Former All-Pro left tackle Terron Armstead has found the next phase of his football life. After retiring, he faced the same challenge as other former players. What now? He quickly jumped into the podcast sphere, establishing his own show. However, it seems he’s decided to also dabble in coaching as well. Armstead has taken up the task of tutoring young offensive linemen on how to play the position in the NFL. The Chicago Bears have taken full advantage of this, sending all of their tackles to work with him. It started with Braxton Jones and has since grown to include Darnell Wright, Theo Benedet, and Kiran Amegadjie.
Armstead has been complimentary of all four, praising their work ethic and desire to improve. Wright is as advertised. One of the best right tackles in football and is only getting better. However, the person that Armstead was surprisingly positive about was Amegadjie. Bears fans have long given up on the former 3rd round pick, believing his window to contribute has closed after two years of spending more time in the training room than on the field.
Terron Armstead believes his potential is being undersold.
“You got some guys. Kiran can play. He’s been injured and dealing with those issues. The kid’s got game. He’s strong. He’s tough. He’s smart. He’s physical. He’s learning the right things. He’s hungry for an opportunity. And although he’s doing all these things right right now, don’t guarantee him nothing. And he understands that, too. But that doesn’t mean don’t do the things right. Like you keep doing what you’re supposed to do. He can have another injury this year. You get your ass back up and you go back in rehab. You get back right. You go attack it the right way again. You do your part. He’s doing his part, man. He can play. He can play.”
Armstead knows what Amegadjie is going through.
People often forget that he dealt with his fair share of injury problems throughout his NFL career with New Orleans and Miami. He missed 17 games through his first four years alone. Such setbacks would’ve broken the spirit of other players. Armstead refused to let that happen. He kept working his way back and resumed playing elite-level football when he did return. It is how he managed to play 12 years in the league and make five Pro Bowls. Dwelling on the setbacks doesn’t do you any favors. Get back up and get to work.
It appears Amegadjie has taken that to heart. He was right there with his teammates, doing everything possible to improve ahead of training camp. Meanwhile, Jedrick Wills, the supposed challenger to Jones for the left tackle job, was nowhere to be found. People have said the former 1st round pick lacked the passion and resilience to survive in the NFL. It isn’t the greatest look when you’re not taking advantage of opportunities like working with Terron Armstead.
🔥 Subscribe to the Untold Chicago YouTube channel to hear Chicago legends tell stories you’ve never seen in headlines — real moments, real experiences, straight from the athletes themselves.
Amegadjie needs two things to break his way.
The first and most obvious is good health. Making it through training camp and the preseason without a significant injury setback is vital. Bears coaches want to see how he does with a steady string of practices to work with. The talent has never been questioned. He has the size, length, and athleticism to be a starting left tackle in the NFL. The issue was always his lack of experience and his health. You can’t solve the former if the latter is constantly getting in the way. This summer represents his last chance to do something about it.
Right now, Jones is the heavy favorite to claim the starting left tackle job in place of the injured Ozzy Trapilo. Wills is penciled in as his biggest challenger, but it sounds like Armstead believes Amegadjie should not be counted out. He has the traits and the want-to that will keep him in the conversation. All it takes is that one moment when the light bulb goes on, and everything changes. The Bears seem willing to give him that opportunity despite all the frustration to this point.
