Pro Duck Noah Sewell embraces new opportunity in NFL Camp

Former Oregon linebacker Noah Sewell played just five defensive snaps for the Bears last year, but he's getting a fresh start with a new coaching staff in Chicago.

Bears podcaster and beat writer Adam Hoge said, “I think these last couple of weeks is probably the best we’ve ever seen him look and play. Instinctually, speed-wise, all of those things in a Bears uniform since they drafted him."

Chicago took the former PAC-12 freshman defensive player of the year in the fifth round in 2023, allowing him to join his brothers Penei (All-Pro in Detroit, also a Duck) and Nephi (linebacker in New Orleans, who played at Nevada and Utah in college) in the league.

In two seasons with the Monsters of the MIdway Noah has stuck with the team but played sparingly, accumulating 13 tackles over 22 career games.

The journey has been a bit frustrating for the former five-star from Orem, Utah, once ranked the No. 13 prospect in the country and the No. 2 linebacker when Mario Cristobal recruited him to Eugene. Part of the problem is that he's been a bit of a tweener at 6-2, 266, a bit too big for a linebacker but too small at defensive tackle.

In all four Sewell brothers played college football with three making it to the NFL. Noah told The Athletic when he was at UO, "It's family over everything." Even so, being a part of the league's most accomplished families creates some extra pressure.

He signed a four-year, $4.1 million dollar contract with Chicago but as a proud warrior and intense competitor he wants more. Heading into year three, he wants to be an every-down linebacker.

He's trimmed down to a rock-hard 250 and he's moving better, according to reports, showing improved recognition and mobility, the best he's looked in three seasons.

In training camp during his rookie year, he had a cool moment off the field that won him a lot of fans.

The Bears host Miami on Sunday at 10 a.m. on the NFL Network, where Sewell will have to take on former Duck Pharoah Brown, now a tight end with the Dolphins in his eighth year as a pro.

This spring at OTAs teammate Tremaine Edmunds praised Sewell's development in his third season.

“Noah’s a baller, for sure," he said. "I think what he’s doing with his body this year, too, you see major changes in that, and that just speaks on his work ethic and how important it is to him, you know what I mean?”

“I think if you put yourself in position to have success, you’re going to get success. He’s working hard; weight room, on the grass, all that type of stuff."