Just about every NFL team will only go as far as their quarterback takes them, and the Chicago Bears are no exception. And that’s why the 2019 season, one that has so much excitement and promise around it, will essentially come down to Mitchell Trubisky.
The former second overall pick will begin his second full season as the starter and the second full season in coach Matt Nagy’s offense, a combination of things that should result in a breakout year.
The Bears need that breakout year to happen, and according to ESPN’s biggest story for every team this season, it starts and ends with Trubisky in Chicago.
The Bears appear loaded for a repeat run in the NFC North, but questions about Trubisky persist. The 24-year-old quarterback had a good season in 2018 (95.4 passer rating) but needs to take another step for Chicago to move from playoff qualifier to Super Bowl contender. The Bears assembled a formidable cast of characters around Trubisky, who enters Year 2 in head coach Matt Nagy’s innovative offensive scheme.
The big difference with this year’s Bears team is expectations, and with expectations comes pressure. True franchise quarterbacks rise above that pressure and deliver. So, naturally, all eyes will be on Trubisky to determine if he is, in fact, that guy.
Trubisky’s 2018 season was an all-around success. Not only did he lead this team to a 12-4 record and an NFC North championship, but he improved across the board statistically.
He finished the season with 3,223 yards, 24 touchdowns and 12 interceptions and did a ton of damage as a runner. He totaled 421 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. And remember: he managed all of this production despite missing two games with an injury.
It’s pretty much stating the obvious that the 2019 season will rest on Trubisky’s shoulders. But it’s even bigger than that. The 2019 season and the long-term future of the Bears will come down to how well Trubisky plays this fall. He can’t fail.
