Bears: Is moving on from Mitchell Trubisky really the right call?

The Bears have a huge decision to make about Mitchell Trubisky regardless of Sunday’s result in New Orleans.

Mitchell Trubisky is playing in the biggest game of his life Sunday afternoon. His Chicago Bears just squeaked into the playoffs and are on the road against the New Orleans Saints as major underdogs.

Trubisky had his fifth-year option for 2021 declined so it is very possible Sunday is his last game in a Bears uniform. That would either mean Nick Foles is the starter in 2021, or the Bears do a full reset at the position. But is it wise to automatically move on from the former No. 2 pick if the Bears lose Sunday?

Bears may want to consider giving Trubisky another chance

The Bears being 8-8 is not all on Trubisky’s shoulders. He only played in 10 games during the regular season after being replaced by Foles. Injuries then thrust him back into the starting lineup and he managed to do enough to get into the playoffs.

Head coach Matt Nagy and GM Ryan Pace should shoulder much more of the blame for the way the offense has performed with Trubisky under center. Nagy’s offense can be described as conservative at times and Pace could have brought in some better weapons as well.

Declining the quarterback’s option was the obvious move given he would have been on a one-year deal worth nearly $25 million in 2021 if it was picked up. However, there is no reason why the Bears can’t re-sign him on a “prove-it” deal that is filled with incentives.

Let’s say the Bears do lose against the Saints. Letting Trubisky walk and keeping Nagy, but not landing a top quarterback, isn’t going to magically fix things in Chicago. Letting him go also means Pace may have to go as well. That alone should have Pace getting ready to keep Trubisky around.

There is still a chance the Bears pull off the upset in New Orleans and Trubisky has his coming out party. Doing that should mean the team negotiating with him for a new, short-term deal because if they don’t, some team out there is going to snatch him up fast this offseason. The potential is there and a change of scenery, whether that be leaving Chicago or getting a new coach, may be what it takes to see what Trubisky can really do.