Mitch Trubisky is good.
Those four words might be jarring to some, but the development, growth, and progress made from his rookie season is both obvious and undeniable. Trubisky is just two years into his professional career and doesn’t even have a full season worth of plays under his belt in Head Coach Matt Nagy’s system, but everything is pointing to him being a winning quarterback (including, you know, all the wins).
Check out these numbers from ESPN’s NFL matchup, which favorably compare Trubisky against some other quarterbacks throughout the league:
Young QBs this season: INSIDE THE POCKET, where it is hardest for most young players.
If your QB is a rookie and on the bottom list, it's likely too soon to worry.#ChiefsKingdom #Texans #RaiderNation #FlyEaglesFly #RavensFlock #LARams #DallasCowboys #TitanUp #DaBears #Browns pic.twitter.com/2t8ZrZ2vgn
— NFL Matchup on ESPN (@NFLMatchup) December 26, 2018
Young QBs Part II: OUTSIDE THE POCKET#GoBucs #FlyEaglesFly #Texans #ChiefsKingdom #Browns #DaBears #LARams #DUUUVAL #GoNiners #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/47h8f1aBHC
— NFL Matchup on ESPN (@NFLMatchup) December 26, 2018
If you can thrive under pressure (pun intended), you've got yourself a pretty decent reactionary quarterback!#InBrotherhood #Texans #Browns #GoBucs #Seahawks #Jets #BeRedSeeRed #FinsUp pic.twitter.com/Cral6ec70a
— NFL Matchup on ESPN (@NFLMatchup) December 24, 2018
3rd Down Success for QBs = the percentage of plays a QB gets a 1st down either by running or throwing on 3rd down.#GoBucs #HTTR #Colts #InBrotherhood #ChiefsKingdom #HereWeGo #TitanUp #DaBears #DUUUVAL #Skol #GoNiners pic.twitter.com/GVHIEbQJM8
— NFL Matchup on ESPN (@NFLMatchup) December 26, 2018
When compared to his peers, Trubisky is good inside (95.7 passer rating, 9th among young QBs) and outside the pocket (98.0 passer rating, 6th). When thrown into pressure, Trubisky’s 80.2 passer rating facing heat is the 7th best among all quarterbacks – better than Kirk Cousins (80.0), Patrick Mahomes (75.8), and Carson Wentz (73.3). And on third down, Trubisky has moved the chains and converted a first down on 35.6 percent of his attempts via a pass or a run (8th).
So basically, Trubisky is good inside and outside the pocket, while under pressure, and on third down. What else could you ask out of a second-year quarterback?
Maybe a stronger singing voice.
Stick to sports pic.twitter.com/ccc0yYW341
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) December 25, 2018
And if the numbers don’t sell you on the player Trubisky is now or have you dreaming about what he could be in the future, NFL analyst Brian Baldinger breaks down the impressive throws he made against the 49ers:
.@ChicagoBears @Mtrubisky10 to all of his detractors out there : What don’t you like; What don’t you see. That was a virtuoso performance yesterday in a town that knows a lot about great QB play. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/NSlIAQ7ed2
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) December 24, 2018
The throws looked good at first blush while watching live. But with the benefit of different camera angles and an explanation from Baldinger, it’s easy to get a greater appreciation for what Trubisky did on Sunday.
Through 13 games this season, Trubisky has thrown for 3,060 yards, completed 66 percent of his passes, and has a 2-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. This is exactly the type of building block season Bears fans were hoping he could piece together in 2018. So while he might not have the highlight reel footage that Patrick Mahomes or Deshaun Watson own, Trubisky is doing more than just fine in his lane. He’s thriving. The Bear are thriving. And isn’t this what each of us wanted all along?