NEWSLETTER
If Mike Ditka had his way, there wouldn’t be much of a quarterback controversy at Halas Hall. However, Ditka isn’t in charge. John Fox is. And he has a totally different perspective on the Chicago Bears’ quarterback situation.
Game on.
Ditka, the player, suited up at tight end for the Bears for six years (1961-66) en route to a Hall of Fame career. As a coach, Ditka won 106 games in 11 years and led the team to seven playoff appearances – including a Super Bowl XX win behind the greatest defense of all-time. Ditka has long been retired from the coaching game and has moved onto a role as an analyst and talking-head on a variety of platforms. His latest angle has Bears fans buzzing.
“I don’t know too many rookies – including Tom Brady or Fran Tarkenton – who’s ever had that kind of a start,” said Ditka in a TMZ Sports exclusive. “One game doesn’t make a career, I understand that. The kid looked awfully good.”
Ditka came away impressed with rookie quarterback Mitch Trubisky, especially his composure, decision making, and ability to avoid the rush.
“I don’t know what else you could ask of a quarterback, so if he’s not you’re quarterback you have problems,” Ditka said. “He’s the best person I saw out there yesterday.”
To be fair, it’s easy to come away impressed after watching the Mike Glennon and Mark Sanchez combine for a 3-for-12, 24 yards, interception effort. But in the end, Ditka’s opinion of the situation holds little relevance.
But for what it’s worth – and considering he’s the current head coach of the team, it’s a lot – Fox also walked away pleased with how Trubisky performed, saying after the game: “You can see why he was picked in the draft where he was picked.”
But, as of now, Fox made it clear that one game isn’t swaying his stance on the team’s current quarterback situation:
#Bears coach John Fox: "I don’t think we’re going to pick the football team or pick the depth chart after one preseason game."
— Zach Zaidman (@ZachZaidman) August 11, 2017
#Bears coach John Fox: "Our depth chart is not going to change after one game, in particular after a preseason game."
— Zach Zaidman (@ZachZaidman) August 11, 2017
While Trubisky’s outing looked good, Mike Glennon’s looked bad, and Mark Sanchez’s was forgettable because it was sandwiched between the extremes, it’s still way too early for the head coach to make grand pronouncements about the state of his QB depth chart. To that end, kudos to Fox for sticking to the plan in place.
Moving on, how Glennon and Trubisky make adjustments for their Week 2 battle against the Arizona Cardinals could end up shining some light on what the future holds for the layout of that particular piece of the depth chart.
But for now, the status quo reigns supreme.
