Tez Effect: The Evolution

At first, Sweat didn’t know the gravitational pull he possessed. He admittedly focused a little more on himself. Of course, he wanted to see his new group play well, but he didn’t know what his role was outside of helping them on the field.

Through time, Sweat opened up with his teammates. He found people around Halas Hall he felt comfortable talking to. He met up with teammates in the offseason.

The switch has been apparent.

“Now he’s comfortable telling us things. For example, ‘alright we gotta get a stop right here,'” Dexter said. “He’s communicating, so now he’s not only a lead by example type of leader, but he’s vocal as well. We’ve definitely seen it switch as he’s gotten comfortable being here for a full offseason and a full year.”

Now, Sweat understands who he is to the Bears. He knows his teammates personal situations, what they’re going through and how they feel on the field.

He feels like he can be a shoulder to lean on this year, and it’s a title he wants.

Sweat’s evolution has felt natural to him. Early in his career, he looked up to veteran players who showed him the way in Washington. Now, as a veteran himself, he never wants to be the guy who isn’t willing to help out.

Looking back, Sweat views the four-year contract extension he signed just four days after the trade as the catalyst for that mindset.

Nowhere in his contract did it outline that he needed to host team dinners, get in extra reps with young players or provide words of encouragement. But being a role model that teammates can look up to became a personal necessity for him.

It’s just who Sweat is now.

“It feels great,” Sweat said. “You always wanna push forward the love that you feel like you received. I felt like the Bears took a chance on me and invested in me, something that they didn’t have to do. So I just want to show that love back to them and continue to do it as my career goes on here.”