Normally players don’t start inking extensions or re-signings with teams until after the regular season ends. Equanimeous St. Brown broke that track record when he agreed with a one-year deal to stay with the Chicago Bears. He’ll earn $1.25 million, a nice pay raise from what he collected in 2022. St. Brown is nine yards away from having the best statistical season of his career, surpassing 328 yards. While nobody will say he’s been a star, he has performed better than everybody not named Darnell Mooney. He also has a case as the best run-blocking receiver on the roster.
So it’s easy to see why the Bears were interested in retaining him. Where it gets interesting is the fact St. Brown agreed to a deal so quickly. One would think he might try to gauge his market this spring. He’d had a decent year receiving and showcased his run-blocking value. It isn’t hard to believe he might earn a bit more than $1.25 million from somebody. It turns out the 26-year-old had no interest in doing that. He wanted to stay in Chicago and explained why to the media during a locker room session on Thursday.
Equanimeous St. Brown seems to like what the Bears are building.
The 2022 season has been a frustrating one, no doubt. However, it is also evident what GM Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus are piecing together. The culture they’re crafting is based on hard work, effort, and a relentless pursuit of winning. That should be familiar to St. Brown. It is what he experienced for years in Green Bay. The difference here is the Bears don’t yet have the players necessary to make it work. That will come with time. St. Brown seems to think the people in charge are capable of executing the plan.
His excitement over the future is worth noting. If he felt the Bears were heading in the wrong direction, there is no way he’d be so eager to stay put. This speaks to his belief in the vision, but also the quarterback. Equanimeous St. Brown has said multiple times how much he loves Justin Fields. He sees big things ahead for the young Bears signal-caller. The two have a strong connection. Fields’ leadership has infected the locker room. Wanting to be around that for another year isn’t overly surprising.
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
