The quarterback area looks like being the biggest decision for Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy to make during the offseason in 2021. The Bears are desperately seeking a new long-term quarterback to pin their hopes and dreams on. But although Mitchell Trubisky might not offer that long-term solution, it’s possible that he could be retained for next season to act as a reliable go-between alongside any potential new draft recruit or
Trubisky is out of contract at the end of the 2020 NFL season. The Bears are certainly at something of a crossroads when it comes to their quarterback options. The mere fact that Trubisky is still in contention for a new contract underlines the stark improvements in his performances and that of the Bears overall.
Only a matter of weeks ago, the Bears’ season looked well and truly over. Defeat to the Detroit Lions in early December, who are rooted to the bottom of the NFC North, posed serious question marks over the Bears’ postseason prospects. Despite back-to-back victories against the Texans and the Vikings, Chicago are still by no means favorites in the NFL betting odds to reach the Super Bowl, ranked as +25000 outsiders by many of the leading US sportsbooks.
However, those wins have seen some pose the question as to whether Trubisky could yet have a future in a Bears jersey. Trubisky was finally recalled in place of Nick Foles in Nagy’s final roll of the dice, reshuffling the offense to maximize Trubisky’s attributes and boy, has it worked. In their last four games, the Bears have registered the fifth-highest cumulative points total in the entire NFL with 122 points. That kind of offensive output over the course of the full regular season would have surely given them a great chance of reaching the playoffs.
Matt Nagy has also intimated that Trubisky will continue to be a major player for the rest of the season, given “the way he’s playing” and the “identity of the offense”. So will the Bears look to retain Trubisky for another year or two? He would certainly be the cost-effective choice, with the ability to retain him for no more than $10 or $12 million per year. It would give the Bears more room for maneuver in their salary cap for other areas.
When pressed on his long-term future with the Bears by reporters, Trubisky provided a flat-batted response, insisting that he was only keen on “staying in the moment” and “whatever happens, happens”. But with only Nick Foles under contract for 2021, the Bears’ hierarchy have plenty of work to do to prepare for next season.