BOURBONNAIS — This was Danny Trevathan’s glitziest moment of training camp, and given his reserved nature, there probably won’t be many more like it.
After three blistering hours on the practice field Sunday morning, Trevathan showed no fatigue as he roused the Bears fans lining the end zone by yelling, “Let’s go, let’s go” and running along the ropes as he took a selfie video of the scene.
Trevathan can stir it up when he wants to, but usually prefers to work quietly. Khalil Mack’s stardom towers over the rest of the linebackers, Roquan Smith is a 22-year-old wonder swarmed by hype after a brilliant rookie season, and Travathan is content to let those two have the spotlight.
“It don’t matter to me,” he said. “We’re all playing good, and I believe we all get what we deserve in the end. I’m just worried about playing ball and helping my team get better. I’ve never been one to care about that stuff.
“I’m the kind of guy that just works my (butt) off. I’m gonna be that type of person ‘til the day I’m gone.”
That approach has served him well, and he’s outpaced all projections for his career as a sixth-round pick out of Kentucky. He’s coming off a resurgent season and doesn’t sense himself slowing down.
Trevathan has seen it all as he enters his eighth year in the NFL and is one of the few Bears with a championship ring, but he’s as eager about the upcoming season as the fans.
The defense has been rising the last few years, and safety Eddie Jackson called Trevathan “the big brother” of that group for his indispensible leadership. That’s going to be important as the Bears transition from former defensive coordinator Vic Fangio to Chuck Pagano.
Even with that change, it looks like everything is coming together for them to have a shot at the Super Bowl, and Trevathan can’t wait to see if all their recent growth gets them there.
“This feels like the beginning of something great,” he said.
It also might be the end of something great for Trevathan, who is in the final year of his contract and could be tough to re-sign as the Bears factor in eventual expenses for their talented young players. Trevathan’s mind hasn’t drifted to that possibility yet, and he said he’s, “just here to win,” rather than fret about his future.
He fought through injuries his first two years with the Bears before finally enjoying good health and putting up 102 tackles last season, second on the team to Smith’s 121. He threw in a forced fumble, two interceptions, two sacks and eight tackles for loss for his best year since 2015.
Mack was so impressed by Trevathan and Smith last season that he believes the Bears can sweep the linebacker spots in all-pro voting.
“You can say that’s a large task for those guys, but I don’t think it will be,” said Mack, who has made it three times.
That’s the only kind of validation that means anything to Trevathan — that Mack thinks so highly of him, not the honors. He isn’t the forgotten man within the organization — “My teammates know,” he said — and awards can be arbitrary anyway.
Trevathan’s never made so much as a Pro Bowl despite some worthy seasons, but he just shrugs. That’s not a career goal, and he’s got bigger plans for that time of year.
“Hopefully I won’t even have to play in it because we’re going to the Super Bowl,” he said, grinning. “I know what type of player I am. I know I’m special.”
