People love to assume that being great at something is nothing more than a person being God-given ability. They have it easy. So often the truth is completely different. Sure talent plays a big part in career success, but the best of the best always have the same thing in common. They simply work harder than anybody else. This is something not enough people have grasped about Mitch Trubisky.
His improvement from his rookie season didn’t happen by natural progression. He had to work his tail off to get where he is. He unlearned one offense taught to him in 2017 and began learning a brand new one under Matt Nagy while also taking the expected step forward that fans and media demanded of him as a #2 overall pick.
Not only that but he wanted to win too. Losing seasons weren’t part of his DNA going all the way back to high school. That’s the sort of pressure that was on Trubisky before he even took a snap in 2018. How does a 24-year old young man handle such things? Some may turn to darker methods like drugs or alcohol. Not him.
He puts blinders on and works harder.
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Glimpse into Mitch Trubisky work week would exhaust a sitting president
People love to say there’s no tougher job than being President of the United States. One could argue that NFL quarterback might give that a run for its money. At least that’s how it comes off when hearing about how Trubisky approaches each week of work in preparation for a game. Tim Keown of ESPN was given an explanation in detail of his typical schedule. Try to imagine whether or not you could handle this without going crazy.
“Nothing is left to chance. He walks through the Bears’ locker room like someone determined to project calm confidence. He studies books on leadership and teamwork and greatness. He looks for ways to be inclusive: lifting offensive linemen off the pile; running out onto the field after a field goal to personally congratulate every guy on the unit; accepting blame (eagerly, almost too eagerly) for plays that go wrong.
He ends his preparation every week with a Saturday night meeting with quarterbacks coach Dave Ragone and injured tight end Zach Miller. By this point — around 10 p.m. — every one of first-year head coach Matt Nagy’s fever-dream plays has been indelibly repped into Trubisky’s brain. But still, they go through the next day’s game plan, spending 30 or 40 minutes, Ragone speed-reading formations and plays and packages as Trubisky scrawls out the answers on a dry-erase board.”
Wow.
One of Matt Nagy’s first edicts when he arrived as head coach was “be obsessed.” That seems to be something that Trubisky has taken quite literally. Going to that level of detail in preparing for just one game? Not to mention the extra work he puts in for interviews, charity, and being a leader in the locker room. It’s hard to imagine if this kid ever sleeps.
It should also make people appreciate him a little bit more. He isn’t coasting through any of this job. He embraces every bit of it. He wants to be great and make the Bears great as a result. His improvement over the year is no doubt a direct result of this effort and if it continues there is no telling how much better he can get as his comfort within the system grows.
