3 reasons Mitch Trubisky was always going to start over Nick Foles

Chicago Bears fans and sports media were surprised by the Chicago Bears starting Mitch Trubisky. However, it was likely their plan all along

The Chicago Bears are going to start Mitch Trubisky week one over Nick Foles. This has come off as a surprise to many, but if you have been reading the site, it is something we saw coming since February, before Foles was even acquired.

The effects of COVID-19 definitely played into the decision, and how Trubisky fared in the preseason could have changed things. However, when the Bears acquired Foles, even despite trading for him, it was clear he was going to be the backup for Week One. They gave him an adjusted salary and incentives if he starts, but the Bears targeted Foles and only Foles because they knew he was the perfect man for the job. Here is why.

3. Playing the backup role

Many fans will point to the Chicago Bears passing on Cam Newton, Jameis Winston, Andy Dalton, and others such as Teddy Bridgewater as Nick Foles knowing the playbook. Well, it helped Foles know the playbook when the Bears went out and specifically hired Bill Lazor and John DeFilippo this offseason. You can think of those hires as a coincidence, but it showed the Bears direction a month or so before they made any move.

The Bears wanted Mitch Trubisky to start the first week of 2020. They know he disappointed in 2019, but they also liked what he did in 2018. Ryan Pace went out of his way to draft him over Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson. Pace is a prideful, confident man and wants to make sure every last chance has been exhausted before admitting he was wrong.

With that in mind, Newton, Winston, Dalton, and Bridgewater knew that they were not coming in with a fair shot to win the starting job. Newton is a charismatic leader who found the only true job opening. Winston sees a starting job in New Orleans after Drew Brees and saw a chance to revive his career in a clearly defined role with Sean Payton as his coach. The Bengals and Bears had trade talks, but it all broke down around the contract, which Nick Foles adjusted gladly to come to Chicago. Lastly, reports came out that Bridgewater signed with Carolina over Chicago because he did not think he would get a fair shot to start in Chicago.

Foles has the least amount of starts of all of those quarterbacks and has been the longest-tenured backup out of all of those quarterbacks. He knows how to help the starter, but also jump in during the middle of the game, and that is a trait none of those quarterbacks possess.

The Bears wanted one more shot at Trubisky in 2020 but did not want to be left with no answer if he fails four weeks into the year. Nick Foles was the perfect backup and came into the room knowing he would compete with Trubisky, but knowing the deck was stacked against him. He was the only quarterback who accepted that role.