Former Bears React to Matthew Stafford Trade Rumors

The Detroit Lions have traded quarterback Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams in blockbuster deal. Stafford, the former #1 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft and a Pro Bowler in 2014, reportedly requested the trade himself and it’s not surprising he was looking to play for a team with more pieces in place for success than the Lions. With the 2021 quarterback market as hot as it is, and the Bears yet again going back to the drawing board for a solution at the most important position in professional sports, it’s not surprising that GM Ryan Pace is making phone calls to inquire about the going rate for a franchise quarterback.

Albert Breer, an NFL insider through multiple outlets including Sports Illustrated and NBC Sports Boston, reported on his Periscope that the Bears were indeed involved in conversations regarding the price for Stafford, the soon to be 33 year old QB that is still playing solid football.

Stafford would have immediately slotted in as the best quarterback the Bears have had in decades, with better awareness and decision-making than Grossman and more clutch ability than Cutler.

Olin Kreutz, former Bears center and 6-time Pro Bowler, currently serves as one of the analysts on NBC Sports Chicago’s Football Aftershow, along with former Bears greats Lance Briggs, Alex Brown, and Matt Forte. Kreutz responded to the report of Stafford-Bears trade rumors with a GIF, asking why the Bears would be looking to take on the soon-to-be former Lions quarterback.

Former Chicago offensive lineman Kyle Long, a 3-time Pro Bowler in his own right, cast doubt on whether the Bears would have been seriously in play to make a deal with a division rival for a franchise quarterback. Long, who blocked for such Chicago greats as (Cutler aside) Josh McCown, Matt Barkley, Brian Hoyer, Mike Glennon, Mitchell Trubisky, and Chase Daniel, would certainly know as well as anybody how the Bears are deficient at a position where almost every other NFL has at least a player to wish they had built around. He doesn’t quite believe the Bears were a serious contender for Stafford’s services.

Kreutz responded with an interesting note about current Bears leadership, perhaps lending credence to the theory that the Bears were a real player for the soon-to-be-former Lions quarterback.

One thing is for certain, with Stafford now on a 2020 playoff team and recent NFC champion, he’s out of excuses for losses. He won’t have Detroit’s ineptitude around him to justify a 74-93 career W-L record. When it comes to the Bears, the two parties could have certainly helped each other out. With this trade, the Packers are likely the only stable quarterback situation in the NFC North (unless there’s any truth to Aaron Rodgers wanting out).

One quarterback is on the move this offseason and multiple others are available.

Are you making more phone calls, Mr. Pace?