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:	262 lb (119 kg)
Career information
High school:	Stephenson (Stone Mountain, Georgia)
College:	Michigan State (2014–2015) Copiah–Lincoln CC (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 Week 18, 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 at Michigan State, Copiah–Lincoln, and Mississippi State. The Washington Redskins picked him in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft. In 2023, Sweat was traded to the Bears and earned his first Pro Bowl selection.

Montez Sweat's Early Life

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

College Football Journey

Sweat started his college 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 didn't play in games but still practiced with the team.

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

At Mississippi State, Sweat quickly became a star. In his first year (2017), he made 10.5 sacks and was named to the All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) team. He had an even better year in 2018, getting 12 sacks. This earned him another spot on the All-SEC team and he was named an All-American, which means he was one of the best college players in the whole country.

College Statistics Overview

Here's a look at Montez Sweat's performance during his college football years:

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	Co–Lin	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

Starting His NFL Career

Before the 2019 NFL Draft, players go through tests at the NFL Combine. Montez Sweat ran the 40 yard dash in an amazing 4.41 seconds, which was a record for defensive linemen. During his health check at the combine, doctors found a health concern with his heart. However, it was quickly found to be a mistake in how his heart was measured.

Playing for Washington

The Washington Redskins (now called the Commanders) chose Montez Sweat in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft. He was the 26th player picked overall. He signed a four-year contract with the team.

In his first year, during a game against the Chicago Bears, Sweat got his first career sack. A sack is when a defensive player tackles the opposing team's quarterback behind the line of scrimmage.

Sweat sacking Tom Brady in a playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021.

In 2020, Sweat made a big play on Thanksgiving against the Dallas Cowboys. He intercepted a pass and ran it back 15 yards for a touchdown, helping Washington win the game. The next week, he tipped a pass that led to another interception, helping his team beat the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers. He also batted down a pass against the Seattle Seahawks that was then intercepted by a teammate.

In 2021, Sweat had a jaw injury and was out for some time. He returned to play later that season. In a game against the Philadelphia Eagles, he got a sack and forced a fumble, which his teammate recovered.

In 2022, the Commanders decided to keep Sweat for an extra year on his contract. He had strong games against the Tennessee Titans and Houston Texans, getting two sacks in each game.

Joining the Chicago Bears

On October 31, 2023, Montez Sweat was traded to the Chicago Bears. This meant he moved to a new team in the middle of the season. Soon after, he signed a big new contract with the Bears.

He quickly made an impact, getting his first sack as a Bear in Week 11 against the Detroit Lions. On January 3, 2024, Sweat was chosen for the Pro Bowl for the first time. The Pro Bowl is an honor given to the best players in the NFL each season.

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

Montez Sweat's NFL Stats

Here's a summary of Montez Sweat's performance in the NFL:

About Montez's Life

Montez Sweat was raised by his grandparents. When he was a rookie, he appeared in commercials for Old Spice, a popular brand.