When people talk about the incredible journey of Chicago Bears quarterbacking in the past 20 years, not enough mention Jim Miller. Most jump straight to Rex Grossman, then Kyle Orton, then Jay Cutler, and finally Mitch Trubisky. It’s too easy to forget Miller was a potential long-term option at the position once upon a time. Sure it sounds crazy now, but back in 2001? That wasn’t the case.
Miller was an interesting story. A 6th round pick in 1994, he spent two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Then he played a season in the defunct NFL Europe before returning. He bounced from three different teams in 1997 and 1998 before finally signing with the Bears. He saw limited action in his first two years until finally getting the nod as the full-time starter in 2001. He went 11-2 in the regular season and helped them to a division title. Their first in a decade.
Then, in the first half of the playoff opener against Philadelphia, he injured his throwing shoulder. A moment he still laments 19 years later. Miller still believes had that not happened he could’ve and should’ve kept the Bears job long-term according to Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.
“That shoulder injury was more severe than anybody thought,” Miller said. “I came back the following year and my shoulder wasn’t right. I ended up playing the whole year with it. I did a lot more damage than anybody thought. It took me six surgeries to get my shoulder right. It was just unfortunate. I felt I had found my place. I felt very comfortable in Chicago. I was ready. I felt I was ready. I felt this was the perfect city for me — blue collar like me, they think like me and they appreciate hard work and effort.”
Is Jim Miller crazy to think that was the case?
Not entirely. Obviously most of the credit for the Bears’ success that season was a great defense and a steady running game. However, not enough give Miller credit for how well he played. Especially down the stretch. Over the final eight games of the regular season, he threw for 1,287 yards with eight touchdowns and four interceptions. Not eye-popping numbers but keep this in mind. Through his first six games he had five touchdowns and six interceptions. So he was definitely getting better.
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He never looked right after that shoulder injury. In 2002, he had at least one interception in seven of his 10 appearances. The guy looked uncomfortable. Now we know why. He left the team after that season and never attempted another pass in the NFL. He did collect a ring as Tom Brady’s backup in 2004 but by the fall of 2005 he was done.
It’s interesting to wonder how things might’ve been different if not for that injury. Would Rex Grossman have been drafted in 2003 had Miller played decent in 2002? Would Marty Booker, his favorite target, have been traded in 2004? Something worth speculating over for sure.