There isn’t much flare to Kyle Fuller’s game. He isn’t a “rah-rah” guy and doesn’t seem to be the outspoken, trash-talking type. Not that any of that matters. After all, it’s production on the field that speaks volumes.
And that Fuller is the same even-keeled player he has always been has led Ed Donatell – Fuller’s position coach since 2015 – to circle the cornerback as a prime example of what Chicago Bears football is all about.
“Nobody cares more about the Bears than him,” Donatell said, via Chris Emma of 670 The Score. “This guy’s a good Bear. He’s a great example of a Bear — how you want a guy to represent our team, play harder, be a great teammate. I’m very, very pleased that he’s back.”
Donatell said it meant a lot to see the Bears reward Fuller with a fresh multi-year deal because he could tell how much it meant to him – especially after sitting out the entire 2016 season recovering from an injury. Think about it. At this time last year, Fuller was buried on the depth chart behind Prince Amukamara, Marcus Cooper, Bryce Callahan, and Cre’von LeBlanc. Fuller was fighting an up-hill battle with a deep position group and against the perception that he didn’t want to get on the field and play.
But rather than pout, Fuller essentially played out the 2017 season on a one-year “prove it” deal. Fuller climbed up the depth chart and earned a spot in the starting rotation, then played his best ball as a professional. His fine season was rewarded with a four-year, $56 million offer sheet with the Packers that was quickly matched by the Bears.
Big money deals can change players, but the prevailing thought out of Bears camp right now is that Fuller is the same person he was before signing his new deal. If Fuller is truly the same person he was before signing the deal, and that happens to come with the same quality of play, then the Bears’ top corner will certainly be on his way toward some good times ahead.