Windy City Gridiron
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.
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.
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,...
