Chicago Bears (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
In case he needed it, Mitchell Trubisky will have all the motivation he could ask for in the 2020 season.
As the Chicago Bears move towards the start of the 2020 season, Mitchell Trubisky, their incumbent quarterback will be looking to re-establish himself as a franchise quarterback, which is something he hasn’t been thought of for quite some time. In doing so, he will have all the motivation he could possibly want to drive him back to where he wants to be.
First, let me begin by saying that I like Mitch, and really, how could you not? Off the field, he is everything you want your franchise quarterback to be. He’s a tremendous teammate and a hard worker who lives and breathes football. He stays out of trouble, is involved in the community, and wants nothing more than to bring a Super Bowl back to Chicago.
However, it’s his performance on the field that has created doubt about his ability to accomplish that goal and led to a steep divide amongst Bears fans. While there are those, like myself, who love Mitch the person and want him to succeed, but have enormous reservations about Mitch the player, there are far more fans who fall into one of two categories: “Trubisky Truthers” or “Trubisky Haters.”
If you don’t believe me, you need only cruise through Twitter for a few minutes and look at the chatter about Mitch.
Don’t believe me? Then take a look at a recent poll posted by ESPN’s Waddle and Silvy. The question was simple — are you rooting for Mitch Trubisky to win the open QB competition. Note, it didn’t ask if you “think” he will win, but simply are you “rooting” for him to do so. So who would actively root against the kid? Well, apparently 48.9 percent of fans. The number was shocking to me. Again, do I have confidence he will win it? No. But am I rooting for him to do so? Of course, because that is the best-case scenario for the franchise.
If knowing fifty percent of the fan base wants you to fail isn’t motivation enough, Mitch will also have substantial, financial motivation to play well in 2020. Look, the Bears can say what they want publicly, but the fact that they haven’t picked up his fifth-year option, at a cost of $24 million, speaks volumes. It would be a complete shock if the Bears did so by the May deadline. Therefore, Mitch likely isn’t only playing for his job, but for his next contract as well.
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Finally, there’s the motivation that comes with the feeling that you’ve been snubbed by the very organization that drafted you. Pursuing, and ultimately trading for Nick Foles, was necessary. This is a business, and Ryan Pace knows his job is in jeopardy if the team doesn’t produce next year. However, that doesn’t mean it stings Mitch any less that the team who once touted him as the future is already looking for an escape plan.
Whether it’s a slight from the fans, being snubbed by his own team, or financial stability, Mitch will have no shortage of motivating factors to get him going next year. Whether he can remains to be seen, but we should all be rooting for him to succeed.