Prince Amukamara might have just one season of Bears football under his belt, but he’s definitely got the lingo down, when it comes to Chicago’s oldest rival.
When discussing how Matt Nagy’s #BeObsessed mantra has trickled down from the top to the players, Amukamara acknowledged the challenges that await the up-start Bears. Even if he refused to mention them by name.
“In the NFC North, it’s not easy. Especially with that team in Wisconsin there,” Amukamara told the NFL Network’s Good Morning Football squad. “They had a great offseason. I think everyone in our conference had a great offseason with some upgrades, and it’s going to be tough. But I think we’re going to be there to compete.”
There’s no denying That Team in Wisconsin (aka the Green Bay Packers) had a productive offseason, which only further cements them as the team to beat in the division. Sure, the Vikings went all the way to the NFC title game and made improvements at quarterback, receiver, and defensive tackle, and the Lions still figure to be competitive with Matthew Stafford under center. But don’t sleep on the Bears, especially since it sounds like the team is really taking what Nagy says to heart.
“I think guys are believing and embracing that,” Amukamara said of Nagy’s obsession with being obsessed. “You can tell in OTAs, you can tell in our minicamps that we’ve been making strides.” After parlaying his strong season into a multi-year contract, Amukamara is clearly feeling good about himself, his team, and the overall trajectory of this thing.
Optimism has engulfed the Bears locker room thanks to the power of positive reinforcement that Nagy has brought to Chicago. And between his stamp of approval for his quarterback, as well as his strong feelings about the defense, Amukamara has been at the front lines of spreading the good word.