These days most Chicago Bears fans have fond memories of defensive end Willie Young. One could argue he was one of the best free agents the team signed in the 2010s. Not so much because he became a star but more because they got great production out of him for relatively cheap. Basically 24 sacks for $9 million. However, he wasn’t always a friend of this team. For four years to start his NFL career, he was busy trying to sack Jay Cutler with the Detroit Lions.
According to former wide receiver Earl Bennett, it wasn’t so much Young’s play that first drew the Bears’ attention during those years. It was his mouth. The defensive end was apparently quite the trash talker. He didn’t fear yapping every single play. It was here that Bennett told an incredible story of how the normally reserved Cutler decided he’d heard enough from Young and absolutely scorched him with a reply.
“Willie Young was in his second year with the Detroit Lions when he began talking trash to Cutler. After a bad first start we took the field and Young was yapping, at that point in his career we were all trying to figure out who the yapper even was. Cutler asked us in the huddle who is number 79? No one knew.
We break the huddle and get to the line of scrimmage and 79 is still yapping. Before the play was called you hear Cutler say ‘Hey 79, could you turn around so we can know who you are because we are fucking clueless you no name.’ A subtle, but yet dagger remark.”
Jay Cutler was and always has been a low key savage
This story only adds to the legend of Cutler at this point. He’s had a reputation going back years for being able to deliver some sharp barbs at both opponents and teammates when the situation called for it. The game in reference was a showdown in Detroit in 2011. The Bears quarterback had a solid outing with 249 yards and a touchdown. However, Young had the final say in a 24-13 Lions victory. He wasn’t allowed to bask in that glory for too long though.
A few weeks later the Bears got their revenge, humiliating Detroit 37-13 at Soldier Field. So it’s clear both sides had their opportunities to gloat. If nothing else, this relationship no doubt led to Young developing a weird fondness for Cutler, resulting in his decision to join the Bears a few years later. Either that or got tired of taking the quarterback’s ruthless insults.
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