VANCOUVER – Adding to an historic day for the UBC Thunderbirds, offensive tackle
Theo Benedet has signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent.
Consummating the deal shortly after the 2024 NFL Draft concluded, the 6-foot-7, 305 pound offensive lineman became the second T-Bird to join the professional ranks on Saturday after fellow tackle
Giovanni Manu was selected by the Detroit Lions in the fourth round.
Making history for himself and the T-Birds by extension is nothing new for Benedet as the North Vancouver native became the first offensive player in U SPORTS history to win a second JP Metras Trophy as the country's top lineman.
The only Canadian to participate in the 2023 Shrine Bowl, North America's premiere collegiate all-star showcase, Benedet has had plenty of eyes on him from both sides of the border with the Bears one of those programs which had developed a scouting relationship with him over the past year.
"It's surreal to have the chance to play in the NFL. Really the first thing that comes to mind is just being grateful for all the people that helped me get to this point," said Benedet shortly after signing his first professional contract. "Ultimately, the goal was to get drafted and that was disappointing. But, there are definitely advantages in being on the open market and finding a situation you think fits you best as a player. What I want is a realistic chance to come in and have a realistic shot to come in as a player and earn a spot on the 53-man roster. Chicago, through the whole process, was building a relationship and has shown their belief in me as a player, so that's what it came down to."
"
Theo Benedet is arguably the best player that I've ever had the opportunity to coach," said UBC head coach
Blake Nill. "He had a lot of attention in the last two years and made an unselfish decision to come back to UBC when he didn't have to and showed what kind of teammate he was and how important UBC Football was to him. I'm very proud and impressed with that kind of decision. I think him signing with Chicago is a great match. They've probably been up three or four times in the last calendar year to watch him and now they've got a great athlete coming in there."
Having started in every game for the blue and gold since his rookie season in 2019, Benedet's rise to the NFL saw him benefit from a number of dedicated UBC staff, most notably that of veteran offensive line coach, Dan Dorazio.
"What today represents is the quality of athletic development that we have under (head UBC strength and conditioning coach)
Joe McCullum and the quality of offensive line coaching we have," added Nill. "Coach Dorazio had them for the last year but Jordan Filippelli worked with Theo and Gio for two years and Kirby Fabien was in that mix as well. Filippelli had them when they were raw and he had to keep them motivated. Kirby came in two years ago and did a great job taking them to an even higher level. And I really feel the last year they spent with Coach Dorazio gave them a year of reality; what it was going to take for them to hit their potential. Reaching that level of expectation and accountability that he demands of his athletes I think was the push that these kids needed."
While not selected in the draft itself was certainly a disappointment for Benedet, his head coach feels there is more than just a silver lining to how things panned out.
"With Theo's talent level in U SPORTS, he hasn't been challenged the way a lot of other athletes are. For him, not getting drafted I think is going to inspire him and motivate him even further. He's going to come out with something to prove and maybe right now, that's what he needs more than anything because he's been pretty dominant up to this point."
A graduate of Handsworth Secondary and a two-time First Team All-Canadian, Benedet now has the opportunity to attend Chicago's rookie camp and eventually earn a roster spot, joining the likes of former Thunderbird Dakoda Shepley who began his NFL career as an undrafted free agent when he signed with the New York Jets in 2018.
"You just think about all the great players and characters, Mike Ditka and everybody," Benedet continued. "To be a Chicago Bear is surreal and crazy."
