What Would Have Happened If the Chicago Bears Had Selected Russell Wilson?
Discussing with Pablo Torre, NFL expert Nate Tice revisited the story of his father, former Chicago Bears Offensive Coordinator Mike Tice, ardently advocating for the Bears to draft quarterback Russell Wilson in the 2012 NFL Draft. This thought experiment has led me down a rabbit hole of possibilities:
Russell Wilson's Ties to the Chicago BearsIt's worth noting that this isn't fresh news. In 2014, Barry Alvarez, the University of Wisconsin AD, reported that Mike Tice had a keen interest in drafting Wilson as a potential successor to Jay Cutler. Nate Tice echoed these sentiments on a 2020 podcast. Fast-forward to 2021, and under new management, the Bears attempted to broker a trade for Wilson. But that ship sailed. Perhaps, in hindsight, it's for the best.
Examining his performance since joining the Broncos:- 360/587 completions (61.3%)- 4,315 yards- 22 touchdowns- 13 interceptions- An 87.1 passer rating
While these stats would be a significant improvement for Bears enthusiasts, they don't match Wilson's prime years from 2012-21. For context:- 331/509 completions (65%)- 3,987 yards- 31 touchdowns- 9 interceptions- A 101.8 rating
It seems the Broncos may have invested heavily in the twilight of Wilson's career. A tough pill to swallow for Broncos' supporters.
What adds salt to the wound is the Bears' inability to capitalize on their current QB, who Jimmy Graham has likened to Wilson. There's also the nagging question of what Chicago could've accomplished with Wilson at the helm.
Exploring the Realm of HypotheticalsThis section could've been filled with visions of Wilson leading the Bears to countless victories, perhaps even Super Bowl rings. Surely, Mike Tice would've made better on-field decisions, like choosing to hand off to Marshawn Lynch instead of attempting a risky slant pass. But considering the Bears' track record, it's difficult to be overly optimistic.
Historically, the Bears haven't had the best luck with quarterbacks, either in drafting or developing them. There's no guarantee that even with Wilson, the Bears under Tice would've fared any better than with Cutler.
It's frustrating that the Bears consistently find themselves in this loop of "what could have been." From missing out on Patrick Mahomes to failing in trading for Russ, and pondering the potential outcomes if Cutler had stayed uninjured, the franchise seems cursed with a never-ending list of missed opportunities. Still reminiscing about the potential dynasty of the 80s Bears if only Jim McMahon had remained fit or ruminating about the missed chance with Terry Bradshaw, Bears' fans are no strangers to these scenarios. But, really, what's one more addition to this growing list of hypotheticals?
| POLL | ||
1 OCTOBRE | 21 ANSWERS What Would Have Happened If the Chicago Bears Had Selected Russell Wilson? Is Russel Wilson a hall of famer? | ||
| Yes | 8 | 38.1 % |
| No | 13 | 61.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
