Matt Nagy became an offensive coordinator for the first time in 2016. It was a process that began his rise to claiming the Chicago Bears head coaching job two years later, linking him up to Mitch Trubisky. Now he’s going to the playoffs in his first years, finishing with a 12-4 record. The best a rookie coach has ever accomplished in franchise history.
Yet people might be glossing over what Trubisky has done this season. When looking at the numbers, they aren’t what modern fans would can upper tier. He finished with 3,224 yards, 24 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions for a 95.4 passer rating. That’s the best a Bears quarterback has ever had in any era.
Where this gets interesting is the context. Nagy had a far more proven quarterback when he first became a coordinator two years ago in Alex Smith. Together the two went 11-4 that season. That must mean Smith had a great year, right? Not so much. He finished with 3,502 yards, 15 touchdowns, and eight interceptions in 15 games for a 91.2 passer rating.
For those keeping track, this means Trubisky had a better year passing in his first year under Nagy than a guy who went to his second Pro Bowl that season.
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Mitch Trubisky is poised for a huge jump in 2019
It’s also worth keeping in mind that Smith had Pro Bowl weapons around him too. Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce were in place at that point. Trubisky has had nobody close to their quality at either position, which makes his accomplishments that much more impressive. It also sends a huge warning about what’s to come.
As good as Smith was under Nagy in Year 1, he exploded for the best season of his career in Year 2. In 2017 he threw for 4,042 yards, 26 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. It was a massive spike in productivity that nobody thought he was capable of. A testament to Nagy’s ability to continue developing him even at age 33.
.@ChicagoBears @Mtrubisky10 could someone please bump this throw to TRUBISKY’s resume reel. The @Vikings came into week 17 with an @NFL leading 50 sacks and left bounced out of the playoffs with 50 sacks. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/dQKQwXOxFl
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) December 31, 2018
Trubisky will be 25 next year. His best days are still ahead of him. Based on that timeline, 2019 could be the kind of season that Bears fans have never seen before from one of their quarterbacks. If nothing else this should entire situation should help Bears fans better appreciate what the young man has done.
He missed two games with an injured throwing shoulder. Several of his key weapons have missed time as well. He’s digesting one of the most complex offensive systems a quarterback can learn and played a schedule that was stacked with top pass defenses. Yet he still had one of the best years a Bears QB has ever had.
