Man, the signs were sure there Sunday afternoon, those qualities within Mitch Trubisky's personality and approach that are easy to believe in.
Two days after being told he had won the Chicago Bears' closely scrutinized quarterback competition, Trubisky sat on a Zoom call with reporters oozing gratitude, expressing eagerness and appearing every bit like a confident franchise quarterback with big intentions for the 2020 season.
At the very least, this was a 26-year-old veteran with his career on the line who seems to have found his way to a really good place mentally.
"It's exciting," Trubisky said. "I know we're all eager to get ready for this year and play this weekend. So it's time to roll."
Seven weeks ago, when Trubisky ducked into a trailer outside Halas Hall for his COVID-19 arrival test for training camp, there was zero guarantee he would enter the season with control of his career. The Bears had traded for Nick Foles in March, declined the 2021 option on Trubisky's rookie contract in May and set up a mano-a-mano duel for the QB1 job.
What can the Bears learn from their past QB competitions? Here are 4 lessons _ from McMahon-Tomczak-Harbaugh to Matthews-McNown-Miller. �
For many, it felt like a series of jabs and uppercuts that could floor Trubisky for good.
Now Trubisky heads into Week 1 with the keys to the Bears offense, with the opportunity he worked his butt off to earn, with another chance to steer his journey where he believes it can go.
Best of all for coach Matt Nagy and the Bears, Trubisky seems at ease and full of self-belief.
"I control my own destiny," he said. "And I'm definitely not going to take this opportunity for granted. I feel like I got a fresh, new, clean slate."
