s biggest stars.

Several players will reportedly participate in the Elite Icons Autograph and Sports Card Show, an event that will take place in the Chicago suburb of Schamburg from Friday, Oct. 6 through Sunday, Oct. 8.

According to the show’s official Facebook event page, fans will have the opportunity to receive autographs and take photos with some big-name Bears players: Justin Fields, Tremaine Edmunds, DJ Moore, Darnell Wright, T.J. Edwards and Jack Sanborn. They will be joined by all-time great NFL players such as Zach Thomas, Ladainian Tomlinson and Bo Jackson.

The event provides diehard football fans a rare opportunity to meet the super humans they root for every season. The dates of the event coincide perfectly with a pseudo-bye week the team will be enjoying. They’ll battle Washington Commanders in a Week 5 game on Oct. 5, and they have a mini-bye week before they play a Sunday divisional game against the Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 15.

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