The Trade That Changed Everything

In 2017, the Chicago Bears made one of the most controversial decisions in NFL history. General Manager Ryan Pace traded the No. 3 overall pick, a second-round selection (2017), a fourth-round pick (2017), and a 2018 third-round pick to the San Francisco 49ers to move up to the No. 2 pick and select Mitchell Trubisky. At the time, Trubisky—a North Carolina quarterback with just 13 career college starts—was praised for his mobility and accuracy. Critics, however, questioned the steep cost of the trade, which later yielded stars like Alvin Kamara (No. 67, 2017) and Fred Warner (No. 70, 2018) for the 49ers. The decision also cost the Bears the chance to draft future Super Bowl MVPs Patrick Mahomes (No. 10) and Deshaun Watson (No. 12), who went on to dominate the league.

Trubisky’s Uneven Career in Chicago

Trubisky’s four seasons with the Bears were marked by inconsistency. His career stats included 10,609 passing yards, 64 touchdowns, and 37 interceptions, with an 87.2 passer rating. His best season came in 2018, when he led the Bears to a 12-4 record and an NFC North title. Yet his struggles with decision-making, pocket presence, and deep passes became glaring. Even in that standout year, ESPN’s QBR ranked him 16th nationally—far behind Mahomes (1st) and Watson (3rd). By 2020, he was benched in favor of Nick Foles, and the Bears released him in 2021 after declining his fifth-year option.

Lasting Consequences

The fallout extended beyond the field. Pace was fired in 2021 after a 48-65 record as GM. The Bears’ 2021 draft of Justin Fields offered hope, but offensive struggles persisted, culminating in a 5-12 season in 2024 and the midseason dismissal of head coach Matt Eberflus. Meanwhile, Trubisky’s post-Bears career as a backup with the Bills and Steelers has been unremarkable, with a 2-5 record in seven starts since 2021. By 2024, he was reduced to minimal roles, completing just 4-of-5 passes for 78 yards in eight games.

A Cautionary Tale

The Trubisky trade underscores the NFL’s unpredictability and the risks of overvaluing unproven quarterbacks. Analysts, including Bleacher Report, criticized the move as unnecessary—Chicago could have stayed at No. 3 and still selected Trubisky without surrendering so much draft capital. Today, the Bears remain in rebuilding mode, while Mahomes and Watson redefine greatness. For Bears fans, the trade remains a decade-long symbol of wasted potential—a stark reminder that even “safe” choices can derail a franchise’s future.

Keywords

Mitch Trubisky, Chicago Bears, Patrick Mahomes, Ryan Pace, NFL Draft, Justin Fields