Mitch Trubisky’s NFL journey has taken him far from the highs and lows of his Chicago Bears tenure, but his recent return to Halas Hall as the Buffalo Bills’ backup quarterback showed that the former No. 2 overall pick hasn’t forgotten where it all started. Now entering his ninth season, Trubisky may no longer be “the guy” he once was in Chicago, yet his words and actions prove that the Bears still hold a special place in his heart.
When the Bills came to Lake Forest for joint practices this summer, Trubisky stepped into familiar territory. From taking the field to greeting former teammates and staff, the nostalgia was undeniable. Though the posters around camp now feature Caleb Williams, Trubisky couldn’t help but reflect on his own four-year stint leading the team.
“It’s a privilege and I miss that, and it’s a lot of fun to be the franchise guy, especially in a city like this,” Trubisky said. He described returning to Halas Hall as “exciting and scary at the same time.”
The mixed emotions make sense. Trubisky was at the center of one of the most polarizing eras of Bears football. From the electrifying 12-4 NFC North title run in 2018 to back-to-back 8-8 seasons and his eventual departure after 2020, his legacy in Chicago remains complicated.
Still, instead of having bitter emotions, Trubisky seems to view it all with gratitude, even wishing his time in Chicago had lasted longer.
“[It’s] fun to go get some food, hang out with the guys, take care of business, see some old friends, and just interact with the fans a little bit because, like I said, they’ve been really nice to my family and I since I left,” Trubisky said.
“And I think the dream is one day to just go back and take my son to a game there and be like, ‘Hey, this is the first place that your dad played,’ along with all the other stadiums that we’ve been to. So, I think having memories like that would be special.”
Mitch Trubisky – A Career That Still Has Room to Grow
Since leaving the Bears, Trubisky has carved out a role as one of the NFL’s more reliable backup quarterbacks. He’s had stints with the Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, and is now back in Buffalo, where he currently competes with Mike White for the QB2 job behind Josh Allen.
Bills general manager Brandon Beane has praised Trubisky’s poise, experience, and athleticism, noting that the team would feel “very confident” with him stepping in if Allen were unavailable.
Trubisky himself has been clear: his long-term goal remains to be a starting quarterback again. “The long-term goal is definitely to be a starter and a franchise guy somewhere again,” he said. “I think if you have that mindset and strive for that, but also take it one day at a time, everything else will kind of take care of itself in the meantime.”
Passing Advice for Caleb Williams
Perhaps the strongest sign of Mitch Trubisky’s growth as a person is his advice for Williams.
“It is a fish bowl, but at the same time I’d say enjoy it, really take it all in,” Trubisky said on the CHGO Bears podcast. “I only had it for four years, but I wish I had it for longer to be honest. All eyes are on you in this city. It’s really a privilege, and there’s a lot of pressure that comes with that, but it’s a privilege. I miss that.”
For Trubisky, the advice is more than words; it’s a reflection of perspective. He understands the difficulty of being a young quarterback in a football-obsessed city, but also the unique opportunity it presents. His message for Williams is to cherish the moment because it doesn’t always last. “Looking back on it, I wished I enjoyed it a little more. Not regret, but just I think perspective now that I’m older,” Trubisky said.
For a quarterback whose tenure was filled with scrutiny, that simple dream shows how much he’s matured, and the hope is that the Bears finally find their franchise quarterback in Williams.
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