Chicago Bears: 5 reasons fans should be thankful

Chucky

If he weren’t clear across the country, I’d find Jon Gruden and hug him like he’s never been hugged before. Why? Because I love this man and I’m not afraid to shout it out from the rooftops! I mean with such a dramatic turnaround, it’s hard to pinpoint one single thing that has made the difference for the Bears this season, but if I had to pick just one, it would be the Khalil Mack trade.

The Bears could legitimately be undefeated this season. They’ve lost three games, by a combined 11 points. In two of those losses, Mack was significantly hampered by his ankle injury and obviously wasn’t close to 100 percent healthy. Had he been, I’m convinced the Bears find a way to beat both the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots.

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When he’s on the field, he’s a one-man wrecking crew. That play he made Sunday night against the Vikings where he forced a fumble and recovered it despite two players being on top of him is a microcosm of what he’s been this season.

All-Pro, surefire Hall of Fame players typically don’t become available just before the start of the season. But Gruden, in his infinite wisdom decided it would be wise to let such a player, in his prime, go to Chicago without getting enough in return.

It’s hard to think of a trade in the NFL over the past decade that has had such an immediate and profound impact on one team, which is why we should all be thankful for Chucky.