The Chicago Bears, one of the NFL’s oldest and most storied franchises, have had a tumultuous journey through recent seasons. Despite having a strong fan base, a historic stadium, and a long history of success, they have struggled to make a significant dent in the playoff race over the past few decades. At the heart of their recent woes are some questionable decisions when it comes to player acquisition, coaching hires, and financial investments. In this blog post, we’ll examine where the Bears failed to get their money’s worth and how those missteps have contributed to their ongoing struggles.

### 1. **The Trubisky Trade – A Quarterback Miss**

Perhaps the most glaring example of the Bears failing to get their money’s worth over the past decade is the infamous 2017 trade to acquire Mitchell Trubisky. In a quarterback-driven league, finding the right signal caller is paramount to sustained success. The Bears, under former GM Ryan Pace, moved up from the third overall pick in the draft to the second overall pick, trading away a third-round pick and a fourth-round pick in the process. They used that pick to select Trubisky, a quarterback from North Carolina.

At the time, Trubisky was seen as a project, with potential but also plenty of questions surrounding his development. Many draft analysts viewed him as raw, lacking the college pedigree of some of his counterparts, notably Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson, both of whom were drafted after him. In retrospect, the Bears made the wrong call. Trubisky’s performance over four seasons in Chicago failed to live up to the investment, leading to his departure after 2020.

By not selecting Mahomes or Watson, the Bears missed an opportunity to have either of those franchise quarterbacks lead their team into the future. Not only did they sacrifice significant draft capital in the trade-up, but they also missed out on two of the most talented quarterbacks of the generation. The Bears’ financial commitment to Trubisky during that time didn’t pay off, as his inconsistent play led to numerous coaching changes and a perpetual cycle of instability at the most important position in sports.

### 2. **The Overpayment for Nick Foles**

In 2020, with Trubisky’s future uncertain and the Bears needing to find stability at quarterback, they made a move for former Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles. Foles, who had a successful run in Philadelphia, was traded to the Bears for a fourth-round pick. In theory, Foles was supposed to be the experienced veteran who could step in and guide the Bears to a playoff berth.

However, the move quickly backfired. Foles showed little consistency or the ability to elevate the offense in the way the Bears had hoped. In fact, Foles ended up being part of a disastrous quarterback carousel that included both Trubisky and Foles, neither of whom provided the Bears with a reliable solution under center. To make matters worse, the Bears had committed significant money to Foles, including a sizable contract for a backup quarterback. That money, which could have been better spent elsewhere, tied the Bears’ hands in addressing other roster needs, particularly on the offensive line and at wide receiver.

Foles was, at best, a short-term solution who didn’t pan out. His contract quickly became an albatross for the Bears, as they were stuck paying a quarterback who wasn’t good enough to be the starter but also wasn’t performing as a capable backup. The Bears essentially wasted precious financial resources on a position they had been unable to fix since the days of legendary quarterback Jay Cutler, and their hopes for Foles to be the answer were dashed within a season.

### 3. **Free Agent Spending and Misses**

While the NFL’s free-agent market can sometimes be a crapshoot, the Bears have consistently made questionable decisions in terms of their financial commitments to certain players. A few of the most notable examples:

– **Allen Robinson (2018-2021)**: Robinson was a talented wide receiver who had a strong statistical career in Chicago, but his tenure was marred by missed opportunities. The Bears paid him handsomely for his services, but the financial commitment didn’t result in the hoped-for playoff success. Despite his strong individual performance, the Bears were unable to build a functional offense around him. A lack of stability at quarterback and a revolving door of offensive coordinators left Robinson in a position where he couldn’t produce at the level expected for his contract. Eventually, Robinson moved on to the Los Angeles Rams, but his time in Chicago did not yield the kind of returns one would expect for the price tag.

– **Robert Quinn (2021)**: Quinn was a fantastic pass rusher for the Bears in 2021, breaking the franchise single-season sack record with 18.5 sacks. However, despite the individual success, Quinn was still part of a team that failed to make significant progress, finishing with a losing record. The Bears had invested heavily in the defensive line, including a hefty contract extension for Quinn, but ultimately the defense as a whole remained inconsistent. A season later, the Bears traded Quinn to the Philadelphia Eagles for a fourth-round pick, essentially admitting they hadn’t gotten their money’s worth from a high-priced veteran defensive end.

– **Eddie Goldman (2015-2021)**: Another case of a player who, at one point, was considered a foundational piece of the Bears’ defense. Goldman’s contract was another example of a high-dollar commitment that didn’t pay off as hoped. Goldman, while an elite run defender when healthy, struggled with injuries and didn’t provide the kind of impact the Bears expected over the life of his contract.

In each of these cases, the Bears spent a considerable amount of money on players who did not lead the team to sustained success, especially when compared to other teams in the league that made similar or smaller financial commitments and saw more tangible returns.

### 4. **Coaching Hires: Another Missed Opportunity**

The Bears have also made costly mistakes when it comes to hiring head coaches. The decision to hire Matt Nagy in 2018, for example, was met with optimism. Nagy was an Andy Reid disciple, and there was hope that he could bring the innovative offensive ideas that had worked so well in Kansas City. However, Nagy’s tenure in Chicago was a disaster. While the team had moments of success, Nagy’s inability to develop Trubisky and the Bears’ inconsistent offensive performance eventually led to his dismissal after the 2021 season.

The Bears once again found themselves in a cycle of wasted resources, as Nagy’s inability to maximize player performance, particularly at quarterback, set the franchise back. The Bears’ decision to pay him a premium salary for his coaching services ultimately failed to yield any long-term benefit, leaving the team to search for yet another head coach and perpetuating the revolving door of leadership.

### 5. **The Consequences of Poor Drafting**

While we’ve discussed some of the Bears’ financial missteps, it’s important to remember that bad drafts can often have just as significant financial repercussions. The Bears have struggled in the draft in recent years, particularly when it comes to finding impact players in key positions. For every successful pick, there have been plenty of misses, from early-round busts to mid-round disappointments. These missteps often result in wasted financial resources and cap space, as the Bears end up overpaying for veteran talent in an attempt to fill gaps left by poor draft selections.

### Conclusion

In the end, the Chicago Bears have made a number of financial decisions over the years that have not paid off. From the Trubisky trade to the overpaid free-agent signings and missed coaching hires, these errors have contributed to the franchise’s inability to build a consistently competitive team. The result has been a lack of playoff success and a steady decline in fan enthusiasm. The Bears will need to change their approach to player acquisition, spending, and team-building if they hope to escape the cycle of mediocrity and find long-term success.