When Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy met the media during a conference call on Friday morning, they immediately set the tone by coming out and saying the team’s quarterback position will be an open competition between newly acquired QB Nick Foles and QB Mitchell Trubisky.
But it seems Trubisky was told right away that he would have a fair shot to win the job.
According to the NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Bears coaching staff contacted Trubisky the day they acquired Foles from the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for a fourth-round pick. Their message to him was that he would have the chance to win the starting job, indicating there would be a fair competition as Pace and Nagy confirmed on Friday.
From @NFLTotalAccess #StayHome Edition: #Bears coaches reached out the day of the Nick Foles trade to tell Mitch Trubisky he'd get a shot to win the job. And whenever practice begins, Trubisky will get the first snap. @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/GBbK6tTDaU
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 3, 2020
The fact the Bears coaches immediately reached out to the former North Carolina Tar Heel isn’t surprising. They acted in good faith to Trubisky, who said on many occasions last season that he needed to improve. It’s also another indication that Pace and Nagy may be telling the truth regarding a “fair and honest” competition.
Coupled with the fact that Foles agreed to a contract restructure that would lower his base salary to $8 million per year, it seems both players will actually get a fair shot at becoming the starter.
Trubisky likely wasn’t thrilled with the addition of Foles, but according to Nagy, he’s ready to prove his worth.
“You could feel how much of a competitor Mitch is,” Nagy said to reporters on Friday. “He’s embracing it and he’s excited to get back to work.”
Nagy on conversation with Mitch Trubisky: "You could feel how much of a competitor Mitch is. He’s embracing it and he’s excited to get back to work."
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) April 3, 2020
The competition is sure to be the top story when the Bears head to training camp, but it seems we won’t know the Week 1 starter is for quite some time.
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