The Chicago Bears defense got better in free agency with the addition of All-Pro pass rusher Robert Quinn.
Quinn comes to the Bears after a nine-year career, and he’s coming off of his second-best season since joining the NFL. Quinn notched 11.5 sacks and 22 quarterback hits for the Cowboys, where it was hard to find anything to love about Dallas’ defense.
The Bears pass rush, which struggled last season, only serves to get better with pairing a couple of All-Pros with a nose for getting after the quarterback.
Let’s get to know Khalil Mack’s new partner-in-crime:
1. Quinn knows how to get after the quarterback
The Bears just made their already dominant defense even more potent with the addition of Robert Quinn. There was no one, other than Green Bay’s Za’Darius Smith, that pressured quarterbacks more than Quinn last season.
Quinn generated the second-highest quarterback pressure rate on 14.0% of pass rushes last season. Also, Quinn’s average pass rush get-off time (0.80 seconds) ranked fifth among edge rushers with at least 300 pass rushes in 2019. He also added 11.5 sacks, which was the second-highest of his career.
Just imagine what Quinn can accomplish on this Bears defense with Khalil Mack lining up opposite him.
2. He’s averaged 9 sacks per season over his NFL career
One of the things that the Bears weren’t getting with Leonard Floyd was sacks. Since Floyd entered the league in 2016, his sack total declined each season, most recently with a career-low three sacks in 2019. And that was opposite Mack.
The Bears won’t have that problem with Quinn, who has averaged nine sacks per season during his nine-year career. His career-best came with 19 sacks during his All-Pro season in 2013, and after a so-so performance from 2015-2018, Quinn rebounded with 11.5 sacks in 2019.
Here’s how Quinn’s sack total breaks down:
- 2011 – 5 sacks (Rams)
- 2012 – 5 sacks (Rams)
- 2013 – 19 sacks (Rams)
- 2014 – 10.5 sacks (Rams)
- 2015 – 5 sacks (Rams)
- 2016 – 4 sacks (Rams)
- 2017 – 8.5 sacks (Rams)
- 2018 – 6.5 sacks (Dolphins)
- 2019 – 11.5 sacks (Cowboys)
Imagine what Quinn will be able to do on Chicago’s defense, where opposing offenses aren’t going to be able to block everyone. Whether that’s Mack, Quinn, Akiem Hicks, Eddie Goldman, Roquan Smith or Danny Trevathan.
3. Quinn is coming off resurgent season with Cowboys
Quinn will turn 30 years old before this season begins, but he appears to be playing some of his best football. While Quinn’s best season was far-and-away his 2013 All-Pro year — where he had 19 sacks — he found new life with the Cowboys in 2019.
He put together an impressive season with Dallas, where he had 11.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Quinn was one of a few bright spots on the Cowboys defense in 2019.
Despite missing the first two games of the season due to suspension, Quinn was Dallas’ most consistent pass rusher. He totaled 34 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and 22 quarterback hits along with his 11.5 sacks.
4. Quinn was once told he had a week to live
When Quinn was in high school, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. According to Quinn, doctors told him that he wouldn’t make it out of the hospital in a week, yet alone play football again.
“I don’t know if you were ever 17 and told you wouldn’t make it out of the hospital in a week,” he said back in 2018, via The Miami Herald. “It kind of messes with you a little bit.”
But 13 years later, Quinn is going strong. He reportedly had surgery to reduce the tumor’s swelling, and there haven’t been any complications since. Still, Quinn still has annual checkups to make sure everything’s good.
5. Quinn already has a knack getting after Aaron Rodgers
One of the things that Leonard Floyd did well during his tenure with the Bears was sack Aaron Rodgers. In eight career games against the Packers, Floyd has 7.5 sacks and 10 quarterback hits.
Luckily, Quinn already seems to have a handle on Rodgers. In five games against Rodgers, Quinn has 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble. You figure that number will rise the more familiar he gets with his new NFC North rival.
Also, it’s hard to imagine that doesn’t get better with Mack on the other side.
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