Bears’ Mitchell Trubisky: Comparisons to Patrick Mahomes ‘are never going to stop’
Some Bears fans are dreading their team’s “Sunday Night Football” game against the Chiefs for fear of talk about the past.
Specifically, the 2017 NFL Draft.
The Bears were set to draft third that year, but traded a 2018 first-round pick to the 49ers to change spots with San Francisco, who held the No. 2 spot.
With their choice of quarterbacks, including Deshaun Watson, Mitchell Trubisky and Patrick Mahomes, the Bears were sitting pretty.
They took Trubisky, while Mahomes was selected 10th overall by the Chiefs, and Watson went 12th to the Houston Texans.
Hindsight is 20-20, and the stats show the Bears chose poorly. Trubisky has appeared in more games than the other two, but Mahomes has thrown more touchdowns, fewer interceptions and was the NFL’s MVP last season. Watson has more touchdown passes and passing yards than Trubisky.
When asked at practice about the draft class, Trubisky said he knows people will always link the three quarterbacks.
“The comparisons are out there and they are never going to stop,” Trubisky told the Chicago Tribune. “It’s kind of me, Pat and Deshaun all grouped together because we were in the same draft class, drafted in the first round and all that. But there are no do-overs. We are where we are. Our careers are going on different paths and they will for the rest of time. And (we’ll) be compared against each other.
“It’s just the nature of the beast. But I’m in competition with myself and just trying to be the best version of me to go out there and win games for the Chicago Bears. It’s just something I can’t control.”
Bears coach Matt Nagy, who was the Chiefs offensive coordinator during Mahomes’ rookie year, said Sunday’s game is between two teams, not two players.
“I tell Mitch not to worry about that; it’s the Bears versus Chiefs,” Nagy told ESPN. “That’s the easiest way. The second you start getting into individual comparisons, whether it’s me and coach or it’s the quarterbacks, it’s their defensive linemen and our defensive linemen, their rush end and ours and all that stuff, that’s trouble.”
Trubisky helped the Bears win the NFC North last season, but he got off to a slow start this year and Chicago has been eliminated from playoff contention.
But Trubisky told the Chicago Sun-Times he believes he’s getting better in ways that people may not notice.
“I would say I’m developing,” Trubisky said. “Obviously it doesn’t always show in the statistical categories, but I feel like I’ve learned a lot throughout the season. I’ve gotten more comfortable in certain areas. I’ve definitely grown as a leader — being able to speak up, getting closer with coach and being on the same page, communicating and being more involved in the game plan and the checks throughout the game. Seeing the game a little bit better. I think it’s starting to slow down.
“Still got a long way to go, so it’s just continuing that hard work and keep trying to get better, and you never know when it’s going to happen for you — if it ever does — so keep getting better, keep grinding and do your best.”
Comparing the career numbers
Mahomes: 29 games, 8,987 passing yards, 73 touchdowns, 17 interceptions, 109.5 QB rating
Trubisky: 39 games, 8,190 passing yards, 48 touchdowns, 29 interceptions, 86.4 QB rating
Watson: 37 games, 9,532 passing yards, 71 touchdowns, 28 interceptions, 102.0 QB rating
