On today's installment of Chicago Bears Countdown to Kickoff, we will look at the most prolific number 94 in Chicago Bears' history, defensive end Robert Quinn. With 94 days until the Bears begin the 2023 season, let's take a look at the life and career of Quinn, and the path he took to join the Chicago Bears.
Robert Quinn's Path to the NFL
Hailing from Ladson, South Carolina, Robert Quinn played football at Fort Dorchester high school, where he was ranked as a top 20 defensive end prospect by recruiting services such as Scout.com and Rival.com. Despite having a senior campaign that was cut short due to a surgery to remove a benign brain tumor, Quinn logged five sacks and over 50 tackles in his final high school season.
After high school, Robert Quinn accepted a scholarship to the University of North Carolina, where the defensive end turned into a star pass rusher. As a freshman, Quinn was a solid, rotational player, contributing two sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss, and 34 total tackles. As a sophomore, Quinn had a breakout season, recording 11 sacks and 19 tackles for loss, which helped him to be drafted 14th overall by the St. Louis Rams in the subsequent 2011 NFL Draft.
Beginning in 2011, Robert Quinn had a productive, seven-year career with the Rams that saw time in both St. Louis and Los Angeles. As a Ram, Quinn had 62.5 sacks over a 95-game span and made the Pro Bowl and First-Team All-Pro in 2013 after recording 19 sacks during the season. The following year, Quinn was elected to his second Pro Bowl, but the latter end of his Rams' career was plagued with injury and a lack of production, forcing the team to trade the edge rusher to the Miami Dolphins ahead of the 2018 season.
In Miami, Quinn played in and started all 16 of the team's games and recorded 6.5 sacks, a number he had only surpassed once in his previous three seasons. After a lone season with the Dolphins, Quinn was traded once more to the Dallas Cowboys, where the veteran enjoyed another solid season, recording 11 sacks in 14 games, his best mark since his 19-sack season in 2013. However, the Cowboys failed to resign the veteran the following offseason, making Quinn an unrestricted free agent.
Robert Quinn Has Terrific Stint with Chicago Bears
In April 2020, Quinn signed a five-year deal with the Chicago Bears as a free agent, teaming up with superstar defensive end Khalil Mack. After missing the first game of the season due to an ankle injury, Quinn would go on to play in all 15 remaining games, logging a start of 13 of them. Unfortunately, Quinn only managed to record two sacks and zero tackles for loss during the year, despite recording three fumble recoveries.
The following season, Quinn had an incredible bounce-back season, starting in all 16 games and recording a franchise record of 18.5 sacks, surpassing Richard Dent's previous record of 17.5. In 2021, Quinn, who also recorded 17 tackles for loss, 4 forced fumbles, and nearly 50 total tackles, made his first Pro Bowl since 2014, and made his first All-Pro team since 2013.
However, as the team switched management to the current regime of Ryan Poles and Matt Eberflus, players such as Quinn were on the cutting block, and after the team traded Quinn's running mate Khalil Mack to the Chargers during the offseason, the Bears chose to trade Quinn himself to the Philadelphia Eagles during the season.
Finishing the season with the eventual NFC Champions of 2022, Quinn failed to make a start in Philadelphia, recording only two tackles in the final six games of the season. The trade for Quinn included the Bears receiving a 2023 fourth-round pick, which turned into Cincinnati wide receiver Tyler Scott.
Now, Quinn is a free agent after being released by the Eagles following the season. At only 33 years old, Quinn has proven that he can not only be a rotational piece of a strong defensive line but that he can still provide elite production from the edge rusher position.
As the 2023 season draws closer, Quinn may wind up being a great, under-the-radar signing for a competitive team that could truly add another dimension to their pass rush. Expect Quinn to be back in the NFL next season. Currently, Quinn is 36th all-time in NFL sacks, only one behind his former teammate in Aaron Donald, with only five current players ahead of him.