When it comes to Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace, his actions speak louder than his words. Case in point, quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, who Pace said would be the Bears’ starting quarterback in 2020.
But his actions said otherwise. How he repeatedly passed over questions about Trubisky’s fifth-year option. How he traded for quarterback Nick Foles. How he declined Trubisky’s option.
Still, Pace hasn’t wavered in his public support of Trubisky. Even just days after choosing not to exercise Trubisky’s fifth-year option, Pace insisted that the franchise still believes in Trubisky.
“We’ve always had the approach that we’re honest and we’re truthful with our players and our staff, and we move on and we get to work. …” Pace said on Bears All-Access. “Mitch gets it. Everyone’s competing. Everyone’s focused on better results. That’s the entire team. That starts with me and everybody.
“We believe in Mitch — that doesn’t change.”
Obviously the hope is that Trubisky becomes the quarterback Pace thought he was when he traded up to draft him No. 2 overall. Following three seasons, Trubisky has flashed potential but continues to struggle with the basics of being an NFL quarterback.
While it’s certainly the best case scenario that Trubisky figures things out, it’s not necessarily the assumption at this point. Still, it can happen. We’ve seen it happen with another player on this Bears roster.
Cornerback Kyle Fuller has become a top-15 cornerback in the NFL, but there was a time when it appeared he was going to be just another first-round bust. So, naturally, Pace didn’t pick up Fuller’s fifth-year option. But Fuller was able to turn things around in his fourth year, where he posted career highs in pass deflections and tackle. Fuller was signed to the Green Bay Packers’ offer sheet, but the Bears instead matched it with a four-year contract extension.
“I think you can point to [cornerback] Kyle Fuller as a great example of a player that didn’t get his option exercised. I think we would say it worked out well for him and for us.”
While no one believes in Trubisky right now, he has the opportunity to win the starting quarterback job and prove all of the doubters wrong. And, if that does happen, everyone wins.
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