The UFL leaves a lasting impact on its athletes, even after they’ve been out of the spring space for a while. That can be said for DE Jonathan Garvin, who signed with the Chicago Bears practice squad as of yesterday.
The #Bears are signing former Miami Hurricanes DE Jonathan Garvin to the practice squad, per LAA.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 28, 2025
Jonathan Garvin was an offseason addition for the Birmingham Stallions in 2024. He was one of many players that General Manager Zach Potter brought to the table throughout the merger process, as Birmingham targeted athletes who had NFL caliber experience.
Garvin immediately made an impact for Birmingham in the 2024 UFL season. Including the playoffs, he started in all 12 games for the Stallions, totaling 19 tackles, a TFL, 3.5 sacks, and two PBU’s. Jonathan was a force to be reckoned with especially early on in the season, wreaking havoc during a week three matchup against Memphis.
Jonathan had an outstanding 91.5 Defensive Grade via PFF, one of the highest grades for any player in the UFL in 2024. He was elite as a pass rusher, with a 91.9 pass rushing grade, posting 31 quarterback hurries last season.
This led to an NFL opportunity with the San Francisco 49ers. Garvin remained in the Bay Area for over a year, on San Francisco’s practice squad. He was let go during roster cutdowns this past preseason.
Now, the former UFL standout makes his way back to an NFL team, signing with the Chicago Bears practice squad. Without the platform that the UFL provided Garvin with, and the talents he put on display in Birmingham – who knows if he’d have the NFL career he’s currently putting together.
See also
Jonathan Garvin as a Hurricane:
— 106 tackles
— 12.5 sacks
— 29 TFLs
— 4 FFs/4 FRs
— 1 FR TD
Happy birthday Jonathan! 🎉 pic.twitter.com/MOtN2ggBJA
— CanesMuse (@canes_muse) July 29, 2025
Garvin played his college football with the Miami Hurricanes. He totaled 106 tackles, 12.5 sacks, and 29 TFL’s during his collegiate career.
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