Chicago Bears: Drew Brees Understands Mitch Trubisky’s Pain

The first quarterback Chicago Bears rookie Mitch Trubisky was compared to coming out of college was Saints star Drew Brees.

That makes sense. He was drafted by Ryan Pace, a former New Orleans personnel director. It’s natural such comparisons would follow. Pace spent over half his time there watching Brees paint one of the prettiest Hall of Fame canvases for a quarterback in history. People automatically assumed when the Bears traded up for Trubisky that the 40-year old GM felt he’d found his Brees.

Four games into the season people have already begun to question it. Trubisky hasn’t exactly lit up the scoreboard to this point. In four starts he’s completed just 47.5% of his passes for 512 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Seeing numbers like that it’s so easy for critics to say he’s been a disaster. Of course there is so much that goes into those numbers they’re ignoring.

As it turns out, if anybody understands what it’s like to struggle and be doubted early in his career it’s Brees.

Trubisky can take solace knowing Brees was not an instant success

So many people praise Brees today. Rightfully so. He’s earned the accolades. That doesn’t mean it was always this way. For those who bother to remember history, at one point in time many felt Brees would never be more than an average quarterback. In 2001 he was drafted in the second round by the San Diego Chargers. He only played in one game during his rookie season and he started far more games in college than Trubisky did.

A year later he had a rather average season with 3,284 yards, 17 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. In 2003 it was worse as he threw 11 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 11 games. During that time Brees was actually benched on three occasions. Going into 2004 there were many who wondered whether he should remain the starter.

Then a funny thing happened.

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The Chargers began to assemble some weapons around him. Tight end Antonio Gates was going into his second year. Veteran receiver and Super Bowl champion Keenan McCardell arrived in free agency. Combined with multiple years experience Brees enjoyed a breakout year with 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2004.

That didn’t happen until his third season as a starter. People are declaring Trubisky a flop after four games during his first. That doesn’t seem right. Maybe it’s wise to wait until Pace has had the time to construct a proper cast of weapons around the kid before rendering judgement.