Jack Sanborn Piccolo Award Winner

Bears linebacker Jack Sanborn seemed an appropriate winner of the rookie Brian Piccolo Award largely because of how he overcame undrafted status last season to contribute as a starter.

Now he's going to get to overcome the move to a new position, but doesn't seem to mind.

Sanborn will move from middle linebacker to strongside linebacker in the defense because of the acquisition of Tremain Edmunds for middle linebacker.

"Obviously there's different things you do at each position no matter what, and all that," Sanborn said. "But at the end of the day, you're still playing linebacker. The same job is still there: Get the ball, tackle the ball and create turnovers.

"That's what it's about. That's what this defense is about and what we're striving to do more and more of. I think it's very exciting and I think everyone is excited to be a part of it moving forward."

Sanborn obviously wouldn't be the starting middle linebacker with a new $72 million middle coming in as a free agent. He'll get to continue as the backup there but the SAM linebacker seems a position he's able to play.

It's not every down because the SAM usually comes out when the slot cornerback is on the field, which is the majority of the time. Sanborn probably doesn't fit as well at weakside linebacker or he would have moved there last year when Smith was traded. The Bears signed T.J. Edwards to play there, a former Wisconsin player like Edwards.

Sanborn finished last year with 64 tackles, including five for loss. He had a fumble recovery and two sacks after moving into the lineup in the middle when Nicholas Morrow moved from middle linebacker to replace Roquan Smith at weakside linebacker.

Sanborn played in 14 games and missed three because he went on season-ending injured reserve with a foot injury.

Sanborn doubts he'll be slacking off in his second season. He takes pride in having made the roster as an undrafted player, the way Piccolo did with the Bears in 1965 before he died in 1970 of cancer.

"It's definitely a little rewarding but at the same time I'm well aware of the world we live in and everything," Sanborn said. "You gotta always prove it. It's a business where you're just as good as your last game.

"You gotta always work harder, gotta always improve and gotta always be that good teammate, that teammate in the locker room, and help this team win. Because that's the main goal at the end of the day."

Sanborn wouldn't call himself an overachiever, however.

"I wouldn't call it overachieving," he said. "Some may just because of where you're drafted and stuff like that. I think you just gotta earn everything. That's the mindset that everyone’s gotta come up with.

"That's the mindset everyone has here, which is awesome. You just got to work to earn everything you're given."

The Piccolo Award is given out annually to the veteran and rookie who exemplify the sense of humor, courage, teamwork, loyalty and dedication of Piccolo, who had helped Gale Sayers overcome a severe knee injury in 1969 even though it could have meant losing playing time. As it turned out, both lined up in the same backfield.

Sanborn said he knows the Piccolo story well, having grown up in Lake Zurich and from having seen Brian's Song.

"I knew the story of Brian and Gale Sayers, partly from the movie, and everything that goes along with it," he said. "Kinda being here today you can tell that means so much more to the organization, the McCaskeys, the Piccolos and everyone involved. I think that was very cool to see."

Montgomery wasn't in attendance for the award. He left in free agency to sign in Detroit. Montgomery won the award as a rookie in 2019, as well.

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