After a tough start to last season that seemed to expose little of his advancing age, Bears linebacker Danny Trevathan was in no mood for reflection Tuesday — looking only straight ahead at the future.
“Last year was last year,” Trevathan said. “I’m not really worried about that. But I know what to do this year and I’m working my tail off. I know what I expect of myself and I know what my team needs and I’m going to give them all of that.”
Trevathan, who was coming off elbow surgery entering the 2020 season recovered from the slow start and finished with 113 tackles — the second most of his career. And he added a team-high 10 against the Saints in the playoff game. But at 31, he’ll be challenged to regain his top form in 2021.
So far, so good. Trevathan arrived at camp in great shape, looks sharp in early practices and appears motivated to prove any doubters wrong.
In that respect, he picked an appropriate training regimen in the offseason — boxing. He worked out regularly at a boxing facilities in Los Angeles and Florida and was encouraged by the results.
“Every game is a title fight,” Trevathan said when asked about the boxing workouts. “I just wanted to incorporate stuff that I heard around the league that was real good and guys that recently played the position — that it was good cardio and it works everything. So I’m expecting to continue that throughout the season.”
Trevathan looked a step slow and not in the best shape at the start of last season. Trevathan still is a tactically efficient linebacker and he was durable enough to play in all 16 games last year. But in his 10th season in the NFL, he needs every facet of his game to be at a peak level — strength, reflex and endurance included. And the boxing workouts help get him there.
“Just providing strength core, balance, being able to strike and get-off and overall fight the fatigue — that’s something you get through boxing,” Trevathan said. “You have to keep going round for round for round. I think that’s why I am what I am.”
Trevathan remains a valuable asset to the Bears’ defense. The Bears signed him to a three-year contract — and let a younger Nick Kwiatkoski go in free agency — at least in part because of Trevathan’s intangible impact as a leader on a top-10 defense. “We we go through tough times, I go to him a lot,” coach Matt Nagy said.
Like general manager Ryan Pace, Nagy acknowledged he was curious about what kind of shape Trevathan would be in entering training camp at 31. “That was always a concern,” Nagy said. “Well, he came in great shape.”
Trevathan came into the league as a sixth-round draft choice (188th overall) with the Broncos in 2012, became a starter in Year 2 and was the leading tackler on the Broncos’ Super Bowl championship team in 2015. He’s as motivated as ever to keep it going.
“It’s all glory to God, first of all,” Trevathan said, “But it just goes to show, no matter how you get in, it’s all about how you finish. Don’t ever let anybody stop you. I was 188 — I carry that with me right now, and it’s still pushing me.
“I’m not finished yet. And it feels great, where I’m at right now. It feels great to have this defense and this team rocking right now. The Bears organization, they’re doing a great job of getting guys in here and still holding us accountable. And I’m looking forward to this year.”
