Once upon a time, the Chicago Bears traded up just one spot to select quarterback Mitchell Trubisky in the 2017 NFL Draft.
Fast forward through a whole bunch of quarterback drama, competition, controversy, and, to be frank, mediocre quarterback play at best, and Trubisky is now with his fourth NFL team.
The current Tennessee Titans backup will get a chance to see his former team in the two squads' preseason finale, and since Trubisky exited Chicago after the 2020 season, much has changed. He is now no longer viewed as a potential starter or, dare I say, the "franchise quarterback" some may have labeled him nine long years ago.
Being relegated to a backup in the league might have been tough to swallow at first for the former North Carolina standout, but Trubisky has relished it and, now, is one of the better backups in the league.
In speaking with FanSided's Titans expert, Justin Melo of Titan Sized, I was able to get an honest opinion of Tennessee's new backup. Let's just say the fan base is quite relieved to get the chance to move on from the likes of Will Levis.
Mitchell Trubisky is once again exciting a fan base, but for different reasons than he did initially with the Bears
"The Titans are thrilled with Mitch Trubisky as their backup quarterback," Melo told me. "He has been an upgrade over Will Levis or Brandon Allen, though that's not saying much. Trubisky has been solid to stellar throughout training camp, and his knowledge of Brian Daboll's offense through their shared time together in Buffalo has been an asset to Ward."
It made all the sense in the world for the Titans to bring in Trubisky, especially after their time together in Buffalo. While it was only one season back in 2021, it truly might've been what allowed Trubisky to settle in as a backup and take that step as a pro.
Now in Tennessee, he has rescued the fan base from ever having to worry about seeing Levis take the field. And, for those who may not know, Levis has been a living, breathing meme since entering the league. A 2023 second-round pick, Levis still has yet to develop, and his inconsistencies are another reason why the Titans stuck with No. 1 and drafted Ward last year.
Trubisky's experience and professionalism are two traits that bring fresh air to the Titans fan base. And now, on Saturday, he'll get another chance to see his former team in the preseason as he once did in Buffalo five years ago.
For Trubisky, it's got to be much more than just a preseason matchup. The last time he took on the Bears in 2021, with the Bills, he went 20-for-28 with 221 yards and a touchdown. He was stellar, making the Bears defense look foolish in that moment. It had to be sweet for the guy Chicago gave up on after making him the No. 2 overall selection just a few years prior.
A lot has happened since that selection was made, and the Bears once had some hope in what they thought was a franchise quarterback -- something they still hadn't found after nearly 100 years.
The hope in Chicago, around Trubisky, is long gone. But now, he provides a level of stability and consistency to a position that once worried Tennessee and their fan base.
Read more: 5 Bears players who desperately need to play in preseason Game 3
He isn't the highly-drafted top pick with a bright future ahead of him anymore, but his lengthy experience in this league and learning how to be a quality backup is what makes him valuable to yet another franchise this coming year.
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