Mitch Trubisky was named the Chicago Bears starting quarterback on Friday. This after one of the weird competitions ever held in NFL history. This due in large part to the COVID-19 pandemic forcing the league to cut minicamps, OTAs, and even the preseason. This meant Trubisky and Nick Foles had to do battle in a condenses space of just over a dozen practices.
So naturally, that storyline dominated all month long, making it easy to overlook a lot of other things that were happening. There were competitions in play. Some of them pretty important. Arguably none more so than at the safety spot opposite Eddie Jackson. After Adrian Amos left in 2019, the Bears experimented with Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. He was fine but the team let him leave in free agency.
When training camp started last month, defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano made it clear the job was wide open. It would be a battle between former Pro Bowl veteran Tashaun Gipson and former Bears 4th round pick Deon Bush. According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, the underdog has done it.
“The veteran safety was sidelined briefly with what Matt Nagy described as a lower back injury, but Gipson was spotted on the field Tuesday morning when media were allowed to view practice. It appears Deon Bush will be the starting safety alongside Eddie Jackson. Bush is entering his second year in the scheme, and the defensive coaches have been complimentary of him.”
Deon Bush is an inspiring Chicago Bears story
The Bears drafted Bush way back in 2016 out of Miami. The general view on him at the time was a standout athlete with size and hitting ability. However, a lack of instincts and ball skills put a limited ceiling on his potential. It was clear he was a project. Nobody could know if he’d ever be able to take that next step. For the next four seasons, he served as a backup and special teamer behind Amos and then Clinton-Dix.
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He was set to become a free agent this spring. It wasn’t certain where he would end up. Then in a surprising turn of events, he re-signed with the Bears. Bush was told he’d have a chance to compete and bet on himself. Now he’s in line to realize his dream of finally becoming a starter. A reminder that hard work and perseverance can pay off with time.
