The Chicago Bears are among the teams under the most pressure heading into 2020. That’s what happens when, just one year removed from a postseason appearance, you stumble to a 8-8 season.
There were many reasons why the Bears struggled in 2019 — most of them coming on offense — and there are several players (and coaches and front-office staff) that are facing more pressure than others this season.
Although there are some, like tight end Adam Shaheen, that likely won’t even make the roster, so I didn’t bother adding him to the list. Let’s take a look at the Bears under the most pressure in 2020.
7. Anthony Miller
There’s no question when receiver Anthony Miller is healthy he’s proven to be a downfield target that benefits this offense. But Miller has been hampered by injuries over these last two seasons, which haven’t cost him significant game time but have affected his progress in the offense.
Last season, he wasn’t able to participate in offseason workouts following recovery from shoulder surgery, and it took him some time to finally get going last season. But when he did, he was special. He’ll find himself in a similar boat this season, as he’s coming off a second surgery on that left shoulder in two years. Miller needs to stay healthy in order to further progress and produce consistently, not just in spurts.
6. Ryan Pace
When discussing general manager Ryan Pace, the first thing that typically comes up is that he swung and missed with his attempt at drafting a franchise quarterback when he landed Mitchell Trubisky in 2017. And he whiffed. Big-time. But he has been responsible for bringing in the likes of outside linebacker Khalil Mack, defensive tackle Akiem Hicks and safety Eddie Jackson and crafting one of the best defenses in the league.
Pace has owned up to his mistakes this offseason, releasing former first-rounder Leonard Floyd and tight end Trey Burton, as well as bringing in quarterback Nick Foles to compete with Trubisky for the starting job. He recognizes that the clock is ticking on Chicago’s Super Bowl window, as well as his job. If the Bears have a similar season as 2019 this season, his seat will go from warm to hot.
5. Matt Nagy
Much like Pace, Matt Nagy’s seat is starting to warm up following a disappointing 2019 season. While his future was never in question this season, if this team has similar struggles in 2020, that seat is going to get pretty hot. Nagy was brought to Chicago to spark this offense and get the most out of Mitchell Trubisky. While the latter certainly hasn’t come to fruition, if Nagy can just find a way for this offense to flourish, he’ll be fine.
There’s no doubt that the culture he’s brought to the Bears is incredibly important, but he also needs to find a way to get results. And considering this top-5 defense managed to thrive even amid injury struggles, the onus falls on Nagy and the offense to deliver in 2020.
4. Charles Leno Jr.
When it comes to the offensive line’s struggles last season, the blame doesn’t fall on just one person. But there’s no denying the offensive lineman with the most pressure on him this season is left tackle Charles Leno Jr., who is supposed to be the anchor of this line. Leno was among the most penalized players in the NFL in 2019 — where he had 12 penalties in 2019, which was tied for fifth most in the NFL. Leno gave up 40 combined pressures in 2019, and his Pro Football Focus grade dipped from 80.4 in 2018 to 58.6 in 2019.
Given the monetary dedication to Leno — he’s a $10.3 million cap hit in 2020 — he needs to step up his game this season or he could find himself out of a job. The Bears are financially strapped to him in 2020, but they could surely be looking to replace him heading into the 2021 NFL Draft.
3. Jimmy Graham
Jimmy Graham has only been in Chicago for a hot minute, but there’s already a significant amount of pressure on the Bears’ newest tight end. Graham was among the most criticized free-agent signings this offseason, as the Bears shelled out a two-year, $16 million deal with $9 million guaranteed.
All of that for an aging veteran that was on the decline with future Hall-of-Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers throwing him the ball. With the release of Trey Burton — and assuming Adam Shaheen’s time is all but done — Pace is putting his faith in Graham to add a spark to a tight ends room that was collectively among the worst in 2019. Graham will be the featured “U” tight end, but he’s certainly no Travis Kelce.
2. Nick Foles
Like it or not, Nick Foles is in a situation where there’s a whole lot of pressure on him before he’s even hit the practice field. That’s how dire Chicago’s quarterback situation is. Luckily for Foles, he’s proven to rise to the occasion in pressure-packed situations. And Chicago is certainly that. With Mitchell Trubisky’s future in question, Pace traded a fourth-round pick for Foles, which in itself brings a certain level of pressure.
Foles was brought in to not only challenge Trubisky but potentially win the starting quarterback job, where he would run a similar offense that he ran during his time in Kansas City and Philadelphia. You could argue that the pressure is on Foles simply to win the starting job, which many expect him to do. If he doesn’t — and Trubisky ultimately succeeds this season — it would have been a waste of a fourth-round pick, but it would have worked out in a way that benefits the Bears.
1. Mitchell Trubisky
There’s arguably no player in the NFL with more pressure on him heading into 2020 than quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. The former No. 2 overall draft pick finds himself the underdog in what the Bears call an open and fair quarterback competition with Nick Foles, where Trubisky will have to earn the right to line-up under center for Chicago.
Trubisky had his worst season as a pro last year, although he certainly wasn’t the only one to blame for the offense’s downfall. But he was a big problem. Especially with the constant reminder that Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson are carrying their franchises. Trubisky has one last chance to turn things around and prove that he can be the Bears’ franchise quarterback, which is a universal hope at this point. But, first, he’ll have to win the starting job.
