This offseason, the Chicago Bears were looking to bring in competition at quarterback for Mitchell Trubisky. There were a few options, but the Bears brought in Nick Foles via trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Some liked it, some disliked it, but after Cam Newton signed an incentive-laden deal with the New England Patriots, there’s been backfire on the Bears and their decision. Both quarterbacks are looking to prove themselves after coming off injuries, but Foles might be the right option for the Bears.
1. Foles is familiar with the offense
This is the easiest to explain and the one that makes the most sense. Foles and Bears head coach Matt Nagy goes back to 2012 when Foles played for the Philadelphia Eagles and Nagy was the quality control coach. Then in 2016, the two would work together when Foles signed with the Kansas City Chiefs and Nagy was promoted to offensive coordinator.
With the coronavirus being a major concern and preventing in-person meetings and practices, it’s nice that Foles comes into a system he knows, while Newton is heading into a new system.
2. Bears get a bargain if Foles plays well
There’s no arguing that the Patriots signed Newton to a ridiculous team-friendly deal, but it was smart of the Bears to restructure Foles contract where they’re no longer on the hook to pay $56.9 million.
If the Bears can have winning seasons, win the NFC North, win playoff games or even win a Super Bowl, that average of $8 million until 2023 is very well worth it. While if Newton plays well, he’s in line for a big contract where the Bears would have let him walk or make roster casualties.
3. Newton wasn’t guaranteed to Chicago
It was reported that Newton was open to the idea of playing for the Bears, but there was no guarantee that would happen. If the Bears didn’t trade for Foles and Newton was released, it might have come down to the Bears and Patriots.
Both teams are intriguing to play for since the Bears are a quarterback away from having a great season, and the Patriots have had two decades of success and Bill Belichick. The Bears went with the safe option in Foles because he was guaranteed to be a Bear once they traded for him.
4. It gives Mitchell Trubisky a shot to prove himself
Even though a lot of people are done with Mitchell Trubisky, you have to give him a shot. Bringing in Foles doesn’t guarantee either quarterback the starting job. It’s going to have to be earned in training camp and throughout the preseason. The competition for both quarterbacks could elevate their game.
If the Bears brought in Newton, he had to be guaranteed the starting job. That’s how it’s looking for the Patriots even though there was high praise on second-year quarterback Jarrett Stidham.
5. Foles is a Super Bowl winner
Both quarterbacks have shown they can win. Newton took the Panthers to Super Bowl but lost to the Denver Broncos, while Foles replaced Carson Wentz in 2017 and took the Philadelphia Eagles to the Super Bowl and defeated the New England Patriots.
This isn’t a massive reason, but it shows that Foles has what it takes to take a team to the Super Bowl and win. Plus when Newton reaches the Super Bowl, it was him putting the team on his back, but with Foles it was him stepping up, managing the game and letting his team play to their strength, which is similar to what the Bears need.
