Former Michigan State Spartans linebacker Wayne Matthews III has officially signed with the Chicago Bears, marking a significant step in his professional football journey.

After going undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft, Matthews earned a minicamp invitation from the Bears—and clearly made the most of it. The team signed him on Monday, as confirmed by Michigan State football's social media channels.

Matthews spent two seasons with the Spartans after transferring from Old Dominion following the 2023 campaign. During his time in East Lansing, he appeared in 21 games, racking up 106 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, one interception, and one fumble recovery. His leadership was also recognized when he served as a team captain this past season.

Throughout his college career, Matthews consistently demonstrated the instincts and physicality needed to compete at the next level. Now, he's getting his chance to prove it in Chicago. For Bears fans and Spartans supporters alike, this is a story of perseverance paying off—and a reminder that the NFL dream is never truly over after draft weekend.