Washington Commanders 'Just Waiting On The Season to End', Says Montez Sweat

While he was traded mid-season, former Washington Commanders and current Chicago Bears defensive end Montez Sweat says the team has had the end of the year in focus for a while.

The Washington Commanders sent shockwaves through the NFL when they traded defensive end Montez Sweat to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

At the time the Commanders were 3-5 and many thought trading Sweat, and fellow starting defensive end Chase Young to the San Francisco 49ers, signaled waiving the white flag on the season. Something Washington denied vehemently.

According to Sweat's recent comments to Chicago media, however, perhaps the team was throwing in the towel before he was even traded.

"Where I came from it was kind of like just waiting on the season to end, kind of," Sweat said in a video shared by Barroom Network. "But here it's like every week is a new challenge and people want to play for the man beside him and that's what I'm here for."

Chicago Bears defensive lineman Montez Sweat (98) is interviewed for television after a 16-13 win over the Carolina Panthers at Soldier Field / Jamie Sabau-USA TODAY Sports

Since trading Sweat the Commanders have won just one game, and it's been over a month since that.

Meanwhile, the Bears have won three of five with Sweat on the field. Additionally, he has 3.5 sacks in five games and is on a three-game sack streak after getting one in a 28-13 Chicago win over the Detroit Lions (9-4) in Week 13.

So even though his new team and former have very similar win-loss records, it's easy to see why Sweat is enjoying himself so much being part of the Bears organization. 

He says Chicago coach Matt Eberflus is a part of that reason as well.

"Coach 'Flus' is a great coach," Sweat said. "He keeps us motivated. I've never seen a head coach run the team and call defensive plays so that's new for me, but a lot of respect for him as a coach."

Ron Rivera is one game into running the team and his defense now after firing former defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio, but it's not something Sweat ever saw in his time with Washington.

You don't have to read between the lines too much to take away the impression Sweat is throwing shade at the organization that drafted him in 2019, the teammates he's played with, and the coaches he's played for.

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With many calling for coach Rivera to be fired sooner rather than later, and asking managing partner Josh Harris to clean sweep the organization and start new, Sweat's words give an inside view into what some of the problems that have been festering inside the team for far too long.

And add just one more straw to the pile that already appears too heavy to carry into next season.