The Chicago Bears haven’t declared what their intentions are at quarterback. All GM Ryan Pace has said to this point is “Everything is on the table” regarding what they may do this offseason. There are plenty of avenues they need to explore. Free agency will arrive in March along with the trade market. Both figure to be active this year for different reasons. Then there is the NFL draft which many feel could see five QBs go in the 1st round. Finally, there are in-house options. Nick Foles who remains on the roster and Mitch Trubisky who is becoming a free agent.
There is still a genuine debate going on amongst Bears fans over what the team should do with Trubisky. Many are long since done with the 26-year old. They feel he’s had every opportunity to excel over the past four seasons and just hasn’t taken advantage. Sure the situation wasn’t always ideal but good quarterbacks don’t always need ideal situations to find success. Others though feel the QB showed growth towards the end of the year and deserves another chance.
What matters though is what the Bears brass feel about it.
NFL insider Mike Garafolo of NFL Network pretty much put any lingering doubts to rest. Based on everything he’s heard, the signs are overwhelming that Trubisky has played his final snap for the Bears. He had a nice final run to help them reach the playoffs but it’s clear the team doesn’t view him as the necessary solution at the position moving forward.
From @gmfb Weekend yesterday: Now that it's pretty clear Mitchell Trubisky and the #Bears will be parting ways, what makes sense for him going forward? An offense that can use his athleticism and work off the running game. There are plenty of them around the league. pic.twitter.com/tBo5nFEYx3
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) January 17, 2021
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This shouldn’t be a huge surprise to anybody. Mitch Trubisky was benched just a few months ago. It’s easy to forget that. Nagy was done with him. He was tired of the constant mistakes and erratic play. He wanted to try something else. Foles obviously didn’t work out but it’s fair to wonder if the Bears would’ve gone back to Trubisky if he hadn’t gotten hurt.
Mitch Trubisky just can’t get it done when it matters
People talk about his great four-game run when the Bears went 3-1 to get themselves back into the playoff picture. Yet was it really all that great? He had 1,001 yards, seven touchdowns, and two interceptions in four games. All against teams that ranked in the bottom five of the NFL in defense. That is strong efficiency but nobody can say those numbers should blow anybody away.
Then when he runs into the better teams of Green Bay and New Orleans? He reverts back to normal with one TD pass and one interception across two blowout losses. The TD coming in the final seconds of garbage time. What else is there to see? If a quarterback requires a perfect situation to be effective in the NFL, then he isn’t cut out to be paid like a franchise guy.
Chicago gave him four years. That is enough.
He is free to find a new opportunity elsewhere. If he ends up turning his career around elsewhere? Good for him. It will just end up meaning he wasn’t the right quarterback for the Bears. That search remains ongoing.