Tag: TJ Edwards

Two former Wisconsin Badgers lead NFL in tackles entering Week 2

Two former Wisconsin Badgers lead NFL in tackles entering Week 2

Wisconsin is one of the few programs with a true claim as ‘Linebacker-U.’

The Badgers currently have seven former linebackers playing in the NFL. That list is headlined by all-world defensive star T.J. Watt, Andrew Van Ginkel and Leo Chenal.

Related: How Braelon Allen, every former Wisconsin Badger performed in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season

It should not be surprising that two former Badger linebackers currently lead the entire NFL in tackles after Week 1: Philadelphia Eagles ILB Zack Baun (15 tackles) and Chicago Bears ILB T.J. Edwards (15).

Baun and Edwards led their teams’ defensive efforts in their opening games. Baun emerged out of nowhere to pace the Eagles’ defense with those 15 tackles, one tackle for loss and two sacks. Edwards, meanwhile, continues to live up to the lofty contract that lured him back to his hometown Bears.

Edwards’ high total is no surprise. His six-year NFL career includes 559 total tackles, 30 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, 17 quarterback hits, five fumble recoveries and five interceptions. He has been one of the NFL’s better-tackling linebackers for a half-decade.

Baun, on the other hand, barely saw the field on defense during his four years with the New Orleans Saints. The Eagles signed him this offseason to a one-year deal, with the plan to move him back to his more natural stand-up position. That has already paid dividends with his Week 1 performance. Baun’s 15 tackles are already halfway to his career high of 30.

The two former Badgers will be back on the field in Week 2 as they look to continue to pace the NFL in its most important defensive statistic.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.

Eagles GM Howie Roseman compares Jeremiah Trotter Jr. to a former Wisconsin Badger

A former Wisconsin ILB is being used as a comparison for Jeremiah Trotter Jr:

Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman joined the 94WIP Afternoon Show on Tuesday to discuss his team’s offseason and NFL draft haul.

One topic of conversation was the fifth-round selection of Clemson linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. — the son of Eagles great Jeremiah Trotter Sr. Roseman compared the young linebacker to a former Eagle and former Wisconsin Badger: T.J. Edwards.

Related: Post-spring Big Ten football 2024 power rankings

Edwards spent four years with the Eagles after signing as an undrafted free agent after the 2019 NFL draft. He was first a multi-year starter in Jim Leonhard’s Wisconsin defense, totaling 53 games played, 366 tackles, 37.5 tackles-for-loss, 8 sacks, 10 interceptions and 15 pass deflections.

While his athletic profile wasn’t enough to get him drafted, the former Badger was able to blossom into a superb starter in Philadelphia. His four-year Eagle career included 389 tackles, 9 quarterback hits, 5.0 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 2 interceptions. That production landed Edwards a 3-year, $19.5 million contract with the Chicago Bears after the 2022 season.

Trotter now joins the Eagles after three years at Clemson, two of which as a starter. His stellar college career included 192 tackles, 29.5 tackles for loss, 13.0 sacks, 4 interceptions and 3 forced fumbles.

He projects to slide into an Eagles inside linebacker rotation led by former Buccaneers LB Devin White and former Georgia LB Nakobe Dean. Trotter may not start immediately, but if he can play anywhere near the level of his father — or T.J. Edwards — he should stick around the league for a long time.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion. Follow Ben Kenney on X.

[lawrence-related id=76001,76146,76150,76085,75951]

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.

How every former Wisconsin Badger performed in NFL Week 14 2023

How every former Wisconsin Badger performed in NFL Week 14 2023

Week 14 of the NFL season is now complete, as Tommy DeVito is grabbing headlines across the country and reminding Wisconsin Badgers fans of an infamous day in program history.

Jonathan Taylor usually headlines the former Badgers in the NFL each weekend, though he remains out with a hand injury. So, our headlines this week include Russell Wilson dazzling yet again, T.J. Edwards continuing his terrific pace in Chicago, Jake Ferguson excelling as one of Dak Prescott’s top options and more.

Related: BREAKING: Wisconsin lands a former All-American linebacker

Here are notes from those performances, plus how every former Wisconsin Badger performed in NFL Week 14:

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.

[lawrence-related id=68973,68967]

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:

How every former Wisconsin Badger performed in NFL Week 8

How every former Wisconsin Badger performed in NFL Week 8

We’re almost at the halfway point of the 2023 NFL season already, or the midpoint of the regular season at least.

The year has always seen former Wisconsin Badgers hold national relevance. Steelers OLB T.J. Watt is playing like an All-pro yet again, Broncos QB Russell Wilson is improving on last year’s disaster, Colts RB Jonathan Taylor is back on the field, Bears ILB T.J. Edwards might finish with 200 total tackles and more.

While the team in Madison is a disappointing 5-3 so far this season, many of the program’s now-NFL players are playing quite well.

For updates on all the players listed above, as well as every other Wisconsin product, here is how every former Badger performed in NFL Week 8:

Raiders free agent fits at linebacker

With Denzel Perryman headed for free agency, here are 5 free agent linebacker fits for Raiders

How much of a need linebacker was going to be for the Raiders next season was wholly dependent upon whether Denzel Perryman was re-signed. Well, recent reports say he and the Raiders were unable to come to a deal on his return, which means he is headed for the free agent market.

That means the Raiders either see an upgrade in free agency, or will look to the draft. The draft is far from a sure thing and with a great many other needs, and there may very not be an instant impact linebacker on the board from them.

Their best bet would be to try and lure a free agent in to step in at the position immediately. And there are a few decent options out there to choose from who could do just that.

These two former Badgers will play in Super Bowl LVII

These two former Badgers will play in Super Bowl LVII

A pair of former Badgers will play in Super Bowl LVII as former Wisconsin players went 2-0 on the NFL’s conference championship games.

For the Philadelphia Eagles, standout linebacker T.J. Edwards will represent Wisconsin. He had career highs in nearly every statistical category in 2022, headlined by 159 total tackles, a pair of sacks, and a fumble recovery.

For the Kansas City Chiefs, rookie Leo Chenal represents for the Badgers. Chenal was a third-round pick in the 2022 draft, and appeared in 14 regular season games for the Chiefs. He finished the regular season with 35 total tackles as a rookie.

Neither Badger has a Super Bowl victory under their belt, but that will change on February 12.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbyzb4ahnasj2m3 player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

Wisconsin was one of only four schools to achieve this 2021 NFL feat

The Badgers joined an elite group this season

After a tremendous 2021 season on both sides of the football for Badgers in the NFL, Wisconsin became one of just four schools in the country to have a pair of players with at least 110 tackles.

T.J. Edwards and Joe Schobert each reached that number, as the former Badgers played massive roles on two of the NFL’s top defenses in the 2021 campaign. Edwards finished the regular season with 130 total tackles for the Philadelphia Eagles, while Schobert finished with 112 total tackles for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Badgers joined Alabama, Georgia, and LSU as the only schools to have two NFL players reach 110 tackles on the season.

Eagles HC Nick Sirianni had high praise for the Wisconsin program after win vs. New Orleans

Eagles HC Nick Sirianni had high praise for the Wisconsin program after yesterday’s win

The Philadelphia Eagles defeated the New Orleans Saints 40-29 yesterday on the back of a few huge defensive plays and 3 Jalen Hurts touchdown runs.

One of those interceptions came from former Wisconsin Badger T.J. Edwards—a player who went undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft, signed with the Eagles and has since become a big piece of their defense.

Related: Big Ten Power Rankings after Week 12 — Wisconsin gets one step closer

His day against New Orleans yesterday: 10 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 interception, 2 pass deflections and 1 fumble recovery. The third-year pro has now recorded 76 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 2 quarterback hits, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery, 3 passes defended and 1 interception on the season.

Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni gave Edwards high praise after the game yesterday and went on to talk about the Wisconsin football program as a whole:

Contact/Follow us @TheBadgersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin news, notes, opinion and analysis.

[listicle id=39893]