Why Bills experience could help Mitchell Trubisky become a starter again: 'Buffalo really opened my eyes'

Trubisky said he learned important lessons in one season with Buffalo

What a difference a year makes. In February 2021, quarterback Mitchell Trubisky was on his way out of Chicago after four seasons weren't enough for him to prove he could be the Bears' franchise quarterback. Just 12 months later, however, he's one of the more intriguing options on the quarterback carousel. 

The former No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft signed a one-year deal with the Buffalo Bills last offseason to back up Josh Allen. He played in just six games and threw for 43 yards and one interception, but had a couple impressive preseason performances. Against his former team on Aug. 21, Trubisky completed 20 of 28 passes for 221 yards and one touchdown while leading the Bills to a 41-15 win over the Bears in Chicago. 

Preseason ball means nothing, of course, but you couldn't help but feel that performance made a statement. Maybe Trubisky needed this change of scenery. That's something he realized over the past year. 

"Going to Buffalo really opened my eyes," said Trubisky, via ESPN. "After being in Chicago for four years, there was only one way I knew how to do things. [Being] in Buffalo and [having] a different way of doing things, you learn what's possible. It helped me get back to instinctual football and using my talents rather than overthinking."

There's no doubt Trubisky was able to better himself in watching the athletic Allen train and play. Trubisky said that he learned that he can't be afraid to make mistakes and needs to play free. That mindset alone could be something that helps him when he gets his next chance. Allen sees potential in the UNC product, and believes he's going to impress the NFL world when he gets his next shot. 

"Mitch has been through the ringer," Allen said. "No. 2 pick, how he handled being a professional, coming into a situation where you never thought you'll be in that situation, that's not easy. But he handled it with such class.

"The dude is an athlete. I don't think people really understand that. You give him leeway in an offense to have that mindset of, 'See it, do it, we trust you.' He's going to kill it."

In 57 games with the Bears, Trubisky threw for 10,609 yards, 64 touchdowns and 37 interceptions. He actually owns the fourth-highest win percentage of any active quarterback since 2018 at 25-13. It's unknown if Trubisky will get a shot as a starter in 2022, but with this free agency class, he is one of the more intriguing options. 

"I'm in a confident space right now," Trubisky said.