It's official: Bears sign QB Mark Sanchez to a one-year contract
The Bears officially announced the signing of veteran quarterback Mark Sanchez to a one-year contract.
Sanchez is expected to back up starter Mike Glennon, although second-year player Connor Shaw will be in the team's quarterback competition, along with an expected high-round draft pick.
Sanchez's $2 million contract includes $1 million guaranteed (a $750,000 signing bonus and $250,000 of his $1 million base salary) and could be worth an additional $2 million with playing time and performance incentives.
Sanchez has started 72 NFL games, 54 more than Glennon, including 62 in his first four seasons with the New York Jets (2009-13), who drafted him fifth overall out of USC. He was the Jets' opening-day starter as a rookie.
Sanchez also started 10 games for the Philadelphia Eagles (2014-15), and he played last season with the Dallas Cowboys, throwing just 18 passes while backing up and helping to mentor rookie Dak Prescott.
In his career, Sanchez has completed 1,295 passes on 2,285 attempts for 15,219 yards and 86 touchdowns, but he has also thrown 86 interceptions for a career passer rating of 73.9.
The 30-year-old Sanchez has been much more impressive in the postseason. He has started six playoff games, with a 4-2 record and has completed 95 of 157 passes for 1,155 yards and 9 touchdowns with just 3 interceptions.
With the release of Jay Cutler, the Bears' starter for much of the past eight seasons, and the free-agency departure of Brian Hoyer, Sanchez gives the Bears a veteran presence that was lacking.
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