Trace Armstrong – Syndication Server

Former Gator could be eyeing top management position with Chicago Bears

Former Gator Trace Armstrong might be making some big moves soon.

Former Florida football standout Trace Armstrong might be looking to take a big step in the sports world with his playing days now long behind him, as a report has him eyeing the top management position with one of his former NFL teams, the Chicago Bears. According to CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora, the former player-turned-agent spoke to team officials last month, potentially setting the wheels in motion for a possible reunion with the team he broke into the pros with.

The rumors were ignited when CBS Sports reporter Jason La Canfora published a report stating that the Bears franchise was looking into making “sweeping changes” to its coaching staff and front office. The suggestion was made that Amstrong would oversee football operations, with both the general manager and head coach reporting directly to him.

However, Armstrong has since denied the report, posting a tweet on Sunday refuting Canforta’s words.

I have the utmost respect for the Chicago Bears organization, the McCaskey family and Ted Phillips. However, any assertion that I have engaged in conversations with them about joining the club in any capacity is simply not true.

— T Armstrong (@TArmstrong93) December 12, 2021

The meeting back in November came when many other former players returned to Chicago to honor the late Clyde Emrich, a longtime strength coach and former Olympic wrestler who spent 50 years in the organization, so there is no way to directly correlate his conversations with the organization with interest in a management position. Amstrong currently works as an agent for football coaches, the list of which includes USC‘s newest head coach, Lincoln Riley.

Amstrong’s association with the Florida Gators is an interesting one, spending just a single season in the Swamp after transferring from Arizona State due to an academic mixup, making him among the earliest transfer players in the sport. He was recognized as a first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection and a first-team All-American at defensive tackle in 1988 before being selected in the first round (11th overall) in the 1989 NFL draft.

Despite his short stint in Gainesville on the field, Trace still holds his orange and blue alma mater dear, having returned to campus to complete his master’s degree and still visiting the football program on a regular basis.

Talking with Trace: Gators Wire exclusive series with Trace Armstrong

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Trace Armstrong discusses what it takes to make a professional athlete

Gators Wire asks Florida great Trace Armstrong about the importance of having the right teammates in regard to player development.

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Editor’s note: Gators Wire recently interviewed former Florida and NFL great Trace Armstrong to discuss a variety of topics, ranging from his youth to the modern game of football. During our conversations, he provided a plethora of fascinating anecdotes that we will share in a multi-part series.

Be sure to check back each Wednesday in the coming months for future installments of “Talking with Trace.” The series is part of a partnership between our colleagues at Campus Lore and the NFLPA.

Previously, we have discussed who was the greatest Gator ever and why the Miami Dolphins was such a great place for Trace, as well as his take on the NCAA and modern college football, his prediction for the Gators in 2021 and how he still dreams about third down in the NFL.

In this installment, we talked with Trace about what it takes to make a professional athlete.

Becoming a professional athlete in any sport is no easy feat, and despite what some may say, it takes more than just one talented individual. In fact, it takes a team to nurture and support someone who seeks to excel at the highest level of competition.

This week, Gators Wire’s Adam Dubbin asks Trace about the importance of having the right people on your side when it comes to every aspect of player development.

ADAM DUBBIN: “You know, it takes a lot of moving parts to make a successful athlete, doesn’t it? It takes mentors. It takes surgeons. It takes teammates, coaches. … There are a lot of working parts in there, aren’t there?”

Trace Armstrong of the Miami Dolphins celebrates with teammate Jason Taylor during a game against the Seattle Seahawks at Pro Player Stadium in Miami on Sept. 3, 2000. (Andy Lyons / Getty Images)

TRACE ARMSTRONG: “There’s no question, and I’m the perfect example of that. You know, every key moment in my life and my career I found the right person to help me get through what I was going through or help me take the next step.”

“Whether it be a strength coach, an orthopedic surgeon or a great position coach, I was really lucky at every point in my life — that I had somebody like that in my corner.”

Former Gator and NFL Pro Bowler Trace Armstrong: ‘I still dream about third down’

How good will Florida football be in 2021? Here’s former Gator Trace Armstrong’s take

Watch: ‘The NCAA needs to step up’ —Trace Armstrong’s opinion on modern college football

WATCH: Chicago’s great, but Miami’s the place for former Gator Trace Armstrong

WATCH: Florida football great Trace Armstrong selects his best Gator ever

Former Gator and NFL Pro Bowler Trace Armstrong: ‘I still dream about third down’

In this installment, we talked with Trace about his memories from his NFL career, including his dreams about playing on third down.

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Be sure to check back each Wednesday in the coming months for future installments of “Talking with Trace.” The series is part of a partnership between our colleagues at Campus Lore and the NFLPA.

Previously, we have discussed who was the greatest Gator ever and why the Miami Dolphins was such a great place for Trace, as well as his take on the NCAA and modern college football and his prediction for the Gators in 2021.

In this installment, we talked with Trace about his memories from his NFL career.

Even for the greatest of athletes, there is an inevitable end to their illustrious careers. Whether a player goes out with grace or ignominy is most often in the hands of the individual, Father Time waits for nobody.

This week, Gators Wire’s Adam Dubbin gets retrospective with Trace Armstrong, looking back at what could have been and the lasting legacy of his excellence.

ADAM DUBBIN: “Now you finished your career in the NFL with 106 sacks. That was 16th-most in NFL history when you retired in 2003, which was among a lot of solid, if not upper-level numbers that you did. Are you satisfied with your professional accomplishments? In that, do you feel like there are things you could have done better, or do you maybe feel like you’ve over-achieved on some things? Please fill me in on those.”

12 Nov 2000: Trace Armstrong #93 of the Miami Dolphins watches his team battle the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The Dolphins won 17-7. (Stephen Dunn/ALLSPORT)

TRACE ARMSTRONG: “There are things I could’ve/should’ve done better. I think I had a couple of years — I think four years — where I played a lot of defensive tackle and that really… you know, I got hurt a lot of those years where I played inside. The injuries plus playing inside… I was not a very good inside player. It probably hurt some of my career totals.”

27 Sep 1992: Defensive lineman Trace Armstrong of the Chicago Bears (right) rushes the Atlanta Falcons line during a game at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears won the game, 41-31.

“You know, I had a left ankle injury that I suffered my rookie year with the Bears. Didn’t really get it taken care of properly until after my first year with the Dolphins so there’s a pretty good chunk of my career in there where I was in a lot of pain and I couldn’t run that well.”

3 Sep 2000: Trace Armstrong #93 of the Miami Dolphins celebrates with teammate Jason Taylor #99 during the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Flordia. The Dolphins defeated the Seahawks 23-0. (Andy Lyons /Allsport)

“So you look back and you think, ‘Well what if I had done this, what if I’d done that’ but, you know, it is what it is. I look back… I’d write a check for everything I got. I’d go back and do it all over again because I loved every second.”

1 Nov 1998: Trace Armstrong #93 of the Miami Dolphins tries to block a field goal attempt during the game against the Buffalo Bills at the Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. The Bills defeated the Dolphins 30-24. (Rick Stewart /Allsport)

“I still dream about third down. I do. You know, there’s one or two nights a week at some point in the middle of the night I wake up and I’m dreaming about playing Buffalo or playing the Vikings.”

MIAMI: Buffalo Bills’ quarterback Rob Johnson (R) loses the ball as he is sacked by Miami Dolphins defensive end Trace Armstrong during 2nd quarter action of their game 08 October 2000 at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida. (RHONA WISE/AFP)

How good will Florida football be in 2021? Here’s former Gator Trace Armstrong’s take

Watch: ‘The NCAA needs to step up’ —Trace Armstrong’s opinion on modern college football

WATCH: Chicago’s great, but Miami’s the place for former Gator Trace Armstrong

WATCH: Florida football great Trace Armstrong selects his best Gator ever

How good will Florida football be in 2021? Here’s former Gator Trace Armstrong’s take

As part of an ongoing series at Gators Wire with former Florida football standout Trace Armstrong we asked about his thoughts on 2021.

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Be sure to check back each Wednesday in the coming months for future installments of “Talking with Trace.” The series is part of a partnership between our colleagues at Campus Lore and the NFLPA.

Previously, we have discussed who was the greatest Gator ever and why the Miami Dolphins was such a great place for Trace, as well as his take on the NCAA and modern college football.

Now that the National Football League’s 2021 draft is over and done with, the next major landmark on the horizon for Florida football fans is the 2021 season, which begins on September 4 in Gainesville against the Florida Atlantic Owls. While that day is still far in the future, it is never too early to start prognosticating.

Gators Wire editor Adam Dubbin sat down and asked former Florida football standout and NFL Pro Bowler Trace Armstrong, who is currently a sports agent who represents several big-name college football coaches as well as a handful of broadcasters, what his prediction for the Orange and Blue next season is.

Here is what he had to say on the topic.

ADAM DUBBIN: “What do you predict the Gators’ record will be next season?”

Florida quarterback Emory Jones warms up before an NCAA college football game against LSU, Saturday, Dec. 12, 2020, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

TRACE ARMSTRONG: “You know, they’re going to lose some really good players. You have a pro day here in Gainesville in a couple of weeks. Every NFL team is going to be there and the league’s going to be tough. I still think it’s going to be a good year for Florida. It’s going to come down to them and Georgia, as it should, in the East.”

October 29, 2011; Jacksonville FL, Florida Gators offensive line and Georgia Bulldogs defensive line on the line of scrimmage during the second half at EverBank Field. Georgia Bulldogs defeated the Florida Gators 24-20. (Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)

“But I think we’re in for a little bit of a rebuild this year. So I’m going to say we win nine games this year.”

ADAM: “That works for me.”

Dec 19, 2020; Atlanta, Georgia, Florida Gators head coach Dan Mullen signals from the sideline during the fourth quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC Championship. (Adam Hagy-USA TODAY Sports)

Watch: ‘The NCAA needs to step up’ —Trace Armstrong’s opinion on modern college football

WATCH: Chicago’s great, but Miami’s the place for former Gator Trace Armstrong

WATCH: Florida football great Trace Armstrong selects his best Gator ever

Watch: ‘The NCAA needs to step up’ —Trace Armstrong’s opinion on modern college football

One of the biggest stories the past several months has been the battle for the rights to the names, images & likenesses of student-athletes.

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Be sure to check back each Wednesday in the coming months for future installments of “Talking with Trace.” The series is part of a partnership between our colleagues at Campus Lore and the NFLPA.

Previously, we have discussed who was the greatest Gator ever and why the Miami Dolphins was such a great place for Trace.

One of the biggest stories in collegiate sports the past several months has been the battle for the rights to the names, images and likenesses of student-athletes, as well as the push for looser transfer portal parameters in the major sports.

Gators Wire editor Adam Dubbin discussed the issue with former Florida football standout and NFL Pro Bowler Trace Armstrong, who is currently a sports agent who represents several big-name college football coaches, as well as a handful of broadcasters.

Here is what he had to say on the topic.

ADAM DUBBIN: “What are your thoughts on the naming, image rights, etc. that’s going through legislation currently and various institutions trying to apply it. What are your thoughts about that?”

Trace Armstrong of the Miami Dolphins watches his team battle the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego on Nov.12, 2000. The Dolphins won 17-7. (Stephen Dunn/ALLSPORT)

TRACE ARMSTRONG: “I think it’ll be interesting to see what actually happens… where the market is. Are we talking millions of dollars or are we talking thousands of dollars? And then, what safeguards are put in place [to prevent] some places or schools [who] use it to break the rules and use it for an illegal advantage.”

Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

“So I think there’s a lot to be worked out right now. I think the NCAA needs to step up and lead on this. I think they’ve been very reactive in how they’ve handled players and handled NIL. So I think the game… it’s a danger that the game faces right now. So I’m a little concerned about that.”

NCAA president Mark Emmert speaks during a press conference at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on April 4, 2019. (Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports)

“But I’m absolutely for player rights and for players to have the ability to transfer within reason. They also have to recognize too that if you’re a player, you sign a scholarship — the way it works now is that most of these are four-year scholarships and a lot of these kids, they come, they sign scholarships and many of them don’t play. about 40% of the kids that sign Division I football scholarships never really see the field. So if they want to make it more like a job they’re also going to have to recognize that if you’re one of those kids that is not going to play, you know, there could be a situation where the school says, ‘You know what? We’re terminating the scholarship.'”

Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

“So I think there’s going to be some back-and-forth and some things that need to be thought through and worked out, and that’s why I think there’s a real need for good, strong leadership at the NCAA level right now.”

WATCH: Chicago’s great, but Miami’s the place for former Gator Trace Armstrong

WATCH: Florida football great Trace Armstrong selects his best Gator ever

WATCH: Florida football great Trace Armstrong selects his best Gator ever

Former University of Florida star Trace Armstrong discusses the greatest UF football players ever with Gators Wire.

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Be sure to check back each Wednesday in the coming months for future installments of “Talking with Trace.” The series is part of a partnership between our colleagues at Campus Lore and the NFLPA.

For the first article of our interview series with legendary Gators defensive end Trace Armstrong, we asked him who he considers as the greatest Florida football player of all time. Armstrong transferred from Arizona State to Florida for his senior season in 1988, after which he went on to a storied professional football career in the NFL.

Here is what he had to say about who the greatest Gator of all time is:

“That’s a great question. I had great admiration for (Pro Football Hall of Famer) Jack Youngblood, as a former player. He’s a D-lineman that I looked up to as a young player and the career he had in the league. So, Jack would definitely be up there.

Feb 5, 2012; Indianapolis, IN. NFL former player and Hall of Fame member Jack Youngblood before Super Bowl XLVI between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots at Lucas Oil Stadium. (Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports)

“You know, it would be … I’d say outside of Jack, probably Tim Tebow. And not because of what Tim accomplished on the field. Tim, particularly as a young man, was one of those unique individuals where he had this outsized influence on others. So it was really neat to see him as a young player in a team setting and a team dynamic. And I’ll be honest, I had not seen or been around somebody like him at the college level ever before.

Florida quarterback Tim Tebow runs around Dolphin Stadium shaking hands with fans following the Gators’ 24-14 victory over Oklahoma at Dolphins Stadium to win the BCS Championship Game on Jan. 8, 2009. (USA TODAY Sports photo)

So those would be two. Jack for just his toughness and high level of play for so long and Tim for his ability to impact other people.”