The Bears on Monday bolstered their defense by re-signing outside linebacker Aaron Lynch to a one-year contract.

Lynch, 26, appeared in 13 games with three starts in his first season with the Bears in 2018, recording 16 tackles, three sacks, one interception and four tackles-for-loss.

"Where else would I want to be?" Lynch told ChicagoBears.com. "This is where I want to be. It's where I see my future."

Before joining the Bears last year, Lynch spent his first four NFL seasons with the 49ers after being selected by San Francisco in the fifth round of the 2014 draft out of South Florida. He played in 44 games with 19 starts for the 49ers, registering 83 tackles, 15 sacks and 28 tackles-for-loss.

Lynch is excited to remain with the Bears and help the 2018 NFC North champions reach the next level.

"We get to build on last year," Lynch said. "We didn't [reach the Super Bowl], so now we really want to get there. I feel like that's a huge motivational ladder that we get to climb up this year."

Lynch is the seventh Bears player the team has re-signed since the end of last season, joining right tackle Bobby Massie, tight end Ben Braunecker, punter Pat O'Donnell, quarterback Tyler Bray, safety DeAndre Houston-Carson and defensive tackle Nick Williams.