Mitch Trubisky has been a busy man over the past few months. He’s been putting in long hours almost every day since the offseason began trying to get himself ready for 2018. He had a new offensive system to absorb under Matt Nagy. He also had an almost entirely new cast of wide receivers to find a rhythm and timing with.
Off days for rest were few and far between. So when they came, he intended to embrace them as best he could. It just so happens one of those days was September 1st. The 24-year old had chosen to sleep in that morning, something he rarely got to do. That’s when he received a visit to his room.
The quarterback grumpily received the visitor who informed him that the Bears had just traded for star Oakland Raiders pass rusher, Khalil Mack. Groggy and not in the mood, he dismissed the statement out of hand. He wasn’t ready to receive jokes that early. Only it wasn’t some random Bears employee bringing the news to him.
It was his own mother.
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Mitch Trubisky needed extra confirmation to make sure it was true
When the Trubisky matriarch continued to insist, the Bears quarterback decided to go to the one man who could put this rumor to bed. That was Ryan Pace. It was there his entire world changed when the GM confirmed what his mother had been saying. Chicago had indeed traded for Mack, adding an elite pass rusher to an already top 10 defense.
So what were his first impressions in their inaugural practice together? Trubisky seemed to hint he was happy Mack was on his team and not on one he’d have to play anytime soon.
“He carries himself like an alpha. He’s a savage football player.”
The Bears offensive tackles can attest to this. On the first play of Mack’s first practice, he went up against right tackle Rashaad Coward in the drill. Matt Nagy said after the play was over Coward turned back to the coaches with bug eyes. Utterly in awe. Keep in mind that was Mack’s first practice of the year, having held out for all of training camp and preseason in Oakland. If he can make an instant impression like that. Just imagine once he’s up to speed in that Vic Fangio system.
