Montez Sweat facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Montez Sweat

Sweat with the Washington Commanders in 2022
No. 98 – Chicago Bears
Position:	Defensive end
Personal information
Born:	(1996-09-04) September 4, 1996 (age 28) Richmond, Kentucky, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Weight:	270 lb (122 kg)
Career information
High school:	Stephenson (Stone Mountain, Georgia)
College:	Michigan State (2014–2015) Copiah–Lincoln (2016) Mississippi State (2017–2018)
NFL Draft:	2019 / Round: 1 / Pick: 26
Career history
Washington Redskins / Football Team / Commanders (2019) Chicago Bears (2023–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
Pro Bowl (2023) First-team All-American (2018) 2× first-team All-SEC (2017, 2018)
Career NFL statistics as of 2024
Total tackles: 254 Sacks: 47 Pass deflections: 16 Interceptions: 1 Forced fumbles: 12 Defensive touchdowns: 1
Player stats at PFR

Shaquan Montez Sweat (born September 4, 1996) is an American professional football player. He plays as a defensive end for the Chicago Bears in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the NFL, he played college football for three different teams: the Michigan State Spartans, Copiah–Lincoln Wolves, and Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Montez Sweat was chosen by the Washington Redskins in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft. In the middle of the 2023 season, he was traded to the Chicago Bears. With the Bears, he earned his first selection to the Pro Bowl, which is a big honor for NFL players.

Early Life and High School Football

Montez Sweat grew up in Stone Mountain, Georgia. He went to Stephenson High School. During his time there, he was known as one of the best defensive ends in the country. After high school, he decided to play college football at Michigan State University.

College Football Journey

Montez Sweat started his college football career at Michigan State in 2014. He played in two games and got one sack. He then took a "redshirt" year in 2015, which means he practiced with the team but didn't play in games.

In 2016, he moved to Copiah–Lincoln Community College in Mississippi. He played football there for one season. Then, in 2017, he transferred again to play for the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Success at Mississippi State

At Mississippi State, Sweat quickly became a star. In his first year (2017), he recorded 10.5 sacks. A sack is when a defensive player tackles the opposing team's quarterback behind the line of scrimmage. His great performance earned him a spot on the 2017 All-SEC football team. The SEC (Southeastern Conference) is a very strong college football league.

He continued his success in 2018, getting 12 sacks in his senior year. This led to him being named to the 2018 All-SEC football team again. He was also recognized as an All-American, which means he was one of the best college players in the entire country.

College Statistics Overview

Here's a look at Montez Sweat's college football stats:

Season	Team	GP	Tackles					Fumbles
			Solo	Ast	Cmb	TfL	Sck	FR	Yds	TD	FF
2014	Michigan State	1	2	2	4	0.5	1.0	1	0	0	0
2015	Michigan State	0	Redshirted
2016	Copiah–Lincoln	9	32	7	39	—	5.0	1	0	0	2
2017	Mississippi State	13	21	27	48	15.5	10.5	1	0	0	0
2018	Mississippi State	13	27	26	53	14.5	12.0	0	0	0	1
Total		36	82	62	144	30.5	28.5	3	0	0	3

Professional Football Career

Montez Sweat showed amazing athletic skills before the NFL draft. At the 2019 NFL Combine, he ran the 40 yard dash in 4.41 seconds. This was a record for a defensive lineman at the combine. During his health check at the combine, there was a concern about his heart. However, it was quickly found to be a mistake in measuring, and he was cleared to play.

Time with Washington

The Washington Redskins chose Montez Sweat in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft. He was the 26th player picked overall. Washington traded up to get him after using their first pick on another player. He signed his first professional contract on May 29, 2019.

In his first NFL season, Sweat recorded his first career sack in Week 3 against the Chicago Bears. In Week 17, he sacked Dak Prescott twice against the Dallas Cowboys. One of those sacks caused a fumble, which his team recovered.

Sweat sacking Tom Brady in a 2020 playoff game

In 2020, Montez Sweat made a big play on Thanksgiving against the Dallas Cowboys. He intercepted a pass and ran it back 15 yards for a touchdown. This helped Washington win the game 41–16. The next week, he tipped a pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers. This led to an interception by his teammate Jon Bostic, helping Washington win again. In Week 15, he batted down another pass by Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, which was then intercepted by Daron Payne.

In 2021, Sweat had a jaw injury during a game and was placed on the injured list. He returned to play later that season. In Week 15, he had a sack and forced a fumble against the Philadelphia Eagles. His teammate Landon Collins recovered the ball.

In April 2022, the Commanders (formerly Redskins) decided to keep Sweat for a fifth year on his contract. He continued to make big plays, including two sacks against the Tennessee Titans in Week 5 and two more against the Houston Texans in Week 11.

Joining the Chicago Bears

On October 31, 2023, Montez Sweat was traded to the Chicago Bears. The Bears gave up a second-round draft pick to get him. Just four days later, he signed a new four-year contract with the Bears.

He recorded his first sack as a Bear in Week 11 against the Detroit Lions. On January 3, 2024, Montez Sweat was named a Pro Bowler for the first time in his career. This is a huge honor, showing he was one of the best players at his position in the NFL.

He finished the 2023 season with a career-high 12.5 sacks. He had 6.5 sacks with the Commanders and then added 6 more with the Bears. He became the first player in NFL history to lead two different teams in sacks in the same season! The Bears' head coach, Matt Eberflus, even called his positive influence the "'Tez effect." This meant Sweat's presence helped other players on the team get more sacks and create more turnovers.

NFL Career Statistics

Here are Montez Sweat's NFL career statistics:

Personal Life

Montez Sweat was raised by his grandparents when he was a child. He has faced personal challenges, including the loss of his mother and older brother in 2021. As a rookie, Sweat appeared in television commercials for Old Spice.