Getting a chance to pick the brain of an all-time great is one thing, but hearing kind words from an all-timer is on another level. Mitch Trubisky got a taste of both on Thursday.
Broncos General Manager John Elway showered Trubisky with praise, tweets Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Elway said he liked Trubisky as a quarterback prospect coming out of college and believes that the Bears’ signal caller has all the physical tools to become a successful quarterback in the NFL. Woo.
As a nine-time Pro Bowler, two-time Super Bowl champion, and someone with 51,475 passing yards and 300 touchdowns under his belt, it’s fair to say Elway knows a thing or two about quarterback play. But on top of that, Elway has also done pretty well for himself when it comes to talent evaluation and putting together winning teams. I mean, he did put together a division champion that won a playoff game with Tim Tebow at quarterback. That takes real skill. Here’s hoping Bears GM Ryan Pace has taken a few notes of his own.
Meanwhile, Trubisky is out here living his best life as he enters his second season as the Chicago Bears’ starting quarterback.
Trubisky is the team’s unquestioned starter and with a new head coach and offensive coordinator orchestrating what is expected to be a more quarterback-friendly system. He also has a new set of pass-catchers at his disposal and a little bit more freedom to operate within the offense. And to top things off, he gets a chance to hang with Peyton Manning during joint practices held between the Bears and Broncos in Colorado:
Mike Klis reports Manning talked to Bears and Broncos quarterbacks during Thursday’s practice. Manning has obvious ties to the Broncos, but also has a little history with the Bears (and specifically, Trubisky). Last summer, John Fox brought in Manning to meet Trubisky and the Bears’ quarterbacks. Trubisky soaked it all in, but I’m curious how Manning feels about whether last year’s offense was good for the rookie now that we’re nearly a year removed from his last visit.
So one day after impressing Broncos star pass-rusher Von Miller, Trubisky found himself rubbing elbows with a future Hall of Famer and catching the eye of a legendary quarterback who also happens to be one of the league’s best personnel heads. Not bad for two days of work. Soon, it will be time for Trubisky to take it to the field and show others what he can do.