Each day in the month of June, we’ll roll out a fresh topic to get Chicago Bears fans thinking. Be sure to chime in with your answer in the comments so we can all get to know our WCG members a bit better.
Maybe it’s not much of a surprise who I chose for this answer.
After all, I do go by “Grim Cutty” on Twitter. That said, ask me this question again 10-15 years from now, I’m fairly confident that the answer to this question changes. I’ve never been more certain about a quarterback figuring things
out and becoming the elite face of this franchise more than I have with Caleb Williams.
But before that, lets take a step back and talk about my current all time favorite Chicago Bears quarterback: Jay Cutler.
The Prince That Was Promised
Drafted 11th overall in the 2006 draft by the Denver Broncos, Cutler was deemed a can’t miss quarterback prospect after he set essentially every record relating to quarterbacking at Vanderbilt. He impressed with his Brett Favre like arm strength and strength in general, as he set the then quarterback record for bench press reps at the combine, with 23.
The Broncos saw enough in him to trade their 1st and 3rd round picks to move up to draft him.
After a strong training camp and preseason, he was finally elevated to starting quarterback, taking his first start in week 13 of the 2006 season against the Seattle Seahawks. He threw his first 2 career touchdowns, including a late 71-yard touchdown to future Bears teammate Brandon Marshall to tie the game.
Cutler would go on to make 37 starts for the Broncos, completing 62.5% of his passes while amassing 9,024 yards passing, 54 touchdowns, 37 interceptions and a 87.1 QB Rating. He would make the Probowl in the 2008 season, throwing for 4,526 yards, a franchise best. (Until Peyton Manning)
But his relationship soured with head coach Josh McDaniels after McDaniels attempted to trade Cutler in a three team trade to acquire Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel. Cutler in turn demanded a trade from the strained relationship, and the Chicago Bears jumped on the opportunity, sending quarterback Kyle Orton, two 1st round picks, and a 3rd round pick to Denver. In return Cutler became the face of the Chicago Bears franchise.
Elite Traits, Unrealized Expectations
Cutler immediately gave the Bears something the franchise had lacked for nearly 40 years, a bonafide franchise quarterback with elite arm talent.
But it wasn’t all roses for Jay Cutler and the Bears.
The 2009 season started rocky, with the Bears losing on the road against the Packers, 15-21. A game where Cutler threw 4 interceptions to just 1 touchdown.
Interceptions would remain an issue for the gunslinger in 2009, where he recorded just 4 games without one, and threw multiple interceptions in 7 games, including 5 against the San Francisco 49ers in a 6-10 home loss.
He did finish the year with 27 touchdown passes, the most since Erik Kramer’s 29 in 1995, but his 26 interceptions was the second most in franchise history, on to Sid Luckman’s 31 in 1947.
But Cutler rebounded the following season, with a 23-16 TD-INT ratio, and the Bears would win 11 games, and the NFC North. Cutler was brilliant in his playoff debut, throwing for 2 touchdowns and rushing for another two in a 35-24 win over the visiting Seattle Seahawks.
But the run would end when Cutler torn his MCL in the NFC Championship against the hated Green Bay Packers.
And unfortunately for the Bears and Jay Cutler, this would be the only time they would make the playoffs with Cutler under center.
A myriad of issues seemed to follow Cutler every season. If it wasn’t his own performance, it was the lack of weapons around him. If it wasn’t the lack of weapons it was the shoddy offensive line in front of him. If it wasn’t the shoddy offensive line in front of him, it was a coaching staff that was rare put in place to help him success. If it wasn’t a coaching staff that was rare put in place to help him success, it was injury.
But Cutler endured it all, rarely speaking negatively about his surroundings (maybe all this is what feed into the “Jay Cutler Doesn’t Care” gimmick, aside from his face, of course) giving it 100% on the field, even if that 100% happen to feed DeAngelo Hall 4 interceptions. Jay Cutler, and the NFL knew he was, a quarterback with supreme confidence in his ability, even if his surrounding are telling him to think otherwise in that situation.
Cutler played for 3 head coaches and 6 offensive coordinators in his 8 years with the Bears. And in a 2014 season that saw Bears quarterbacks throw for 4,035 yards and 30 touchdowns, Jay Cutler only got credit for 3,812 yards and 28 of those touchdowns, thanks to a late season, unjust benching from head coach Marc Trestman. Who was fired just two weeks later after turning the Chicago Bears into a modern day Titanic recreation.
A Franchise Leader (In Both Statistics and Polarization)
Cutler was unceremoniously released after the 2016 season, he would go on to play one more season in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins.
And much like his time at Vanderbilt, Jay left Chicago owning the majority of franchise records in passing, including completions (2020), attempts (3271), yards (23,443), touchdowns (154), 4th quarter comebacks (16) and game winning drives (18) and times sacked (251). A total of 14 Bears franchise records were held by him at one point.
But, if you ask 10 Bears fans their thoughts on Jay Cutler, you have a good chance on getting 10 different answers.
As for me?
You’ll never convince me that Jay Cutler didn’t care. In his 102 career starts with the Bears he was sacked nearly 2.5 times a game. Cutler took a beating during his time with the Bears, suffering 15 separate game-missed or game-ending injuries in his time here. Heck, Bears Hall of Fame linebacker Brian Urlacher has famously defended his toughness. He did this all as a type 1 diabetic playing the hardest position in football. Never once did he complain about the lack of protection, or teammates letting him did, never once complaining about his coaches, or surroundings, or the beating he was taking week in and out.
He was an extremely talented quarterback who might go down as having one of the best arms in NFL history. Who also, perhaps, trusted that arm and talent way too much for his own good.
He was Smokin’ Jay Cutler, who “DONNNN’T CAREEE” if you’re a Vanderbilt alum, or if you’re trying to tackle him.
He came of as brooding, moody, and uncaring. He created amazing moments with his arm, hitting bombs to Alshon Jeffrey or Johnny Knox. He made mind numbing mistakes over and over against against the Packers, despite his great numbers against the rest of the NFC North (16-12 record, 6,267 yards, 47 TDS, 25 INT).
He, statistically, is the best to ever do it for the Bears. He was my quarterback for 8 season, ride or die.
And he is my favorite Bears quarterback to suit up for the Bears.
So, the question remains for you, reader: Who is your all time favorite Bears quarterback? Let us know in the comments below!
Gary Baugher Jr. is a 2nd year contributor to WCG, bringing football insight backed by over 16 years of experience in organized football and more than 30 years as a passionate fan of the game. You can follow him on Twitter at @iamcogs.
