Jerry Jones, Cowboys Dealt Unfortunate News on Wednesday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Chris Phelps | Last updated Mar 18, 2026 5:17 PM ET

Jerry Jones and his Dallas Cowboys did not have the 2025 NFL season they were hoping for, losing four of their final five games and finishing with a 7-9-1 record. For the second consecutive year, the Cowboys missed the playoffs, this time under first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer.

Dallas boasted one of the worst defenses in the NFL in 2025, and trading away All-Pro defensive end Micah Parsons may have played a role. The Cowboys allowed 251.5 passing yards per game and 30.1 points per game, both of which ranked last in the league. That led to the dismissal of defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, who was replaced by former Philadelphia Eagles defensive backs coach Christian Parker. But heading into 2026, Parker will now be without one Dallas defender.

Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry JonesKirby Lee-Imagn Images

Jack Sanborn, after a four-year college career with the Wisconsin Badgers, went undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft before he was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent. The linebacker earned a spot on the Bears roster during his rookie season, earning a starting role in Chicago before he was sent to the bench in 2024.

After the 2024 season, Sanborn signed a one-year deal with the Cowboys and quickly earned the starting linebacker job. In six games during the 2025 season, he recorded 34 tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass deflection, but a groin injury ended his year early, landing him on injured reserve in early November.

After the 2025 NFL season, Sanborn's deal with Dallas expired, becoming an unrestricted free agent. And on Wednesday, the linebacker decided to return to his former team, signing with the Bears and leaving Jones and the Cowboys looking for more linebacker help.

"The Sandman returns ," the Bears wrote on X.