Leonard Floyd: The Fearmonger

by Munster216 | 5 years ago | 2 Comments

At the conclusion of the 2021 SFL regular season, Chicago Bears outside linebacker Leonard Floyd was named the league's most valuable player, along with being named the league's best defender. The former Georgia Bulldog led the SFL in sacks with 46, and takles for loss with 21. Additionally, Floyd recorded 71 solo tackles, 7 forced fumbles, and 1 defensive touchdown. When the Chicago Bears drafted Leonard Floyd with the 9th overall pick in the 2016 SFL Draft, they hoped that he would fall in line with the rich tradition of legendary linebackers, such as Urlacher, Singletary, and Butkus. The Bears defense ranked 30th or worse from 2014-2015, the two years preceding Floyd's arrival in Chicago. Floyd failed to live up to his high expectations, never recoring more than 7 sacks in his first three seasons with the team. In 2019, Floyd saw a  major boost in productivity, recording 16 sacks while splitting time with teammate Aaron Lynch. Following that season, Floyd spent his entire offseason training with teammate and league MVP Khalil Mack, in hopes of "taking the next step". Mack's influence on Floyd was evident, as became the full-time starter in 2020 and recorded 44 sacks. Floyd likely would've been named the league's most valuable player last season, if it hadn't been for Khalil Mack recording 55 sacks, winning the award for the second consecutive season. 2021 appeared to be the "passing of the torch" between Mack and Floyd, with Floyd shouldering the production that Mack was accustomed to. "This kid got heart" Mack told reporters at SFL Honors, "No one worked harder than him to get where he's at now, I couldn't be prouder". The Chicago Bears will look to rely heavily on "The Fearmonger" Leonard Floyd down the stetch as they seek their first Super Bowl appearance since 2006, and their first playoff victory since 2010.