The Chicago Bears overhauled their roster this offseason with some key additions, including linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, who’s looking to lead the defense back to prominence.
Edmunds, who signed a four-year, $72 million deal with Chicago, is part of the team’s new-look linebacker corp, which also features fellow free-agent T.J. Edwards.
Despite only winning three games last season, there’s plenty of optimism surrounding the Bears, which has to do with an impressive offseason that saw the influx of new talent and a new mindset. For Edmunds, being part of a rebuild was important.
“I was just excited for the opportunity, man,” Edmunds said on NFL Total Access. “I’m a guy, I like when the odds are against me, I like when the odds are against us. I feel like individuals make the best moves when you’re underestimated, and I wanted to go to a team where I could be part of a rebuild. I can be part of turning this thing around, man.
“It’s just about knowing there are going to be some thunderstorms sometimes, but you gotta be able to stand through those thunderstorms sometimes long enough to stand through some sunshine one day. Just being a part of that and being a big part of that defense and being a big part of that rebuild, it made me want to be a part of it, for sure.”
But that doesn’t mean immediate success. Edmunds preached patience when it comes to the team reaching its full potential, but he believes they have the guys in place to get it done.
“I think we just got to take it one day at a time,” Edmunds said. “I think it’s too early to start making predictions. I think it’s too early to start putting a ceiling on how high we can actually go. … If we want to be able to hold that trophy up, man, it’s gonna take a hard commitment day in and day out, and I think guys are definitely bought in, and I’m just excited to get this thing rolling.”
