Relief grows after Chicago Bears offseason announcement

Chicago Bears fans celebrate after Jack Sanborn re-signs with team

Jack Sanborn is heading back to Chicago. The Bears signed the 25-year-old linebacker to a one-year deal on Wednesday, bringing a familiar face back to the Windy City. 

The team officially announced Sanborn’s re-signing on Instagram with a simple, fitting caption: “The Sandman returns.”

It also came with a video greeting from Sanborn himself. “Hi Chicago, Jack here. Couldn’t be more excited to be back home and get some more wins with this club. Go Bears!” he said.

Bears fans flooded the comment section with a mix of excitement and relief. “THE SANDMAN IS BACK LETS GOOOOO” one user wrote. “This is AWESOME. LFG,” another added. 

One fan kept it poetic: “The man, the myth, the legend, the Sandman.” Others were equally fired up. “I used to pray for times like this,” one commenter wrote. “Finally a good move,” said another. 

One fan summed it up simply: “Good pick up. Linebacker core is set.”

The enthusiasm is understandable. Sanborn entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2022. The Illinois native made an immediate impact in Chicago. 

In 48 games across three seasons with the Bears, he recorded 164 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and one interception. He spent 2025 with the Dallas Cowboys, starting five of six games. He logged 34 tackles before a groin injury ended his season early.

Sanborn slots back into a Bears linebacker room led by Devin Bush and D’Marco Jackson. His return gives defensive coordinator Dennis Allen a versatile depth option with intimate knowledge of the team’s defense.

With the Bears hungry to take the next step in 2026, the Sandman’s arrival gives the unit the kind of reinforcement it needs.